Blog Archives

Fear Free Success Stories: Get Inspired

Kim Campbell Thornton
Reducing fear, anxiety, and stress during visits and procedures takes time, teamwork, and sometimes a little experimentation. Here are three success stories shared by a veterinarian, trainer, and owner.

Tyson’s Turnaround

Tyson is a 12-year-old Schnauzer mix who first came to us last year for a wellness visit. The owner told us that his previous clinic had to muzzle him, and he was handled somewhat roughly. She wanted to get away from that. On his first visit we just got a feel for his comfort level. He barked and growled at us in the room but took treats willingly. He allowed an otoscopic exam but was tense, and when the stethoscope was introduced, he actively tried to bite. Approaching him with a muzzle sent him into a panic. We sent some Trazodone home with him that day for future visits and discussed doing a set of behavioral visits to help desensitize him to handling and instruments.
Tyson returned five months later for scheduled vaccinations. With Trazodone on board he was still on edge but performed tricks for us and approached us for treats. He allowed me to auscult him while he had treats to eat. This was great progress! We still decided to sedate for the remainder of his procedures to avoid backtracking on his progress.
Over the course of the next year Tyson’s owner took her own Fear Free steps at home, buying her own grooming table and clipping him herself. She was patient with him and even learned to Dremel his nails.
When it was nearly time for Tyson’s annual exam she set up behavioral sessions with us, so we could work on desensitization. We discovered Trazodone made him a little grumpy at home, so we switched to gabapentin, which worked well for him. On his first behavioral visit the difference was obvious. He came right up to staff for treats, did all of his tricks, and allowed us to touch him everywhere. We could feel his belly, touch his ears and legs, and look in his mouth. We started doing mock injections with a capped needle with no reaction. The only thing that still triggered him was obvious restraint.
For his annual wellness visit, Tyson allowed a full exam. We applied topical lidocaine at his injection sites and where we planned to draw blood for a heartworm test. We put a donut collar on Tyson prior to his vaccines as a precaution, and asked the owner to hold his harness to keep him steady (he was really into the treats and a bit wiggly). He did not react to his vaccinations and even held still long enough for us to get a blood draw from his back leg.
Tyson made a huge turnaround, and I think the owner’s willingness to do her part played a big role. It has been great to see the difference Fear Free techniques have made!

Susan Sappington, DVM, Rock Bridge Animal Hospital, Columbia, Missouri

Elke’s Excellent Experience

Elke had her annual veterinary checkup yesterday, and by doing some simple things we were able to make her visit less stressful and even a bit enjoyable. Our veterinarian is part of a Fear Free practice (Thank you, Animal Hospital of North Asheville) and embraces a cooperative care approach that allows animals to have choices and dictate the pace at which we move through the visit.

In the photo, you see that there is a comfortable mat for Elke to use. Having a soft spot to rest on is so much nicer for dogs than just having the cold, hard floor. She was a bit nervous, so we created a treat search for her by hiding treats in the blanket and Kong. It is one of her favorite things to do, and sniffing is an activity that we know helps calm dogs. During the actual exam, all of us (veterinarian, veterinary technician, and myself) gave her treats each time a new body part was examined. While Elke does not love going to the veterinarian’s office, with cooperative care and the Fear Free method she was able to relax and have a calm visit.

Joann Rechtine, CPDT-KA, MS, MPH, RN, The Loose Leash Academy, Black Mountain, North Carolina

Roger’s Routine

We were beside ourselves on how to handle taking Roger to the vet. We put him through basic obedience and advanced obedience classes twice to learn manners and how to act appropriately. He has done great in our home and in our families’ homes as we know how to handle his anxiety. In our vet’s office, though, Roger would go crazy as his anxiety shot through the roof from all the smells and people. Thanks to the Fear Free program and team at Frey Pet Hospital, Roger can feel safer and happier going to the vet now. We are thankful for Fear Free Way!

Nicole Schroeder, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Kim Campbell Thornton is content manager for Fear Free Pets and is a Level 3 Fear Free Certified Professional. She has been writing about dogs, cats, wildlife, and marine life since 1985.

20 Surprising Treats to Tempt Your Patients

Steve Dale, CABC
Just as we have our own individual taste preferences, so do dogs and cats. And food can be the way to their hearts. Many Fear Free Certified veterinary practices and Fear Free veterinarians even offer “menus” and keep track in pets’ records of personal preferences.

Of course, many cats will do anything for tuna. And dogs love those hot dogs. Those statements won’t stop the pet press.

However, veterinarians and veterinary technicians can also think outside the treat box. Sometimes, just because it’s novel, a treat may be more enticing. Also, at home these items might be used for training or for animals needing a bit of an appetite boost (always only with veterinary approval).

Who knew, for example, that many cats have a thing for olives (no pits please) or marshmallows. Or that dogs, and not necessarily Australian Cattle Dogs, love Vegemite, an Australian food spread made from leftover brewers’ yeast extract with various vegetables and spices. Most Americans disdain Vegemite, but many dogs love the stuff.

With Fear Free founder Dr. Marty Becker contributing, here’s a list of 20 surprising treats:

Anchovy paste
Apple
Baby food (without onion)
Bananas
Blueberries
Bonito fish flakes (known as katsuobushi in Japanese cuisine)
Braunschweiger
Cheerios
Cheez Whiz/Easy Cheese
Churros (fried-dough pastry)—hold the chocolate sauce
Green beans
Liverwurst
Marshmallow cream
Mini marshmallows
Olives (no pits)
Peas
Peanut Butter (avoid sugar-free peanut butters containing the artificial sweetener Xylitol, which is toxic to pets)
Rice cakes (plain)
Sardines (in pesto, in olive oil or in water)
Vegemite

Remember to keep portion sizes small, appropriate for the size of the pet. You don’t want to send him home with a tummy ache!

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Steve Dale, CABC (certified animal behavior consultant), hosts two national pet radio shows and is on WGN Radio, Chicago. He’s a regular contributor/columnist for many publications, including CATSTER, Veterinary Practice News, and the Journal of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. He’s appeared on dozens of TV shows, including Oprah, many Animal Planet Programs, and National Geographic Explorer. He has contributed to or authored many pet books and veterinary textbooks such as “The Cat: Clinical Medicine and Management” and co-edited Decoding Your Dog, by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. He speaks at conferences around the world. www.stevedale.tv.

Fear Free at Home: Helping Dogs With Separation Anxiety

Rachel Lees RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior)Every year, many pets are relinquished and sometimes euthanized for a variety of behavioral concerns. Among them are separation related issues. Dogs with separation-related diagnoses make up 10 to 20 percent of the cases referred to veterinary behaviorists.

Cases range from mild–showing minor body language changes during the owner’s departure–to severe–dogs injuring themselves and destroying the home by chewing through drywall and jumping out windows. Regardless of severity, it is important to obtain a diagnosis and begin treatment to not only keep these patients safe from anxiety and self-injury and the family’s home undamaged, but also to keep intact the human-animal bond.

Beginning Treatment

Obtaining a diagnosis from a veterinarian is the first step toward treatment. The patient should be medically worked up and assessed as there may be underlying medical or anxiety-related concerns that will exacerbate this issue. After a medical workup, the veterinary medical team can assist the owner by reviewing the veterinarian’s treatment plan, including safety, prevention, management, and behavioral therapy.

Depending on the diagnosis and severity of the problem, the veterinarian may also prescribe medications to reduce patient stress and anxiety during departures. The veterinary medical team can discuss trialing medications and potential side effects on a case-by-case basis.

Eyes in the Sky: Videotaping Alone Time

With advances in technology, we have a variety of ways to watch pets who are home alone. For a potential separation-related issue, it’s vital to recommend that the client have video and camera accessibility to the pet during departures. Not only can we evaluate the pet’s distress levels during departures, but this can be an important tool for the veterinarian in determining a diagnosis. We may find that the patient is not always distressed during departures and that an outside stimulus is causing the dog to panic. The veterinarian would diagnose and treat this problem very differently.

Lonely No More: Avoiding Alone Time

For severe cases where self-injury and destruction in the home are concerns, the veterinarian may recommend avoiding leaving the pet alone. This is not a long-term fix but can help keep the pet safe during treatment and behavior modification. Owners may have a pet sitter stay at the home during work hours or use boarding facilities or daycares.

Changing the Meaning of Time Alone

Part of behavioral therapy for separation distress is to change the way the patient feels about being alone. A great way to start this process is with high-value food for the patient to enjoy during departures. A lickable item is easy to ingest and easy for a pet to focus on when distressed. Think peanut butter, cream cheese, spray cheese, cheese spread, canned pumpkin, yogurt, mashed potatoes, and canned dog food. Food-enrichment items such as food bowl mazes, Kongs, plates, bowls, and muffin tins can be used to administer these treats.

Another benefit of using food is that we can monitor the patient’s stress level. If a patient is a peanut butter Kong fanatic when the owner is home, but that same patient will not touch the peanut butter during a departure, this tells us the patient is too stressed and anxious to enjoy the food enrichment offered. Relay this information to the veterinarian so the treatment plan can be altered.

Long-Term Success

Medications can help to reduce the patient’s anxiety, but behavioral therapy is crucial to long-term success. A treatment plan should include the following:

Shaping relaxed and independent behaviors: The goal is to teach the patient that calm, cool, collected behavior brings reinforcement. Positive reinforcement and clicker training can be helpful in implementing this step.
Creating a non-stressful and consistent departure routine to reduce overall anxiety: Instruct the owner to start working on short departures with the pet showing limited signs of stress and anxiety. The home will be set up in a consistent, predictable way while food enrichment is offered. “Safety cues” (bandanas on the door, scents, etc.) can be added to communicate to the pet that the owner will be back momentarily.
Changing the meaning of current departure cues: Departure cues are common indicators that owners will be leaving the home: putting on shoes, picking up keys/purse, or putting on a jacket. Owners should perform these cues during times when departures are not taking place. With repeated exposure, the pet will not always associate these cues with departures. Positive reinforcement can also be added in with the cue to create an even more positive association.

Medications and Supplements

Combining behavior therapy with psychotropic medications and supplements can improve the prognosis for separation anxiety. Primary medications such as fluoxetine (Reconcile) and clomipramine (Clomicalm) are licensed for use for in dogs with separation anxiety.

Other as-needed, event, or triage medications can be used for the departure itself to help reduce panic and stress. Some of these medications include Trazodone, Clonidine, or benzodiazepine(s) and are off-label use. The prescribing veterinarian will select these medications on a case-by-case basis. Pheromones (Adaptil) and supplements such as Zylkene (milk casein), and Anxitane (L-theanine) may also be suggested.

Consider referring severe cases to a veterinary behaviorist to help prevent the problem from becoming worse. For more information about separation anxiety, see or refer clients to the videos on separation anxiety at FearFreeHappyHomes.com.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Rachel Lees, a Level 3 Fear Free Certified Professional, is a veterinary technician specialist in behavior, a KPA certified training partner, and lead veterinary behavior technician at The Behavior Clinic in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. She loves helping people create and maintain a strong human-animal bond.

Study Finds Link Between Joint Problems and Arousability in Dogs

Linda Lombardi
A number of studies have found a relationship in humans between anxiety and a condition called joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS). Now a study has found a parallel association in dogs. This provides insight into understanding this correlation in people, as well as providing something to think about in dogs with anxiety and dogs with hip problems.

Coauthor James A. Serpell, Ph.D., professor of animal ethics and welfare at University of Pennsylvania, says humans who suffer from this condition essentially have loose joints and are more prone to dislocations and osteoarthritis. They also have a higher prevalence of anxiety, fear, panic, and a range of psychiatric disorders than the general population.

“There’s a lot of speculation about what could be the possible connection between the two,” he says. “One theory is that loose joints cause people to be anxious because they’re constantly worrying about the health consequences of their condition.”

Testing Method

The researchers tested that hypothesis by looking at whether the correlation held in another species that was not capable of that kind of understanding and worry. It was possible to test this on a large scale using already-existing data for guide dogs. The organization The Seeing Eye routinely tests puppies for joint problems at 18 months. Puppy raisers also fill out the C-BARQ, a standardized behavior evaluation. Researchers looked at these records for 5,575 dogs.

“We found that there was a strong association between a behavior variable that we call excitability, but that you could also call hyperarousability, and loose hips in these dogs,” Dr. Serpell says.

Trait and Anxiety Linked?

While they did not find a direct link with anxiety, there is likely a link between that trait and anxiety. “The literature in humans suggests that the reason that some people become anxious is simply because they’re more reactive to things in their environment,” Serpell says.

Finding a link between the physical condition and similar behavioral traits in dogs, then, casts doubt on the “health worries” explanation for the association. “The conclusion is, it’s very unlikely that the reason that people with joint hypermobility are anxious is because they’re anxious about their health condition, because we’re getting the same thing in another species,” he says. “This suggests that there must be some underlying link between the two.”

The exact nature of that link is currently unclear, but it is known that people with joint hypermobility show differences in their brains, particularly in areas related to emotional response. “This would suggest that we would find a similar difference if we were able to look into the brains of these dogs, and that there’s a direct link between these changes in brain anatomy and physiology across species that is involved in this strange link between joints and brains,” he says.

“This study add one more relevant piece to the puzzle of the interaction between behavior changes and medical problems,” says Carlo Siracusa, DVM, Ph.D., DACVB of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. “There is a growing body of evidence showing that animal behavior is regulated by the same immune and inflammatory response behind medical problems. So, it is probably time to retire the question ‘Is it medical or behavioral?'”

Socialization Effect

Serpell says the fact that the association was indirect – the dogs were excitable, but not necessarily anxious – is likely due to the strong impact of early socialization. “So much of anxiety-related behavior in dogs is linked to poor early socialization,” he says. “So instead what we’re picking up is something at a deeper level–a tendency to react strongly to the environment, which my guess is, would be less likely to be influenced by early environment than something like anxiety.”

Guide dog puppies are particularly well socialized, reducing the chance that they’ll be anxious adults even if they have inherited a genetic tendency to excitability and anxiety. Serpell notes that they’ve also been selected for generations against that trait. “I should say this somewhat cautiously, but so in some ways this was the worst population to look for this type of association, because the amount of variation they show is rather limited, because of selection and because of very careful early socialization.”

The fact that an association was found anyway suggests that if we could look instead at the general population of dogs, the association might be even stronger. Another limitation of the study is that the breeds were limited to those typically used as guide dogs. There are breed differences in tendencies to both excitability and joint problems, so further research is necessary.

Another possible explanation for the association, that the anxiety is caused by constant low levels of joint pain, seems unlikely, says Serpell. These dogs are young enough that although they are likely to develop hip problems later in life, they’d be unlikely to be in pain now, and their ratings on the C-BARQ did not show touch sensitivity.

That said, osteoarthritis does occur in young dogs. Even puppies younger than one year can experience lameness and chronic pain from it so that explanation remains a possibility.

These findings can be seen as another argument for the importance of proper early socialization, particularly in puppies who are excitable, since the implication is that they are more likely to develop anxiety. Another possibility, not suggested in the paper, is that we might want to be more aware of the potential for joint problems in dogs with these behavioral tendencies.

“That’s certainly something we could think about,” says Serpell. “If you’ve got a highly arousable dog that reacts very swiftly to environmental triggers and is slow to calm down after it gets aroused, then maybe yes, we should be giving special consideration to the possibility of joint hypermobility, particularly if it’s a medium to large breed dog where the consequences of it are likely to be more severe.”

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Linda Lombardi writes about the animals who share our planet and our homes for magazines including The Bark, websites including National Geographic and Mongabay.com, and for the Associated Press. Her most recent book, co-authored with Deirdre Franklin, is The Pit Bull Life: A Dog Lover’s Companion.

Fear Free Success Stories: Finding Ways to Help

Kim Campbell Thornton
For Fear Free Certified veterinary professionals, job one is reducing fear, anxiety, and stress during visits and procedures. Here are three successful approaches to making the veterinary clinic a safe and happy space for pets!

Slaying Fiona’s Fear

When Fiona first came to us at Gamble Pet Clinic, an examination without a fearful reaction from her was impossible. An attack by another dog at a young age had caused her to be anxious and nervous ever since. She had been muzzled at every veterinary clinic since her attack until coming to Gamble Pet Clinic. She was fearful initially, trying to nip at the doctor and staff when they attempted to examine her.

We began working with Fiona in an Elizabethan collar. When a pet is appropriately acclimated to it, an Elizabethan collar can be a great alternative to a muzzle because it allows the dog’s head, nose, and mouth to move naturally and easily while providing a barrier that keeps the patient and staff safe and comfortable. If used appropriately and only in a positive manner from the start, it can be a great tool for Fear Free work on anxious or stressed patients like Fiona. In this way, Dr. Gamble is able to examine Fiona while she is distracted by treats like cheese and pretzel sticks. Both Dr. Gamble and Samantha, her assistant, are Fear Free Certified, making the whole process go smoothly.

Fiona’s Fear Free journey continued with regular Victory Visits to the clinic where everyone worked slowly and calmly with her to get her used to the environment and build her trust. Gradually, her anxiety about coming to the clinic decreased and she started to see it as a positive experience, looking forward to the treats and trusting the doctor enough to begin letting her touch and examine her. Every time she comes in, we use Fear Free techniques that build on the foundation we have laid. Fiona is still working on her Fear Free process and we are working to gain her full trust. We are so proud of the amazing strides she has made with us so far in the Fear Free setting!

Emily Andrade, CVA, Fear Free Level 3 Certified, Gamble Pet Clinic, Fort Collins, Colorado

Networking News

I took the Fear Free course. It was interesting and useful. I’m now working with two local veterinary offices who found me through the Fear Free website.

Getting the Fear Free certificate increased business this year more than any other marketing I’ve done. It seems that more veterinarians in my area are implementing Fear Free concepts in their practices and seeking trainers to partner with.

Delores Carter, MA, KPA CTP, UW-AAB, The Learning Dog Academy, Brighton, Michigan

A Blood Draw for Sal

Sal was brought to us to establish why he had been having chronic vomiting and diarrhea. When I approached him in the lobby, he immediately pinned his ears and retreated under the couch. We brought him into an exam room, and he warmed up a bit but was still wary. Mom and Dad mentioned that in the past at other clinics he was taken to “the back” for vaccines and they could hear him vocalizing from the exam room.

We needed to sedate him to further work up his history of vomiting and diarrhea. Since this would take a while, Mom and Dad went out for lunch and we kept Sal in our treatment area, where he became noticeably more anxious with the absence of his family. We used desensitization and counterconditioning techniques with small pieces of Braunschweiger and he eventually did not even notice when he was being touched along his epaxial muscles. He did not vocalize or notice whatsoever when we gave him his IM sedation. His abdominal ultrasound was normal, which was great for him but meant that we needed to further work up his symptoms. The veterinarian on the case recommended that he come in for an ACTH stimulation test.

The technician working with him mentioned that we needed to provide Sal with some pre-visit medications so it would be less stressful for him. This specific test measures cortisol and if Sal was stressed it could affect the test results. The veterinarian consulted our behavior department about what medications he could come in on that would not affect the test results.

Because Sal vomited during a trial of Trazodone at home, he came in on gabapentin alone. Because this didn’t go well, we called it a day and decided to attempt a different medication combination. The next time Sal received gabapentin, Trazodone, and Cerenia 30 minutes prior to the appointment time. This time when we entered the room, Sal was significantly sleepier and more relaxed. We offered him chicken baby food and he loved it. We placed him on the table, Mom and Dad talked to him and fed him while one technician occluded his vein, and the other technician performed the blood draw and administered the medication. Sal ate chicken baby food throughout the entire process. Then Mom and Dad waited patiently in the exam room with Sal until it was time to draw the 1-hour post sample. We repeated the same process. Sal was a rock star and ate throughout the blood draw. Now we have a set protocol for when he comes in for workups or annual visits, and he stays with mom and dad for any procedure possible.

Maria Marano, RVT, Fear Free Certified, Community Practice, The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Kim Campbell Thornton is content manager for Fear Free Pets and is a Level 3 Fear Free Certified Professional. She has been writing about dogs, cats, wildlife, and marine life since 1985.

Reduce Bite Risk by Teaching Children Not to Approach Fearful Dogs

Linda LombardiChildren up to nine years old are at highest risk of being bitten by a dog. A new study confirms previous research that children are not very good at recognizing fear in dogs and reveals an additional issue: even when they do recognize fear, children are just as likely to approach a fearful dog as a happy one. This has important implications for how we educate children and parents to minimize the risk of bites.

The study used images and video clips of dogs showing behavior signals in three categories: frightened/aggressive, defensive/aggressive, and happy/playful. These were reviewed for accuracy by an experienced dog trainer with a bachelor of science degree in animal behavior. They were shown to children ages 4 to 5 and 6 to 7 years who were then asked questions to assess how well they identified the dog’s emotional state, how confident they were about their interpretation, and how likely they would be to approach the dog.

Study Method

Children rated the dogs’ emotions on a chart using cartoon images and a five-point scale. They also rated on a five-point scale questions about how they would act toward the dog, including “Would you pat this dog?” “Would you cuddle this dog?” and “Would you sit next to this dog?”

The children were relatively good at recognizing angry dogs but less able to recognize frightened ones: only 56 percent of 4- to 5-year-olds and 76 percent of 6- to 7-year-olds accurately recognized frightened dogs.

Knowledge Doesn’t Mean Safety

However, the ability to recognize a frightened dog did not mean that a child would behave safely by avoiding that dog. Children were unlikely to approach an angry dog, but 81 percent of children answered that they would approach dogs they recognized as frightened. Statistical analysis also found no difference in the likelihood that children would approach a frightened dog compared to a happy one.

Children’s intuition about how to behave around an angry dog seems good, so why the difference with fearful ones? Coauthor Sarah E. Rose of Staffordshire University says, “It is possible that young children may think that it is okay to approach a frightened dog as when they themselves feel frightened, physical comfort can be reassuring. They fail to recognize that the dog’s feelings and reactions in this situation may be different to their own.”

The study also looked for effects of age and whether children lived with a dog or not but did not find consistent differences. “Children do show some improvements in correctly recognizing the emotion with age, and there is also some evidence that those growing up in a house with a dog may be a little better at recognizing the emotions,” she says. “But these findings are not consistent for all emotions.”

Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB, says, “This study shows at least one reason–there may be others–that children are the most common bite victims. They are not adept at recognizing frightened dogs, and even when they are able to recognize them, they don’t know how to interact with those dogs.”

Practical Prevention

This has implications for parents, behaviorists, and the design of dog-bite prevention programs. Dr. Radosta says parents need to educate themselves and their children. “The best practical advice is to prepare the dog for the child before the child is born and educate little ones with pictures that they can comprehend as soon as they are born,” she says. “We read with kids from day one, why not read picture books about dogs and cats?”

Adults also need to be aware of both their dog’s signals and the risk that a child may approach a fearful dog. “Adults don’t recognize fearful behavior and they do not understand that any animal can bite if the circumstances are stressful enough. As a result, chances are taken that should not be taken,” she says. “Make sure to practice proactive supervision all the time.”

The authors note that while there is evidence for at least short-term benefits for dog-bite prevention education programs, this mostly evaluates children’s ability to recognize risky situations and their performance on tests of knowledge, rather than their ability to recognize dog signals and how they behave in response. The results of this study suggest that programs should explicitly teach children both how to recognize behavior and that fearful behavior means that a dog wants to be left alone, rather than wanting the hug that they themselves would find comforting.

“Children seem to have a relatively good understanding that they should not approach an angry dog, but this is lacking for frightened dogs,” says Rose. “We recommend that children should be explicitly taught not to approach frightened dogs.”

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Linda Lombardi writes about the animals who share our planet and our homes for magazines including The Bark, websites including National Geographic and Mongabay.com, and for the Associated Press. Her most recent book, co-authored with Deirdre Franklin, is The Pit Bull Life: A Dog Lover’s Companion.

Busting Practice Certification Myths

We can’t be a Fear Free Certified Practice because…How many times have you thought this?

We don’t like to be negative, but, well, you’re wrong. Here are the top 10 myths about the difficulty of earning Fear Free Practice Certification and what you might be surprised to learn about getting your practice certified.

We don’t have separate cat and dog entrances.

Species-specific entrances are not required. If you have them, that is great! There is an optional standard for which you will score points for having them, but they are not a requirement.

We don’t have a designated cat room.

A designated cat room is a plus, but it’s not a must. You can earn points for having one, but you won’t lose points for not having one.

We can’t afford to pay for everyone’s memberships on top of Practice Certification.

Once a practice is certified, you pay only the annual Practice Certification dues; you no longer pay for individual members.

We have to repaint the practice in Fear Free colors.

We don’t expect you to! If you are already planning to refresh the practice, it makes sense to pick some Fear Free colors, but it’s not a requirement.

We are a Fear Free Practice already; every team member is certified.

Congratulations on getting everyone certified! However, to be an official Fear Free Certified Practice, you must complete the Practice Certification process. Chances are you will save money!

Not everyone in the practice is Fear Free Certified.

To be eligible for Practice Certification, only 25 percent of your staff must be Fear Free Certified^Ò with an active membership.

The standards aren’t available to review prior to applying.

Members can download and begin implementing the Standards and Supporting Examples at any time.

We don’t have room for separate dog and cat waiting areas.

Separate waiting areas are not required, though visual blocks are encouraged if clients and patients are unable to wait outside or be moved straight into an exam room.

Our scrubs aren’t in “Fear Free-approved” colors.

Team members of Fear Free Certified Practices are not required to wear any specific-colored scrubs or lab coats.

The process is too difficult.

Practice Certification is a commitment, but it is worth it.

For more information, learn more at fearfreepets.com/practice-certification.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Getting Pigs on Board With Care

Mikkel Becker

Fear Free is a concept that benefits both animals and the people working with them. This is especially evident when the animal being cared for is of tremendous size and strength, such as the pig patients of Fear Free certified professional Dr. Alicia McLaughlin at The Center for Bird and Exotic Animal Medicine near Seattle, Washington.

“When pigs are stressed, they communicate their stress very clearly, both vocally and with their body language, which can be very upsetting for their family and veterinary staff. When pigs are less stressed, their families are more relaxed, and their veterinarian is able to provide better quality medical care,” says McLaughlin.

Handle With Care

Coercive handling causes increased tension for everyone. Forced handling is also likely to create fear memories and aversions that make the pig more challenging to work with and create a greater safety risk for both pig and people.

“Pigs are very touchy about their bodies. Many don’t like being touched unless they are being scratched in certain areas. If they feel that any handling attempts are coercive, they’re likely to react strongly and negatively,” says McLaughlin. “Most pigs have an extreme dislike for restraint, having their facial area handled, or being picked up. Forcing a pig to remain still with restraint even momentarily for sedation can cause tension for everyone. Many will vocalize in distress when this handling occurs; with squeal decibels rivaling those made by a fighter jet.”

Most pigs who come in are open to the veterinary experience if the staff interacts in a way that signals they are friendly, not threatening. Encouraging the pig’s willing participation during care using treat rewards, setting a soothing care environment, and using calming aids are all approaches resulting in less stress and greater success.

Reading Porcine Body Language

Rewards and food aren’t the only things that work to keep pigs calm during Fear Free care. Carefully observing the pig’s body language for signs of fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) throughout care is also key for keeping the pig in a calmer, more amenable state and for keeping both pig and humans safe in the process.

Signs of FAS in pigs include muscles tensing, shying away, lowering the head, moving into a corner, or finding security by moving their body next to a wall. In some cases, FAS may be subtle, with one potential indicator being the pig coming up to take treats, but then retreating to a safe distance immediately after the interaction. Loud squeals and excessive vocalizations are audible signs of a pig’s distress.

When in a state of FAS, pigs will attempt to avoid the situation and move away or hide. If pushed, though, pigs on rare occasions may try to bite. Biting is rare, a last-ditch escape effort from pigs who are responding to the situation as if they’re going to die.

Sedation Can Help

It’s far better to note early signs of FAS and make ongoing adjustments to keep the pig calm than it is to risk escalation and the creation of fearful memories of the experience. Sedation isn’t a last resort for pig care, but a protective practice used early and often when it comes to reducing the FAS pigs experience. In many cases, full sedation is recommended to eliminate the distress and ensuing struggle that could otherwise occur if the pig becomes upset. But before jumping immediately to sedation, Dr. McLaughlin is careful to make the sedation itself as non-stressful and Fear Free as possible.

Sedating a pig can be tricky, especially since most pigs are averse to having their faces touched or to being held in place even momentarily. It’s important to Dr. McLaughlin to keep sedation minimally stressful. Oral pre-sedation medication, such as Valium that’s ground up and placed on food, can take the edge off before sedation. With pre-sedation medication on board, the pig is often calm enough to tolerate minimal restraint while a gas mask is placed over the face. No more than a minute later, the pig is out and ready to be cared for.

“Time pressures can result in handling and care being more coercive than we want it to be. There is something to getting it done quick and dirty. But there are long-term effects that go with that and it’s not my preference to do that,” says Dr. McLaughlin.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Mikkel Becker, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP, CDBC, CTC, is lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. She is a certified behavior consultant and trainer who specializes in reward-based training that’s partnered closely with the pet’s veterinary team. Mikkel is coauthor of six books, including From Fearful to Fear Free.

Feline Needs in Confinement: A Tale of Two Kinds of Cats

Linda Lombardi
Spending extended time in a shelter or veterinary hospital is stressful for cats. Judith Stella researches how they respond to their environments and what we can do to make life easier for them.

“The quality of the environment is going to impact their welfare, whether in homes, shelters, or research facilities,” she says. “So I’m interested in, how do we optimize that environment to minimize distress, particularly when they are singly housed in cages?”

In a series of studies, she has looked at effects of various environmental factors and, more recently, how cats of different personality types respond. The results provide food for thought about what we should provide for cats who must spend time in confinement.

Surroundings

One study looked at the properties of the room in general, comparing the importance of that environment to what was provided in the cat’s cage. One type of room, which she called “managed,” was quiet, with a consistent caretaker who fed, watered, and cleaned cages at the same time every day. The “unmanaged” room tried to mimic the typical shelter or vet hospital. “We played recordings of dogs barking, had loud music playing, people walking in and out, and we turned lights on and off when we walked in and out of the room.”

It’s not surprising that cats preferred the quiet room, but Stella was surprised to find that the room was even more important to them than the environment in their cage. “In the managed room they did better regardless of whether they had an enriched cage or not,” she says. “Even in the absence of an enriched cage, they still tended to adapt more quickly than the cats in the unmanaged room.”

Personality Variances

Using what that work determined was the optimal environment for the room, the current study then looked at individual differences. Fifty-five cats were housed for three days with enriched cages and a predictable husbandry schedule. Behavior was recorded hourly, as well as the cat’s response to the approach of a familiar and unfamiliar person at the end of the third day.

Owners completed a questionnaire about their cats’ personality traits, and an analysis found that the cats fell into two groups. The 22 cats in Cluster 1 were described in terms such as shy, mellow, and timid; the 33 in Cluster 2 were active, curious, and easygoing. It turned out that the cats’ use of the resources in their cage depended on which cluster they were in. Cats in Cluster 1 tended to be alert and tense and used the hide boxes; cats in Cluster 2 were more relaxed and spent much of the time on the perch.

The results of the familiar/unfamiliar person test also differed by cluster. Owners described cats in Cluster 2 as sociable and cats in Cluster 1 as timid with strangers but friendly with familiar people. Cats in Cluster 1 took a longer time to investigate a new person but were just as social with a familiar person as Cluster 2 cats.

Cats Love Consistency

The “familiar” person was the one who had been taking care of them over the three-day period, whom they hadn’t known previously. This shows that the cats developed something of a relationship in that short period of time and indicates the importance for at least some cats of trying to keep down the number of people they’re exposed to.

“For those cats that are more stressed by unfamiliar people, having a consistent person take care of them every day will help them adjust a little more quickly,” Stella says. In most institutional settings it can’t be the same person every day, but in a shelter, two caretakers per cat instead of many could help. In a hospital, cats might benefit from having the same tech do all the treatments over the course of a day.

The researchers also looked at fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in an attempt to use a physical measure of stress that could be collected non-invasively, but results were not significant. Stella thinks this is partly because the time period was too short, but also because most cats did not produce a sample every day.

“This research aligns with previous work that demonstrated cats display individual variation in their behavior,” says Kristyn Vitale of the Human-Animal Interaction Lab at Oregon State University. “This can be applied by any person who owns or works with cats. It is important to recognize some cats will be more stressed in certain situations than other cats, so we should make management and housing decisions based on each cat’s behavior and stress level. Through a consideration of cat individuality, we can work toward forming healthier cat-human relationships and increase the welfare of cats.”

Stella says that since we won’t always know the cat’s personality type and coping style, for example when admitting them to a hospital or shelter, we can make the environment work for the largest number of cats by being aware of these different needs.

“The cats are going to need different resources, or will use the resources provided to them differently, depending on those temperament traits. For some cats, having a hiding box is going to be imperative for them to be able to cope; for others, maybe not, but providing it for everybody will make sure we cover the ones that really need it,” she says. “Give them those resources in the cage, make sure we keep the room quiet, minimize traffic, have consistent people working as caretakers as much as possible, and it will give the greatest number of cats the best opportunity to cope and adapt to the environment.”

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Linda Lombardi writes about the animals who share our planet and our homes for magazines including The Bark, websites including National Geographic and Mongabay.com, and for the Associated Press. Her most recent book, co-authored with Deirdre Franklin, is The Pit Bull Life: A Dog Lover’s Companion.

Time, Education Help to Manage Fear

Kim Campbell Thornton
For humans, overcoming fear, or at least learning to deal with it, takes time and practice. That’s even more true for pets, because we can’t communicate that veterinary exams and procedures will help them to feel better or stay healthy. Fortunately, Fear Free techniques can help to send the message to pets that they don’t need to be afraid, and Fear Free education can help humans better understand their animals’ fears and needs.

Happy Hunter

Hunter, a 2-year-old mixed breed, enjoys looking out the windows in the lobby of our clinic. By starting his visit there, asking his mom questions and listening to his heart and lungs, we can make sure he is comfortable enough to continue his exam in the exam room. But it was a different story when he first came in almost two years ago. Because of a previous frightening experience at another clinic, he was wary of us and the handling and procedures being done. He would bare his teeth, growl, and even try to nip at Dr. Gamble’s hands when she tried to touch him. Through consistent Victory Visits, pre-visit training and medications, and desensitization to areas where vaccines and other needle pokes are typically given, we are now able to provide him and his owner with a comfortable and rewarding experience every time he is in. Now he sits patiently and lets Dr. Gamble examine him—with the help of some cheese and marshmallows, not to mention smears of his favorite treats, peanut butter and canned food. During Hunter’s victory visits, we commonly work on the desensitization process without actually following through with an injection. “Happy visits, along with some training classes and behavior work on our part, have made a world of difference to Hunter,” writes his owner, Beth. “Hunter is now excited to see Emily, Heather, Dr. Gamble, and many other staff members as soon as he walks through the front door. He is a much happier dog at the vet thanks to Gamble Pet Clinic’s Fear Free work.”

Emily Andrade, CVA, Fear Free Level 3 Certified, Gamble Pet Clinic, Fort Collins, Colorado

Fear Free Education Win

Recently, there was an event called Woof Fest held during a downtown pub crawl. Our clinic sponsored “Dog Trivia,” and I focused the questions on a pet’s emotional health, such as “Is this dog’s body language calm or stressed?” and “A dog wagging their tail is always happy. True or False?” Hundreds of people played our trivia game, and it was such a rewarding experience to educate the public on the topic.

Natalie Gruchow, CVPM, Animal Health Clinic, Fargo, North Dakota

Sammy’s Success

Sammy had grown up in a hoarding situation and was fearful at the time of his adoption. Unless he was sedated, the six-year-old dog would bark and lunge or even eliminate from fear during veterinary visits. A prescription for an SSRI helped and the team tried additional medications at different doses, but Sammy would push through the medications and continue to show fear aggression. At first, he was unable to generalize that humans weren’t scary, so it was important for him to see the same person at the hospital on each visit. That wasn’t easy, but eventually the right person came along who was able to take the time and effort for Sammy to become comfortable. It took six months of Victory Visits spent eating chicken, practicing chin rests and lying on his side, and undergoing desensitization to having his leg shaved, the scent of alcohol, application of a topical product for numbness, and the pretend poke of a needle, but in July Sammy underwent his first successful blood draw. Now we are routinely doing happy visits to keep the momentum going.

Beth Friedman, Canine Companion Consulting, Fort Collins, Colorado

Down Under Wonder

Bruno is a goofy 8-year-old Bull Arab Cross (a type of Australian working dog). He has always been very friendly at the vet, but once pats stopped and the examination started, he would become suspicious and communicate his discomfort with aggressive behavior. Fortunately, Bruno’s owner has been committed to training. They had private training sessions and attended a Ready, Vet, Go! course. As part of Bruno’s training we incorporated a lot of owner education on subtle body language changes, as well as start and stop cues for Bruno. Bruno was trained with a sustained chin target, using a towel on a chair, as his start cue, meaning “I’m ready for procedure.” If he lifted his head, we immediately stopped the procedure. Bruno was also trained to be comfortable with a Baskerville Ultra Muzzle. We spent time teaching Bruno specific body parts such as tail, ear, and scruff, so that he knew what was about to happen. Over time we were able to pair several good vet clinic experiences (training on a Sunday in clinic) with lots of his fave foods, body scratches, and games. We also introduced veterinary equipment, including syringes, blunt needle, alcohol swabs, and stethoscope. When we weren’t actively training, he was taught a default “chill” behavior and rewarded for relaxed head, tail, and big breaths. He had several socialization visits at the vet, and when he required surgery for a lump removal we did practice runs with pre-visit medication to see what would work best for him. A planned course of action on admission saw him anesthetized as soon as possible to limit buildup of anxiety. Since then Bruno has had further training sessions and socializing vet visits. Recently he had his vaccinations and we were able to give his injection without any restraint by utilizing his muzzle and target training. Bruno is a great example of what teamwork can achieve when you have a committed owner and a Fear Free-trained vet and trainer, not to mention a goofy, food-motivated dog!

Jacqui Johnston, Holland Park and Carina Vet Clinics and Trish Allan, All Pets Education and Training, Brisbane, Australia

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Kim Campbell Thornton is content manager for Fear Free Pets and is a Level 3 Fear Free Certified Professional. She has been writing about dogs, cats, wildlife, and marine life since 1985.

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