Why You Need to Choose Fear Free Professionals
Going to the vet is often stressful for pets. And it’s pretty easy to understand why. After all, there are a bunch of strange smells, sounds, people, and animals.
Plus, all the poking and prodding isn’t fun for your furball. But does it have to be that way? Or could we make it a better experience?
Thankfully, we can!
How?
By choosing a Fear Free Certified Practice.
If you want to learn more about this certification and how it benefits your pet, read this article.
What is Fear Free Certification?
Dr. Marty Becker, known as “America’s Veterinarian,” is the founder of Fear Free. This program’s mission is, “to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them.”
This is accomplished through their online courses. And it’s not just for veterinarians. Technicians, trainers, groomers, pet sitters, shelters, and other pet professionals can get certified.
The website even provides valuable information for pawrents like you. That information can teach you how to reduce your fur baby’s stress.
All Fear Free courses were written by pet experts. Their expertise ensures high-quality training that empowers professionals to provide stress-free services.
Some examples of Fear Free methods include:
- Teaching owners how to transport their pets with minimal stress.
- Creating a pleasant, comfortable waiting room experience.
- Using gentle handling techniques.
- Keeping dogs and cats separate from each other.
- Allowing pawrents to stay with their beloved pets during certain procedures.
- Using treats to distract pets.
- Reading pet body language to watch out for signs of anxiety.
- Responding appropriately to those signs to reduce fear.
- Using pheromones.
- Allowing owners to bring their pets by for a visit before making an official appointment. This teaches the pet there’s nothing to fear at the vet or groomer.
The Benefits of Choosing a Fear Free Practice or Professional
Obviously, reducing stress is always a good idea. But let’s go more into the details of why Fear Free methods are so beneficial.
For starters, anxiety can make it difficult to get your pet to the vet or groomer. Sometimes, that challenge is nearly impossible to overcome.
But what if your pet desperately needs veterinary care? Or a professional groomer’s touch?
That becomes a major problem if your pet is too scared.
However, a Fear Free Certified Practice or Professional can eradicate that problem. This is done by creating a low-stress environment and experience for animals.
That’s super important for several reasons.
First, it makes it possible for anxious pets to get the help they need. Second, the whole ordeal is more pleasant for your pet.
Third, a relaxed pet is much easier to examine, groom, train, etc. To understand the importance of this, picture an anxious pet at the vet.
That poor animal would be harder to help. The vet would struggle to conduct an exam or perform the necessary procedures.
Plus, the pet’s vital signs would increase. That would certainly affect the vet’s ability to determine the right diagnosis.
But a pet that stays calm will be more willing to undergo exams and veterinary procedures.
Furthermore, that pet’s vital signs would be more accurate. And that would help the vet diagnose the problem.
But your pet isn’t the only one to benefit. You can too!
Instead of worrying about your fur baby getting anxious, you can just relax. That’s because you know your pet won’t get super stressed.
And that will go a long way towards reducing your own stress.
Do All Pets Need a Fear Free Practice or Professional?
Some pets get super anxious when going to the vet, groomer, trainer, etc. In those cases, it’s easy to see why you would need a Fear-Free Certified pro.
But what if your pet doesn’t get excessively stressed? Should you still choose a Fear-Free Practice and/or Professional?
The answer is yes!
That’s because Fear-Free methods are more pleasant for all pets, no matter how calm they appear. And each pleasant experience reinforces the fact that your pet has nothing to fear.
Furthermore, Fear-Free techniques prevent traumatic experiences that could cause a calm pet to become anxious in certain situations.
With a Fear-Free Pro on the job, you never have to worry about your pet becoming emotionally damaged.
In Conclusion
To wrap it all up, choosing Fear Free Certified Practices and Professionals is totally worth it. The techniques they use are so much better for your pet’s emotional well-being.
And when your pet isn’t afraid, it’s much easier to get the help your four-legged friend needs!
About the Author:
Savanna Westwood
Savanna Westwood is the Owner and Founder of The Savvy Sitter, Pet Sitting and Dog Walking, LLC. She has grown up with animals all her life and enjoys spending time with them. Savanna has lived in the Winter Garden and Windermere Area for over 30 years. When she is not taking care of Fur Friends, one can find her reading, practicing archery, riding, and devising ways to provide additional and excellent services to clients. Savanna is a Certified Professional Pet Sitter with Pet Sitter International's CPPS certification and also holds certification in Pet First Aid and CPCR for Pet-Care Professionals.