Keeping Your Pet Calm During A Vet Visit
If you have a dog or cat that you care for, you know the importance of bringing your pet to a veterinarian regularly for checkups and preventative maintenance tasks. Not all pets are keen on taking trips to their doctors, however. If your pet has difficulty with anxiety associated with vet visits, take the following steps to help calm them.
Bring Along Someone For The Ride
Consider bringing someone along for the ride to a veterinarian visit for your pet. This way, someone is available to speak to your pet during the ride, helping to calm them before you arrive at the office. Inside, this person is able to speak to the office staff on your behalf as you tend to your dog or cat's anxiety in the waiting area. An extra pair of hands is also helpful in the examination room if your pet happens to try to flee from the area.
Allow Your Pet To See Their Surroundings
Many people cover their pet's carrier so they are less likely to become worried about their surroundings in a vet's office. While this works for some pets, it tends to have adverse reactions in others. Your pet may feel more comfortable knowing exactly what is making that whimpering sound next to them or the whereabouts of the meowing they hear intermittently.
Position Yourself Away From Others
While it is not always feasible to sit alone with your pet in a vet's office, do your best to look for a location in the waiting area where your pet does not feel threatened by others. If the waiting area is exceptionally busy, ask the office staff worker if they would give you a call when the veterinarian is ready to see you and your pet. Take your pet back out to your vehicle to wait for the appointment to begin.
Ask About Anxiety Treatment Options
Your veterinarian is the best person to ask about the anxiety your pet experiences. If they notice that your pet is having a difficult time with their appointment, they are likely to make recommendations about medications available to treat anxiety problems. This medication is not necessary all the time but is useful before a situation where you feel your pet may become stressed or scared, such as taking a ride in a vehicle or being around other animals. You can then provide it to your pet before their next vet appointment.
To learn more, contact a veterinarian.
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