The Vet Visit
Visiting the Vet can be an extremely stressful experience for all concerned. Our goal is to make it as easy and painless as possible.
Dogs:
If your dog seems to "hate" to go to the vet....we suggest that you try and drop by with your dog and just visit for a few moments whenever you can. Let us love on them and give them a treat. Then leave. That way, your dog will not always associate a bad experience with a visit to the doc. For everyone's safety, your dog should always, always be on a leash at all times.
Cats:
Unfortunately, this won't work with kitties. One tip is to set out your carrier a few days ahead of time, with a blankie and toys in it and maybe some catnip, so your kitty can get used to it. It is also a good idea to just get them used to being in the car. Even a drive around the block once in a while will help. We cannot stress how important it is that your cat(s) get used to traveling in a carrier. If you do not have one, we have cardboard ones available. It is extremely dangerous to both of you to have your cat loose in the car. What if you are in an accident? Even a minor one? What if someone honks, or an ambulance goes by while you are going from the car to the building? This has happened in the past; some pets have been found but others were lost altogether. We hate seeing this happen as it is so unnecessary and just breaks our hearts.
Restraint:
Please be aware that because we cannot talk to them and explain what is happening, it is sometimes necessary for the doctor or staff to restrain your pet. Be reassured that our staff is trained in correct restraining procedures. We hope that you understand the necessity of this and not ask to do the restraining yourself. Also, our insurance does not cover injuries an owner may receive while trying to restrain their pet. While your pet may "scream bloody murder".... please remember that they are not really being injured and the restraining procedure is necessary to insure everyone's safety; including your pet's. They are usually just reacting to a dislike of being held so close and not pain. After the visit, if you think of questions you forgot to ask, please do not hesitate to call. If it is after normal business hours, we have an answering machine where you can leave a message and your call will be returned the next business day.