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|Articles|August 1, 2014

Three quick Fear Free tips for the veterinary team

Use these quick tips to create a relaxing veterinary visit for pets.

Noise. Keep noise to a minimum. Dogs and cats can be extremely sensitive to noises. Close kennels quietly while holding up on latches to minimize the noise. Also keep voices lowered and even phones on a lower setting to prevent the animal from startling from loud, sudden noise.

Use background music, like Through A Dog's Ear or Through a Cat's Ear, or classical music with the addition of a white noise machine, to keep pets calm and make sudden noise less startling.

Treating. Treat more frequently than you think. One of the main mistakes team members make is treating too little. The treating during a procedure needs to be frequent, nearly throughout. This means that rather than the standard one or two treats after an exam, treat throughout with a minimum of 10 to 20 treats per minute during physical handling or procedures. This keeps stress levels low and rewards calm behavior while building a positive association.

Handling. Look into gentle handling techniques using Low Stress Handling and Behavior Modification of Dogs and Cats by Dr. Sophia Yin.

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