Fear-Free^® Veterinary Care

Fear-Free® veterinary care fundamentally changes the approach to pet healthcare by prioritizing emotional well-being alongside physical health. Instead of using force or restraint, we read your pet's body language, use gentle handling techniques, and create a calming environment. We never push pets past their comfort level and take breaks when needed. This results in more cooperative pets, more accurate examinations, and better long-term relationships with veterinary care.

Start preparation several days before the visit. Download our preparation guides for specific tips for cats and dogs. For anxious pets, we may recommend anti-anxiety medications given 1-2 hours before the appointment. Bring your pet's favorite treats, blanket, or toy. Arrive 10-15 minutes early to allow acclimation time. Most importantly, stay calm yourself - pets pick up on your energy. We also offer "happy visits" where pets can come in just to get treats and positive experiences without any procedures.

Fear-Free techniques are especially beneficial for fearful and aggressive pets, as aggression often stems from fear and anxiety. We start with the least stressful approach and have protocols for pets with varying levels of anxiety. For extremely fearful or aggressive pets, we may recommend sedation or anxiety medications before the visit. Some pets may need multiple "happy visits" to build trust. In severe cases, we work with veterinary behaviorists to develop specialized plans. The goal is always to help pets overcome their fear rather than just manage it.

Initially, Fear-Free appointments may take slightly longer as we allow pets to acclimate and use patient-paced approaches. However, as pets become more comfortable with our techniques, appointments often become more efficient because pets are more cooperative. We build in adequate time for each appointment so you never feel rushed. The slight additional time investment pays off significantly in terms of pet comfort, examination accuracy, and long-term relationship building with veterinary care.

Fear-Free techniques are integrated into all our standard services at no additional cost - it's simply how we practice veterinary medicine. If your pet needs anti-anxiety medications before a visit, there may be a small additional charge for the medication, but the Fear-Free handling techniques themselves are included in your appointment fee. We believe every pet deserves compassionate, low-stress care as a standard of practice, not as an expensive add-on.

Even in emergency situations, we adapt Fear-Free principles whenever possible. While life-saving care takes priority, we still use gentle handling techniques, speak calmly to pets, and provide comfort during stressful procedures. For urgent but non-life-threatening situations, we may use quick-acting anxiety medications to help pets cope with necessary treatments. Our goal is to balance medical necessity with emotional well-being, ensuring pets receive the care they need while minimizing additional trauma.

Absolutely! We encourage owners to stay with their pets during examinations when it helps the pet feel more comfortable. For some pets, owner presence is calming, while others may be more focused on their owner than the examination. We'll assess what works best for your individual pet. If your presence seems to increase your pet's anxiety, we may suggest stepping back briefly, but you're always welcome to return. Our goal is to create the most comfortable environment possible for each unique pet-owner pair.