Calm and Steady Does the Trick

We recently had a patient who in the past was labeled as willing to bite and difficult to muzzle. I went into the exam room and discussed what the patient presented for and how the previous visits had gone. I then let the owner know what I would be doing differently. Using Fear Free techniques, I was able to muzzle and use minimal restraint for the patient’s exam and vaccinations, and we were even able to trim her nails! She did very well and took treats from me! The patient remained calm and the owner was very happy with our success and so was I!

Rachel Lees, RVT, Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, lead veterinary behavior technician, The Behavior Clinic, Olmsted Falls, Ohio

Happy Pets, Happy People

Fear Free has impacted our clinic in many ways!  The patients who have always needed a muzzle at previous hospitals but really just needed a little more time to warm up are rewarding.  The puppies who are so comfortable they fall asleep during the appointment are always great.  We certainly cannot leave out the impact on the owners who can tell we have their furry family members best interests at heart. Fear Free will continue to play a major role in our culture.

Trent Matthew Eddy, DVM, co-owner, Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, Iron Horse Veterinary Care, Leawood, Kansas

Emergency Help

I have had several clients/patients I have worked with in an emergency/critical care setting (where use of food is limited) who responded well to a considerate approach and other Fear Free techniques. Clients have been astounded that their normally “aggressive at the vet’s office” pet is calm and happy, and we are able to do what we need to do without stress to the pet. It is so gratifying to be able to help pets and their families feel better about what is often a scary, stressful situation. They know how much I care about their pets, and I am so thankful to have new tools and techniques to use that make me feel better about the care I am able to provide.

Rachel Lynn Kantola, DVM, Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, Aurora, Illinois

Making Change

As a veterinary behaviorist, I am a resource for multiple practices.  In the past two years, I managed to make practices within our group more aware of how stressful a vet visit or procedure might be for a pet. We designed posters to educate teams and clients about signs of FAS. Most practices implemented changes in their environment, approach, and handling to help pets and owners cope better with veterinary visits. They are now more likely to use PVP and sedation. Team members have so much realized the importance of decreasing FAS that more than two-thirds of the practices within our group have at least one person enrolled in the Fear Free certification program. We are looking to have more than 125 Fear Free certified professionals within our group during the next year.

Isabelle Demontigny-Bedard, DMV, DACVB, Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

New Friends

I had a client come in with a newly adopted shelter dog. He was very nervous when he first came in. We went at his pace and did only what he allowed. He came back a couple of times for different things. It’s been about six months since then and now he loves coming in and seeing everyone!

Brandie Sciolla, CVT, Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, Cranberry Veterinary Hospital, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Kim Campbell Thornton is content manager for Fear Free Pets and is a Level 3 Fear Free Certified Professional. She has been writing about dogs, cats, wildlife, and marine life since 1985.