The primary coping strategies of stressed patients include freezing, fleeing, fidgeting, or fighting, depending on patient proximity to the stressor, ability to escape, previous success of coping strategies, personality and genetics, and the speed at which the stressor moves toward the patient.5,6
Freezing is a passive coping strategy in which a dog or cat becomes as small, still, and quiet as possible to avoid a stressor.5 Freezing is often not recognized as a sign of stress because a frozen patient can appear cooperative and allow examination and diagnostic testing. Although these patients may appear normal, they are in emotional distress.
Patients may attempt to flee despite the limited size of typical examination rooms.5 This strategy may also be impossible when a patient is on a leash or in a carrier.
Fidgeting is a means of displacing stress.5 Dogs may scratch their ears, rapidly blink their eyes, sniff excessively, lick their paws or genitals, lick their lips and yawn, or pant excessively. Cats may groom themselves excessively, scratch their ears, pant, or search for alternative hiding places.
Fighting is often a last resort when other strategies to eliminate the stressor have been ineffective or the stressor is overwhelming and is an attempt at self-protection by moving the stressor away.5 Dogs may growl, snarl, lunge, bark, snap at the air, and/or bite. Cats may hiss, swat, growl, and/or bite. These aggressive behaviors can be a risk for veterinary staff and owners; therefore, minimizing patient stress is also important for human safety.