Stress Reduction for Canine Patients
Our goal should always be to provide our veterinary patients with the most pleasant experiences possible during visits. This not only fosters a good relationship with patients but also keeps clients happy.
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Signs of Stress
It is important to observe canine patients for subtle signs of stress because an anxious dog is quicker to react defensively. Recognizing these signs allows steps to be taken to decrease anxiety before it escalates. Be alert for lip licking, yawning, panting, whale eye (ie, seeing the sclera of the eye), and penis crowning (ie, seeing the tip of the penis extrude from the sheath). Panting can be difficult to interpret if the weather is hot or the dog has been active, but pairing panting with other subtle stress signs can be informative. Lack of panting can also indicate stress. When a dog that has been panting suddenly stops and its body tenses or freezes, take heed that the dog may be anxious.
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It can be very stressful for a dog to have team members walk into the examination room behind them. Allowing a fearful dog to follow team members into the room is an easy first step to help reduce stress. Giving the dog a food treat to nibble or a trail of treats dropped on the floor while entering the room may also be helpful. Using a minimum number of team members to interact with and handle the dog will also help. Before escorting the patient and client into the examination room, all team members should understand the treatment plan and have all the needed supplies, which will help eliminate the need for team members to leave and reenter the room after the dog is inside. If the examination room is small and the dog is very reactive, have a plan B (eg, if a team member must leave the room, allow the dog to follow everyone out of the room; follow the same protocol to reenter). This simple step can make a big difference for a fearful dog.
Tips for Reducing Stress
While the reality is that unpleasant and painful procedures are sometimes performed during veterinary visits, follow these simple steps to help condition patients to reduce their stress and anticipate good things.
Happy visits. Offer clients the opportunity to come to the practice for “happy visits” where nothing bad happens and their dog is encouraged to change from feeling fear and uncertainty about entering the practice to less anxious and inquisitive. The first visits should be short and conducted when the lobby is empty. When the dog enters the practice, team members can toss treats without interacting with the dog or client. Team members may pet and play with the dog as long as the dog initiates an exchange and starts any interaction.
It may take many visits for an extremely fearful dog to finally seem less stressed, and some dogs may never want to interact with team members. It is human nature to want to offer comfort by talking to and petting a stressed dog but it is better to respect the dog’s desire for more space and simply ignore him or her.
Let the dog follow. Some dogs feel trapped when inside the examination room. Letting a dog follow team members into the room gives the dog more control over the situation because he or she can see where everyone is; this also decreases the risk of the dog being surprised by someone entering the room.
Provide treats. The use of a high-value food during procedures can also reduce stress. Because patients cannot be told they will be given a special treat for being tolerant, the food should be provided before, during, and shortly after a procedure.
Employ restraints. Using head collars and basket muzzles can allow the use of more gentle restraint techniques that reduce a dog’s overall anxiety.
Use sedation when necessary. Do not underestimate the benefits of using sedation for an extremely fearful dog. The veterinary team’s ability to help the dog learn new, good associations is enhanced when he or she does not remember bad experiences.
Conclusion
Remember, just as repeated bad experiences can result in a fearful, fractious patient, repeated good experiences can have the opposite effect.