My Pet Is Terrified of the Vet – A Veterinarian’s Guide to Making Visits Less Stressful
My Pet Is Terrified of the Vet – A Veterinarian’s Guide to Making Visits Less Stressful
Written by Alessandro Didiano (doctor in veterinary medicine, MRCVS)
Disclaimer: This article is personally written by me, a licensed veterinarian with more than a decade of clinical experience. It’s for general information only and not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet vet for health concerns or emergencies.
I was a 4th year vet student and I was super excited, as I was shadowing a seasoned vet; a golden opportunity to absorb all the knowledge I could.
The vet was about to administer the intranasal Bordetella (the kennel cough vaccine) to a very anxious Golden Retriever. The vet walked slowly up to the terrified dog, and proceeded to wrestle him. The dog’s eyes were wide, its tail tucked, and it was making this awful high-pitched whine. The vet was just determined to squirt the vaccine up the dog’s nose.
The dog tried to move backwards, spin, and even attempted a dramatic leap off the table (and to be caught just in time by the owner before hitting the floor). I was standing there, feeling sorry for the poor dog, who was clearly traumatized. But none of that seemed to matter: the priority was getting the vaccine in.
Eventually, the vaccination was done, while the dog passed a huge amount of urine on the table. The vet looked at me and said “And this, dear student, is how you give the kennel cough vaccine to a dog”.
Needless to say, that moment stuck with me. Both vets and pet owners very often forget to see the visit from the animal’s perspective. I have seen too many customers in the waiting room laughing at a dogs who refuse to walk into the consulting room. And while I understand it can look a bit funny, what we’re really seeing is a dog overwhelmed by fear, a fear caused by past negative experiences. That dog genuinely believes that something bad is about to happen to them.
However, vet visits don’t have to be always traumatic. There are simple (science-backed) strategies that can help your pet feel calmer before and during the appointments.
Why Are Vet Visits So Stressful for Pets?
Veterinary clinics are full of strong smells and unfamiliar people (who often touch them exactly where it hurts and give them painful injections). Often they arrive at the vets after a car journey which, especially for cats, can be incredibly stressful and nausea-inducing. For most pets, these factors combine into one big, anxiety-inducing situation.
And unfortunately, just one bad experience can make the next visit ten times worse.
But please don't worry: with the right preparation, you can help your pet build new and better associations.
How to Prepare Your Pet Before and During the Vet Visit
1. Desensitise them to the carrier or car
For non-emergency appointments, start days (or even weeks) in advance. For cats, leave the carrier out in a calm room with a soft blanket and tasty treats inside. For dogs, take short car trips that don’t end at the vet (maybe to a park or just a loop around the block with treats). If your pet feels nauseous in the car, consider contacting your local vet and ask them to dispense for you some anti-nausea and anti-sickness medication to give to your pet before the car journey.
2. Use calming pheromones or supplements for mild to moderate stress
Many pets respond quite well to natural calming products. These are my most recommended:
-
Feliway Classic Spray for cats – These sprays mimic calming cat pheromones. Spray the carrier 15-30 minutes before placing your cat inside.
-
Adaptil Spray for dogs – These can reduce signs of fear and stress. If your dog has a collar, lightly spray it with Adaptil about 15-30 minutes before the vet visit. You can also spray their bed or blanket if they will be resting on it. Alternatively, if you are traveling by car, lightly spray the interior of the car (seats and areas where your dog will be). Again, do this about 15-30 minutes before the journey.
-
Zylkene Calming Supplement for both dogs and cats – This is a non-sedative supplement that helps manage mild to moderate anxiety. To start giving a couple of days before the visit. Follow the guidelines on the packaging for dosing, as it depends on your pet's weight.
3. Consider prescription medications for severe anxiety
The products recommended above are gentle and safe and perfectly appropriate for mild to moderate anxiety. However, as we know, some pets experience panic-level anxiety that no amount of calming treats or pheromones can fix. In these cases, short-term prescription medication from your vet can make a huge difference.
These medications are designed to sedate your animal and reduce fear, They can be used the night before and the morning of a vet visit (or just given 1 to 2 hours before your appointment). We usually recommend options like Trazodone (for dogs) and Gabapentin (for both dogs and cats)
Always consult your veterinarian before giving any prescription meds!
4. Introduce a distraction: feeding mats
This is mainly for dogs. If your dog is food-motivated, a lick mat can work wonders. These mats can be smeared with soft treats like peanut butter (or even simple wet food), giving your dog something positive to focus on while waiting or even during the veterinary visit itself.
-
🥇 Top Pick: Lickimat Soother for Dogs – I choose this because it is, in my experience, the easiest to clean.
5. Reward calm behavior as often as possible
Bring your pet's favorite high-value treats to the clinic, Reward with a treat calm walking, sitting in the car and even something as simple as entering the veterinary building… every small positive association is a win.
5. Practice gentle handling at home
Make a habit of touching your pet’s paws, ears, tummy and muzzle in a calm and positive environment. Of course, don't do it all the time or it will be annoying! A couple of times per week will do. This will help them not to be shocked by the veterinary touch and handling.
Other Small Tips
Call ahead and let the clinic know your pet is anxious
Most clinics will do all they can to accommodate fearful pets. They can give quieter waiting areas, outdoor check-ins (which means you can wait in your car or outside the clinic instead of going straight into the busy waiting room), or faster appointments.
Bring familiar comforts
Something as simple as a favorite toy or blanket can provide security.
Stay calm yourself
I am well aware this can sound cliché, but trust me: your pet reads your energy. If you’re anxious, they’ll pick up on it. Try to speak gently and with a reassuring tone. Even if you're worried, do your best to project calm. I can ensure you this can help your pet feel more secure. (And yes, I completely understand that’s not always easy!)
After the Visit
Now it is time to let your pet rest and decompress. Don’t force any interactions. When they’re ready, you can reward them with playtime, praise, or their favorite snack. This will help to end the experience on a positive note.
Even if the visit wasn’t perfect (and it rarely will be), ending it with something positive can help shape their memory of it.
Final Thoughts: Preparation, Distraction and Reward make all the difference
As we have seen, whether your pet is mildly anxious or in complete panic mode, there are practical steps you can take to make things better for them. A combination of preparation (including prescription medications when needed), distraction and reward can transform the experience over time.
As a veterinarian who deals with petrified animals every day I believe that one of our professional duties is to make every visit as stress-free as possible. This is not just for our convenience (the more relaxed the pet, the easier our job), but also because (most importantly) your pet deserves to feel safe.
💬 I’d love to hear from you!
What has helped your pet feel more comfortable at the vet?
Come join the conversation on my Facebook page. I post daily tips, answer questions, and love hearing your stories.
🌐 For more resources and vet-approved tools, visit: