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Fear Free
Fear Free is a certification in low-stress handling. It changes how a visit here runs, from medication given at home to stopping a visit that is not going well. Dr. Berman was the first veterinarian in Arizona to hold it, in 2016.
What makes it possible
Appointments here are thirty minutes
A cat can come out of the carrier on her own. A dog can have a few minutes to sniff around the room before anyone touches him.
A visit here
What to expect
Before you leave home
For an anxious pet we have already examined, we can prescribe medication to give at home.
Arriving
Cats and dogs are kept apart from the moment you check in.
The exam itself
We examine your pet wherever they are most comfortable, whether that is the floor, your lap or a towel from home. We work at their pace.
If it is not going well
We stop and book another visit, with a different approach planned for it.
Before you come in
What helps
Tell us when you book. If your pet is frightened of the vet, or the last visit went badly, say so when you make the appointment. Bring a blanket or a towel from home.
For a pet we have already examined, we can prescribe anti-anxiety medication to give at home before you leave. We cannot prescribe before that first exam, because Arizona requires us to have examined your pet before we dispense medication. If getting your pet through the door is itself the problem, say so when you book and we will work out how to make the first visit as easy as it can be.
Ready when you are
Common questions about Fear Free
Will my pet still need to be held still?
Sometimes, but as little as possible.
Does a Fear Free visit cost more?
No. The exam is $85, and this is how every appointment here is run.
Does this mean my pet will not be frightened at all?
No. It means we work to keep the fear as low as it will go, and stop rather than push on when we cannot.
Related
Book with a practice that will stop if your pet needs it to
20801 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 101 · Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-585-3512