A trip to the vet can be a stressful experience for your furry friend. Not only is he or she in an unfamiliar setting, but they also are poked and prodded by strangers. It’s no wonder you fluff ball gets scared or anxious every time you have to take him or her to the vet.
At 911 Vets in Los Angeles, our mobile vet clinic provides you with all the services you would find at a traditional vet clinic, but instead of having to put your pet through the stress of going to a new location, we bring the clinic to you! We provide our expert service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you’re in need of a routine check-up or it’s an emergency, our mobile vet clinic will come to you. Give us a call at 310-341-0216 to schedule an appointment!
With our mobile vet clinic, going to the vet isn’t quite at stressful for your canine or feline friend. However, once the exam starts, you may find that your pet is still not at ease. In part one of this multi-part series, we will discuss a few things you can do to help your visit with the vet be as stress-free as possible. Continue reading below and don’t forget to contact 911 Vets to schedule an appointment with our mobile vet clinic.
FAMILIARIZE YOUR PET
Anxiety at the vet clinic affects both dogs and cats, and most of the time it is because they are unfamiliar with this new environment. It’s important to give your pet the chance to become familiar with his or her surroundings in addition to any mode of transportation you will use to get there. For example, with your pup, try making car rides a regular activity. Take your dog to the park or on a hike, but make sure that he or she becomes familiar and comfortable in the car. With a cat, try leaving the cat carrier inside the house. If you only bring the carrier out of storage when it’s time to visit the vet, there’s no question that the sight of the pet carrier will make your cat nervous. Allow your cat the opportunity to get comfortable with the carrier by leaving it inside and allowing him or her to explore without the fear of going to the vet. If your cat is extremely nervous about the carrier, try placing his or her food inside of it and reward your feline with treats.
REWARD YOUR PET THROUGHOUT THE VISIT
The main reason pets feel stressed at the vet’s office is because they aren’t comfortable. While it may seem like an impossible feat, it’s important to try and reassure your pet throughout the visit. You can do this by giving him or her reassuring pats or rewarding good behavior with treats. That being said, some pets might become too nervous to eat, but it’s a good idea to offer the treat so that your pet will have it later when he or she is calmer.
Reassuring your pet is a good way to calm his or her nerves, but it’s also important that you give the vet and the vet’s assistant room to work. Too many hands touching your pet can cause overstimulation. Remember, the vet is trained to handle scared or anxious pets, therefore it’s a good idea to give him or her some space when necessary.
A trip to the vet can be a stressful situation for your pet, and these are only a couple examples of ways you can make the visit as easy as possible. Keep an eye out for part two where we will discuss a few more ways that you can help your pet relax at the vet. In the meantime, if you are in the Los Angeles area and you’re looking for all the traditional vet services in the comfort of your own home, call 911 Vets. With our mobile vet clinic, you get quality care around the clock. Call us today to get started!