Sedation can play a vital role when it comes to creating a Fear Free veterinary visit, but knowing when and under what circumstances to bring sedation into the picture as it relates to the fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) a pet may be experiencing is critical for the both the pet and success of the visit. In this podcast, featuring Fear Free Executive council member Tamara Grubb, DVM, PhD, DACVAA, and Sharon Campbell, DVM, MS, DACVIM of Zoetis, we discuss the physiological and medical impacts of stress on a patient, how that can play into properly assessing pain, when on the FAS scale to start implementing sedation, and the benefits of doing so.
When many people think of a happy dog or a blissful cat, often images of a treat-spoiled dog or cat basking in the presence of some catnip come to mind. And it’s true. cats and dogs love those things. But when used in the right context, these seemingly simple little joys can be more than just recreational forms of happiness for our best friends. When it comes to reducing fear, anxiety, and stress in our pets during veterinary visits, the right use of treats and other tactics can make for powerful tools. In this podcast, featuring Dr. Natalie Marks of Blum Animal Hospital and Dr. John Talmadge of Bigger Road Veterinary Clinic, we talk about the treat ladder’s literal role in creating a Fear Free veterinary visit as well as its part in the larger Fear Free ideology and approach.
It can often be said that technicians are the backbone of the veterinary clinic. They spend their days (and nights) in the trenches and see little of the glamour of veterinary medicine – if there is such a thing. With Fear Free certifications blossoming around the country (and world), it’s important to understand how technicians play a role in the Fear Free process. In this podcast, hear firsthand from two leading Fear Free certified technicians, Emily Korber and Tabitha Sias Kucera, talk about the role technicians play in Fear Free.