Veterinary clinics can be a scary place for your pet. In order to prevent issues, stress, and anxiety, there are some things you can do to prepare your pet, and yourself, for their first trip to a vet. Check out this list of tips to help you get your furry friend ready for their yearly checkup or exam.
First, get your pet used to having their ears, teeth, and paws touched regularly by doing practice exams. Dont forget to reward them with treats and plenty of pets. Most routine procedures will involve the inspection of the ears, teeth, and clipping of the toenails, so in order to prevent aggression or fear at the actual vet appointment, it helps to do mock checkups at home so your pet will be used to the sensations.
Next, most clinics will allow you to bring your pet in on non-appointment visits so that your furry friend can meet the staff, get used to the smells and sounds, and get pets and rubs from the technicians and veterinarians so that they associate pleasant things with the clinic and not scary or anxious feelings. Always call the clinic first to make sure its a good time to stop by so they can give you and your pet the attention you need.
To make the appointment go faster, its a good idea to write down all of your questions and concerns for the annual checkup which you can quickly and easily go over to speed up the time your pet spends in the exam room. If you are visiting the clinic for an emergency, write down all of the observations you have noted over the past day or so, so that you can explain them to the veterinarian. This will help them get a better understanding of what may be wrong.
To ensure that the veterinarian will be able to assist, help, or heal your pet, you will need to take them to a clinic that specializes in the type of pet you own. If you have a cat, take them to a clinic that deals mainly with felines. If you have a dog, take them to a clinic that knows the health and care of dogs inside and out. If you own a horse, going to an equine clinic is your best bet.
Finally, you should remember to follow your veterinarians advice. Feed your pet the proper diet, stay on top of their medications, and groom them as necessary to ensure less trips to the vet in the future. In the end, your pet will thank you for the time and consideration you have taken to ensure they are healthy and happy.
