Why be a Stress-Free Vet Clinic?

By Dr Megan

Visiting the vet shouldn’t be a stressful ordeal for your furry family member. Yet, for many pets, a trip to the clinic triggers fear, anxiety, or even outright panic. Whether it’s the association with feeling unwell, a traumatic experience in the past, or simply a dislike of needles, many pets—and their owners—dread veterinary visits.

But, why do we care? Well, there’s some very practical reasons why taking a low fear approach is better. If our patients are anxious or feel pressured, they are likely to react in the ways that can and that includes biting and scratching. None of our team want to be injured so reducing our patients’ apprehension makes a safer workplace. Secondly, we know that >60% of cats and 10% of dogs don’t get veterinary care because they are challenging to bring to the clinic or are a handful to manage once here. If we can take steps to lower the stress of that process, then more animals can access the health care they need. Lastly, we believe that taking a ‘low stress’ approach is the right thing to do! It is well recognised now that pet’s emotional wellbeing is just an important to the physical health, and we don’t want to be relying on traditional approaches that don’t accept this and contribute to the development of fear of the vet clinic.

This is why we’ve invested in the Stress Free Pets professional veterinary certification program for our entire team.

What Is Stress Free (Fear Free) Certification?
This certification equips veterinary professionals (vets, nurses and other support staff) with the skills and tools to reduce stress for animals in a clinical environment. Through rigorous training, comprehensive testing, and annual continuing education, our team members have learned how to recognize signs of stress and anxiety in pets—and, most importantly, how to minimize them.

So What Do We Do Differently?

• Dedicated Spaces: We offer separate dog and cat areas, reducing stressful encounters in the waiting room and in the hospital areas.
• Personalized Care: Patient notes help us identify pets who are nervous around others. We can use different entry points, indoor or outdoor waiting spaces, and minimize contact throughout the visit to make your pet as comfortable as possible.
• Pre-Visit Sedation: When appropriate, we recommend gentle sedation before the visit to help particularly anxious animals remain calm.
• Pheromone Therapy: We use comforting pheromones, like Feliway and Adaptil, on bedding and consult tables to create a soothing environment.
• Ongoing Training: Our team commits to continuous education in stress reduction techniques to ensure your pet always receives the best care possible.

Our Stress Free Pet Certified Professionals go beyond providing medical treatment—they look after your pet’s emotional wellbeing. We’re here to help your pet feel safe, comfortable, and cared for—every step of the way.