How Fear Free Certification Benefits Your Pet – and You!
At Androscoggin Animal Hospital, our aim is to provide the best care possible for your furry family. One of the ways we have worked to accomplish this is through our Fear-Free Certification. With this distinction, you can rest easy knowing that members of our staff meet the national standards required to provide a comfortable and stress-free environment for our patients. This, in turn, allows them to experience complete wellness for their lifelong health and well being.
There is quite a bit involved with becoming a Fear-Free certified veterinarian that pet owners and pets will benefit from – here is why!
The Advantages of Fear Free Certification
Each year, thousands of companion animals – cats, in particular – go without necessary veterinary exams, vaccinations, and other preventive care because they are too anxious or fearful of the vet. This fear could come in the form of transportation woes, or manifest in their overall behavior once they have arrived. However your pet’s fear presents itself, it can be quite a quandary for pet owners wishing to keep their pets healthy, yet free from distress.
Initiated by Marty Becker, DVM, the Fear Free Initiative was developed to address the behavioral and emotional well-being of companion animals in a way that decreases stress, anxiety, and fear. This Initiative is not only helpful when it comes to bringing your pet in for a veterinary examination, but also can be useful for travel, interaction with other pets and people, visits to the groomer, and at doggie day cares and kennels, etc.
As a veterinary practice using Fear Free techniques, some of the wonderful ways we help to create a soothing experience for your pet include:
- Alleviating or reducing the anxiety and fear that are associated with getting ready to come to the vet
- Helping to identify specific triggers to your pet’s discomfort, and how to help your pet’s specific circumstance
- Increasing compliance through gentle handling and behavior in the exam room
- Promoting safety, particularly between species in the waiting room
Along with staff member Fear Free certifications, we are also a certified Cat Friendly Practice, which ensures that we are caring for our feline friends through designated quiet areas, separate waiting rooms and exam rooms, reward based interaction (treats, toys, etc.), low stress examinations, and medication when required.
At Androscoggin Animal Hospital, our goal is to enhance the human-animal bond by focusing on both the physical and emotional health of companion animals. Fear Free certification is just one of the ways we are empowering our clients and their pets to feel better and live happier lives through quality vet care.
Our Commitment to Being Fear Free
Each of our staff members at Androscoggin Animal Hospital has committed to providing a fear-free experience for your pet, with many of them officially completing the Fear Free Certification program. We all practice techniques that reduce fear and stress for our patients. If your pet is experiencing discomfort or anxiety, such as barking, hiding, aggression, attempts to escape, trembling, and other behaviors, we invite you to come in to see us.
Not only are we a Fear Free practice, but we are also here to work with you on the overall issues behind your pet’s behavior. There are several at-home techniques we can assist you with when it comes to creating the calm needed for a successful vet visit – and that includes those with exotic pets, too.
Androscoggin is pleased to offer this Fear Free Initiative for all of our sweet pet patients, and we invite you to learn more at your next appointment. Please give us a call!