Pet Owners

You probably hug your dog several times a day, but many dogs don’t like being hugged, and if they do, it’s not by strangers poking them with needles at the vet clinic. Many dogs are also uncomfortable with having areas of their body handled, such as their paws, ears, and mouth.

Unfortunately, when your dog gets examined by a veterinarian, they will often need to be hugged by a technician while we handle all of those areas and more. By doing some exam training at home, pet parents can help lower their dog’s  fear, anxiety, and stress at our clinic.

Getting Held

When you’re ready to start training for restraint, face your dog’s side. Hug their neck with one arm while your other arm hugs them over their back, then give a treat. Gradually build up the time during which your dog accepts being restrained, with the goal of two minutes of restraint.

Keep training sessions positive and end them before your dog starts squirming. If your dog shows any behaviors such as tensing, lifting their lip, or growling, stop immediately and talk to our Fear Free Certified staff.

Hands On

Once you’ve trained your dog to accept restraint, you’re ready to move on to training for an exam. There may seem like a lot of parts to an exam, but most dogs can be examined by a vet within a few minutes, especially if you’ve already done some training at home.

If your dog is overall healthy, position yourself next to your dog while facing in the same direction. Practice the following, giving a treat after each repetition:

Trailing your hand over the back and upper legs.

Trailing your hand under their front legs from chest to abdomen.

Touching the tail, then lifting it from the base.

Lightly squeezing the spine with your fingers from shoulders to hips.

Picking up one leg at a time underneath armpits or hips, then moving it forward and backward.

Touching each paw, then lifting it.

Very gently squeezing the abdomen from ribs to hips.

Touching each ear, then lifting it (if floppy), then putting a finger gently into the ear to simulate an ear cone.

Touching the lip, then lifting it.

Holding the face while briefly making eye contact.

You probably hug your cat several times a day, but many cats don’t like being hugged, and if they do, it’s not by strangers poking them with needles at the vet clinic. 

Many cats are also uncomfortable with having areas of their body handled, such as their paws, ears, and mouth.

Unfortunately, when your cat gets examined by a veterinarian, they will often need to be hugged by a technician while we handle all of those areas and more. By doing some exam training at home, pet parents can help lower their cat’s  fear, anxiety, and stress at our clinic.

Get Your Cat Used to the Carrier

Don’t stash the carrier in the basement or a closet. Keep it out in an area where your cat spends a lot of time. Make it interesting for your cat by keeping a cat bed or soft blanket inside. If your cat responds to catnip, sprinkle it with catnip. Leave favorite toys or treats inside. You may even want to feed your cat inside the carrier.

Getting Held

Practice restraint by standing behind your cat, gently squeezing their shoulders for a second, then giving a treat. Gradually increase the length of time your cat is held until you reach a minute. Repeat these steps with a folded bath towel, a tool used by many veterinarians for handling cats. Scruffing cats is not recommended because it increases their fear and aggression, so do not attempt this with your cat.

Keep training sessions positive and end them before your cat starts squirming., if you see tail flicking, squirming, loss of interest in treats, hissing or growls, stop immediately and talk to our Fear Free Certified staff.

Hands On

Once you’ve trained your cat to accept restraint, you’re ready to move on to training for an exam. There may seem like a lot of parts to an exam, but most cats can be examined by a vet within a few minutes, especially if you’ve already done some training at home.

If your cat is overall healthy, position yourself next to your cat while facing in the same direction. Practice the following, giving a treat after each repetition:

Trailing your hand over the back and upper legs.

Trailing your hand under their front legs from chest to abdomen.

Touching the tail, then lifting it from the base.

Lightly squeezing the spine with your fingers from shoulders to hips.

Picking up one leg at a time underneath armpits or hips, then moving it forward and backward.

Touching each paw, then lifting it.

Very gently squeezing the abdomen from ribs to hips.

Touching each ear, then lifting it (if floppy), then putting a finger gently into the ear to simulate an ear cone.

Touching the lip, then lifting it.

Holding the face while briefly making eye contact.

If your pet becomes stressed, anxious or shows signs of aggression during veterinary exams, please tell our staff ahead of time. There are a lot of tools that we can use to help make your pet’s visit with us more pleasant.

Limit Food and Treats Prior to a Vet Visit

Our veterinarians and staff like to use treats to create a positive association with a vet visit for your dog or cat. By limiting food or treats before the visit, your dog or cat will be more receptive to the treats that our staff offer. Your pet will also be less likely to get car sick.

Medical Aids

For dogs or cats who become extremely stressed during a vet visit, there are different medications that can be administered prior to their exam which can make a significant difference in how some dogs or cats experience a veterinary visit. 

Also, check out other FAQs What Can I Do to Make My Dog’s First Visit a Good Experience? and What Can I Do to Make My Cat’s First Visit a Good Experience?

Preparing for the first visit to a veterinarian with a new pet means you have gathered all that you need ahead of time. At the time of the appointment your focus will be on your new furry friend, making it easy to forget things. 

To avoid this have these things ready;

• A list of questions you have been thinking about
• A list of medications, supplements and food your pet is currently taking
• Any documentation with medical information that you may have been given by the previous owner and contains medical history or information helpful to your vet. 
• Some of your pets favorite treats to share during the appointment.