Travelling to the vets has the potential to be a challenging experience for your dog. Deviation from your dog’s usual routine (eat, sleep, play, repeat..) can cause uncertainty, the good news is that there are lots of ways we can help make the experience a positive one.
Here are five key points to consider when bringing your dog to an appointment;
1. Safety First
Before making your way down to the practice it is important to check that your dog’s collar and/or harness is appropriately fitted. You should be able to fit 2 fingers underneath the collar and harness for a safe and comfortable fit. By doing this, this will lower the chance of them slipping out of it when moving around the practice which ensures theirs and other patients in the waiting area’s comfort and safety are not compromised. Similarly, we also politely ask that all dogs are kept on a lead in the waiting area.
2. The Journey
For many dogs, car trips can be stressful due to travel sickness or uncertainty. To make travel more enjoyable, start by creating a positive association with the car. Sit in the car with your dog, offering treats and a blanket that smells like the comfort of home. Calming sprays like Adaptil or Pet Remedy can also help to promote relaxation. Once your dog is comfortable, begin with short trips, gradually increasing the duration as their confidence grows. If your dog experiences motion sickness, please let us know so we can provide appropriate advice.
3. Home Comforts
It can be helpful to bring your dog’s favourite snacks or small toys along to help them relax whilst at the vets. Home comforts can really help contribute to forming a positive association.
4. Arriving at the practice
The waiting area can be a quite stress inducing place for some, with the experience of new smells, other animals and meeting new people. If you feel this may be a stressful experience for your dog you are welcome to wait in the porch area outside the practice. Alternatively if you would like to wait in the car, you are welcome to do so just give us a call to let us know that you have arrived, where you are parked and we will be out with you shortly after.
5. Dog friendly and Fear Free accredited
Beacon View have collaborated with animal behaviour experts to ensure we deliver the most soothing veterinary experience possible for both you and your cherished companion.
We are proud to have been accredited by the Dog Friendly Clinic Scheme, an initiative run by Dogs Trust and the British Veterinary Behaviour Association (BVBA), to ensure the most comfortable veterinary care experience possible for dogs and their owners. We felt the scheme sat perfectly alongside our Fear Free accreditation and approach to veterinary care.
Confidence Clinics
For those pets that find visiting the vets overwhelming we are able to offer Confidence Clinics, run by our dedicated registered veterinary nurses team. Confidence Clinics are the perfect opportunity to build confidence and form a positive association with our team and the practice. Please let us know if this is something you feel would be beneficial to your dog, we would love to help them associate the vets with an enjoyable place to be.
