• We speak in low soft soothing voices, especially in rooms with worried animals. We’ve found cats prefer this type of interaction.
  • Animals with anxiety are very sensitive to quick sudden motions and loud voices. We are always aware of our movements. Recognizing the signs of anxiety enables us to decrease, if not completely eliminate their anxiety by being aware of how they are responding to our body language and voices.
  • We will work with the patient where the owner and pet are the most comfortable. We do many procedures in the room with the owners.
  • Some animals are anxious about leaving their owners and going to the treatment area. We ask the owner to help us walk our patients where they need to go for treatment, or we gently push them forward while walking behind. This helps to guide them in the right direction without pulling them. We recognize pulling on their collar when they don’t want to walk causes more resistance. Treats are used for motivation- as long as they do not need heavy sedation or anesthesia.
  • We believe animals should be treated in a comfortable atmosphere where they experience less stress. We will employ low-stress handling techniques when treating your pet. If we cannot win them over with treats, calm voices, and slow movements, we will choose sedation as an early option versus a last resort. Example: This means your pet should allow us to draw blood, trim their nails, or clean their ears without fear and anxiety.
  • We believe less is ALWAYS more regarding animal restraint. This means we explore all avenues of restraint before scuffing cats. We also refrain from holding dogs tightly unless it is necessary to keep them from moving in situations such as a blood draw.
  • We have a room (with its own entry) dedicated for saying “good bye” to your pet. No patient exams will be done in this room.
  • We believe animals should not be forced to undergo treatments under emotional duress. If we can’t win them over with treats, calm voices, and slow movements then we choose sedation as an early option verses a last resort. We believe all situations regarding our patients should be win:win. This means the patient allows us to draw blood, trim their nails, and clean their ears without fear and anxiety.
  • We encourage owners to bring an item that will help calm their pet when their pet is staying in our care for the day. We have cubbies in treatment area. Their belongings will be placed in their cubby while their procedure is performed. It will rejoin the pet after procedures.
  • The client and the patient are the reason we are here. We are here to partner with our clients to provide the best for our patients, their animals.