5 tips to prepare your pet for the vets

Here are some handy hints from our veterinarian Nickala to help prepare your pet for their next visit

1. Training

Grab some treats and spend some time getting your pet comfortable with being examined. Focus on areas they may not be used to having touched such as the feet, face and tail. Make sure to take it slow and give them lots of rewards to make for a positive experience. Doing some training at home when your pet is well can make for a much more relaxed vet visit.

2. Make pet carriers a happy place

Some pets see their carriers and go running in the opposite direction. Make the crate a positive experience, rather than being associated with a vet visit or car ride every time. Get your cat used to the crate by making it a fun place. Hiding treats or toys or even making the box into a comfy bed can make it a place your pet enjoys.

3. Make car rides fun

Once your pet loves their carrier, the next step is to practice the car ride. Making the car a fun place can help to reduce stress. This process should be done gradually, start with rewarding the pet for being in the car with the doors open, then eventually workup to driving short distances. 

4. Practice going to the vets

Bringing your pet in to be weighed, or along for the ride to pick up some food or treats can be a great way of making vet visits fun. That way your pet will associate coming in to visit us as a positive experience, rather than a place they come to when they are feeling unwell.

5. Talk to your vet

If your pet gets stressed being around other animals, ask to sit in a separate room or let the vet know you would prefer to wait outside. We are more than happy to accommodate the needs of your pet to make their experience as relaxed as possible.

You may not have ever thought about it but good behaviour really starts before you decide to get a new pet. It can be easy to rush the process meaning you are not prepared or properly equipped for the new arrival.

Here are some tips to help start you off on the right track:

1. Choose a pet appropriate for your lifestyle. We cannot stress this enough. Problem behaviour is generally not as common for pets kept in the right environment. Ask yourself some honest questions such as: Are you home enough to appropriately care for a pet and give them the attention and love they need and deserve? How much exercise will you be able to give a dog and do you have the time to do this? Would a cat be a more suitable choice? And would rehoming a more mature pet be more sensible? Puppies and kittens require lots of time not to mention patience! 

2. You need to plan! The first few months are critical when starting out. This is a key time to help your pet adjust to your lifestyle and family.  Will you have time to put in essential training such as puppy school? Are you and your family going to be able to be consistent with training? Have you got a plan in place for your pet when you go away?

3. Are you in a position to care for a pet? Are you going to be able to provide your pet with essential health care, parasite prevention, a premium quality diet and necessary grooming to make their life happy and comfortable? 

4. If you are getting a puppy or a kitten, check out their relatives. Ask to meet Mum and Dad to see how they interact with other pets and people and try to choose a confident and friendly puppy or kitten if possible. 

We are always here to help you and can answer any questions you might have about choosing the right pet for your family, just ask one of our friendly team today.

Many people put off bringing their cat to the vet as they feel it is just too stressful. As a result, we don't get to see your feline friend as often as we should and unfortunately, this means many health problems may go undetected. Dental disease, heart disease and kidney disease can sneak up on your cat slowly, often without you noticing.

With this in mind, we would like you to know that there are a few ways we can help reduce the stress associated with vet visits. Our first option is a pheromone spray that you can use in the cat carrier to enable your cat to feel more safe and secure. The pheromone spray is the same pheromone cats release when they feel happy and relaxed. We also recommend you spray it on a towel and use this to cover the cat carrier. This may help your cat feel safe and avoid them making eye contact with patients of the canine variety. 

For cats that need some extra help to reduce their anxiety, we do have a medication available that we can give you to administer to your cat before their visit. We just need to have examined your cat within the previous six months - ask us for more information and how we can assist you with this.

When your cat arrives to see us we can move them into an area away from any dogs and will always work closely with you and your cat to reduce any stress associated with a vet visit. 

If you have any questions or concerns about your pet's veterinary visit you should ask us for advice. 

Autumn is here and we've got a great video to share with you of a Dog Named Stella (from the northern hemisphere) who loves getting the most out of life! Click here to see her shenanigans on YouTube.