August 11, 2025
By Paige Adams, DVM
If you’ve ever struggled to coax your pet into the car for a vet visit—or sat in the waiting room with a shaking pup or a wide-eyed, growling cat—you’re not alone. As pet parents, we feel their stress just as deeply. After all, they’re our family. And when they’re scared, we want nothing more than to make it better.
Visiting the vet shouldn’t be scary, for pets or their people. Yet for many animals, the mere thought of a trip to the veterinary clinic can trigger fear, anxiety, and stress. That’s where Fear Free veterinary medicine comes in. This movement is transforming the way we care for animals by putting their emotional well-being on par with their physical health. While our hospital is not officially Fear Free Certified, Dr. Adams is Fear Free Certified and her passion for using these principles to create a more positive experience for pets and their families shines through in every aspect of the practice. Your pet’s emotional well-being matters just as much as their physical health. And we’re here to make the experience not just bearable, but better.
What is Fear Free– and Why Should You Care?
Fear Free veterinary medicine is all about seeing the world from the pet’s point of view and respecting their emotions. It’s about understanding that new smells, strange places, slippery floors, and unfamiliar hands can be overwhelming– and even terrifying to some.
Fear Free Certified professionals go through extensive training to learn how to read animal body language and how to use specific techniques to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. This means everything from how we approach your dog or cat, how we handle them, talk to them, and even what kind of treats we use is specific to that pet’s individual needs and preferences. When a pet feels safe, everything is easier and they are more willing to participate in their medical care with a positive energy versus fear.
How We Practice Fear Free Medicine Every Day
Even though our clinic doesn’t have the official certification, our staff is dedicated to following the Fear Free philosophy in our daily routine as much as possible. We enjoy happy patients just as much as you enjoy bringing a comfortable and excited pet in to the clinic instead of a scared one.
We Meet Your Pet Where They Are – Emotionally
Some pets will bound through the door eager to meet new people and make friends. Others shake, hide, or even become aggressive due to their fear. All of those reactions are okay and natural, we never judge a book by its cover. Our first goal is to understand how your pet is feeling, then we talk about why. Once we get all of that worked out we determine a plan that works best for them and go at their pace.
Sometimes going at their pace means sitting on the floor and just chatting, never even being able to touch the pet. It means splitting up treatments so we don’t overwhelm them at one time. We can offer treats and just start building that bond. If a pet understands that you will listen to them and respect their boundaries, it’s amazing what they will trust you with and over time how comfortable they become with the care.
Treats Are Part of the Medicine
Seriously – We go through a LOT of treats. We always keep cheese, peanut butter, whipped cream, Churu treats, Dental treats, pretzels, and marshmallows in stock.
We also love when clients bring their own treats and things the pets love in particular. If your pet has a favorite snack, bring it along! We want them to associate our clinic with happy things, not just vaccines and nail trims.
We Spot the Little Signs
One of the biggest things Fear Free training teaches us is how to watch closely: Is that tail wag loose and happy, or tight and stiff? Are those ears perked with curiosity or pinned in fear? Are we seeing slow blinks or whale eyes? Are they coming back for more pets or do they need a break from the touch and walk away?
These subtle signs of stress help us understand what the pet is feeling so we can adjust what we’re doing. This may mean to slow things down, give more space, or change our approach completely. Your pet is always talking to us through their body language and we do our best to listen.
A Calmer Space and a Gentle Touch
We do everything we can to keep our clinic as calm and comforting as possible; for pets and for the people who love them. This includes minimizing loud noises, strong smells, and unnecessary handling as much as possible. Whenever feasible, we offer separate spaces for cats and dogs, including minimizing time spent in the lobby or public areas.
We avoid heavy restraint unless absolutely necessary, and if your pet needs a moment to settle, we’ll take that time. Whether it’s letting them stay in your lap, examining them in a favorite position, or giving breaks throughout the appointment, we adjust our care to fit them.
Our goal is never just to “get the job done.” It’s to help your pet feel safe, respected, and as calm as possible while we do it. We believe every animal deserves to be treated with kindness, patience, and compassion—especially when they’re feeling nervous or unsure. It’s not just a better way to practice medicine—it’s the right way.
Why It Matters—To Us, and To You
We became veterinary professionals because we love animals—not just their biology, but their souls. We see the spark in their eyes, the trust they place in their people, and the vulnerability they carry when they walk through our doors. And nothing breaks our hearts more than seeing a pet so scared they can’t trust us.
Fear Free medicine lets us change that. It gives us a better way—a kinder way—to connect, to communicate, and to care. It allows us to turn once-dreaded visits into manageable, even positive experiences. Over time, we see real transformations in pets who used to shake or hide, that now start to walk in excited to see all of us! We earn their trust little by little and that trust becomes the foundation of everything we do.
And for you, the pet parent, that means peace of mind. You can feel confident knowing we’re not only treating symptoms or checking boxes—we’re caring for the whole animal. Their health, their comfort, their heart. Because that’s what they deserve. And that’s why we’re here.
One Paw at a Time
We know that Fear Free care is a journey—not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some pets begin to feel more comfortable after just one visit; others need time, patience, and a few extra steps along the way. There are some that never feel comfortable and we have to help them with sedative medications. And all of that is okay!
But real change doesn’t happen in the clinic alone. To truly help your pet overcome fear and anxiety, it takes teamwork. As their trusted person, your role is just as important as ours. That might mean practicing happy car rides, bringing your pet in for “just for fun” visits, using positive reinforcement at home, or following desensitization and training plans we create together. When the work continues beyond the exam room, we see the biggest transformations—and they’re so worth the effort.
If your pet struggles with anxiety or fear when visiting the vet, please don’t hesitate to talk to us. We’re here to listen without judgment, to offer personalized tips, and to help create a plan that works for you and your pet. Every bit of effort we put into helping them feel safe matters—because their comfort is just as important as their care.
At the end of the day, this isn’t just medicine—it’s love in action. It’s our promise to treat your pet not only with skill, but with compassion. And it’s a journey we’re honored to take with you.
Want to learn more about how Fear Free care could benefit your pet? Give us a call, send us a message, or schedule a happy visit—we’d love to help your pet feel more comfortable, one paw at a time.❤️