Meet the needs of hospitalized feline patients

Fetch dvm360 conference speaker Sheilah Robertson, BVMS (Hons), PhD, DACVA, DECVA, CVA, MRCVS, preaches the five basic freedoms for animals in your hospital:

1. They shouldn't be fearful

2. They shouldn't be hungry or thirsty

3. They shouldn't be uncomfortable

4. They should be able to express normal behavior

5. Here's a huge one for kitties in the clinic-they shouldn't be stressed out.

Eliminate stress in your clinic

Start here to brush up on low-stress techniques.

Help clients with this low-stress handout.

It's good for the staff too: Low-stress brings pride and respect.

Think that seems impossible? Dr. Robertson says you must consider that the cat who meets you in the exam room is a "snapshot."

"What we have to do is remember, the whole stress for that cat-and its owner-started long before it arrived at our clinic," she says.

Though she says there is a ways to go, Dr. Robertson believes that great strides have been made with Fear Free tactics, low-stress techniques and preparative medication. Watch the video for more.