Like many of you, the animal hospital did experience some power blackouts. We were indeed closed for 4 days due to impassable roads for staff and lack of power. We had no animals in the building. We had no pipes freeze, no internal damage. We will see what happens with the shrubs and pansies.
Anyway, we are back, still doing curbside (for now), and short staffed. We expect that to change soon.
So, what did I do during the long hours at home? I completed Fear Free Level 2, and several other modules. I learned so much that I want to share and utilize. I especially like the extra classes on Fear Free Nail trims, and Canine Enrichment. I will be writing about those later.
Stay tuned……
Tag: Fear Free
71 Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day
National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day is August 22. That is next week. I would argue EVERY day should be “Take Your Cat to the Vet Day”, but this gives me a chance to wrap up my feline exam & vaccination series.
Today I performed a routine exam and vaccinations on my new nurse’s (Larissa) cat name Dandi. She has been anxious in the past going to the vet and usually growls. We know that growling is a sign of fear and anxiety. She has had a lot of dental work and extractions, so maybe her fear was based on good reasons! To help avoid anxiety, Larissa gave Dandi a dose a gabapentin this morning on her food before going in the carrier & coming to work. We scheduled her on a light day, no barking dogs. She was transferred from carrier to cage while we did our morning cases.
At lunch, we moved Dandi to the cat room, with the pheromone Feliway diffuser, and covered her with a towel that had been sprayed with Feliway. Dandi never growled, , no dilated pupils, no ears laid back, and seemed comfortable throughout. We did our whole exam and vaccination without ever triggering fear or anxiety. Put that in the WIN column!
Dandi is a textbook example of how Fear Free can make a difference. Let us try it on YOUR cat. And tell Larissa how cute her cat is.
https://www.catvets.com/public/PDFs/Content-Articles/Cat2VetDayInfographic-2016%20FINAL.2.pdf
https://www.catvets.com/public/PDFs/Content-Articles/Benefits-Routine-Vet-Visits.pdf
https://www.catvets.com/public/PDFs/ClientBrochures/Cat-to-VetHandout.pdf
70 Free Fear Feline Exams
So how do you get a stressed out cat to the vet? My sister-in-law would grab the cat, no carrier, place it in the back of her hatchback car, and drive fast to the vet. Her cat was always anxious, and she had trouble getting her in the carrier. She did what she thought best at the time. Now, in 2018, we have a few tricks to make this easier for cats AND their owners.
Trick #1- CARRIER– Cats will be less stressed in a clean, familiar carrier, either hard sided or the new soft sided kind. Some cats prefer a top opening. For best results, leave it out in house all the time, not just before a trip to the vet. Let Fluffy get used to it, and not just associate it with “going to the vet.” Place treats & catnip in it to make it a happy place. Pheromones like Feliway wipes or spray can help create calming/relaxing atmosphere.
Trick #2- ANTI ANXIETY MEDICATION-Prevet visit medications like RX gabapentin or OTC Feliway pheromones can really help a cat with previous anxiety problems at the vet. I compare it to taking a valium before a visit to the dentist if you are afraid of dentists. It isn’t sedation, but it does help reduce the fear so maybe Tigger won’t have another fearful & anxious experience.
So what is this gabapentin (Neurotin), and how the heck to do I give it to my cat? Gabapentin is an inexpensive medication originally developed to control seizures in humans. It is also used to control neuropathic pain in humans, dogs, and cats. While it is not labeled for use for anxiety, it is increasingly used for that purpose in human and veterinary medicine. The powder in the capsule does not have a strong taste and is usually well accepted by cats when the capsule is opened and sprinkled over wet food, 90 minutes to three hours before the car trip.
What is Feliway? Feliway is a pheromone (hormone that travels through the air) that goes straight to brain and triggers other hormones. Most people have heard about sex pheromones or fear pheromones. These are calming and marking pheromones. The cats react to them, without drugs, and humans can’t smell them.
Trick #3-THE CAR TRIP– Once in the carrier, the best place for it is on the floor behind the driver. There is less motion & less visual stimulation. You can even cover the carrier with a towel for less stimulation. Some pets respond better to soft music on the radio, not loud Rock or Rap.
Trick #4- THE EXAM– Ask to be scheduled at a time when it isn’t crowded so you can go straight into an exam room. Carry the carrier with 2 hands (don’t swing by the handle) . Don’t place the carrier on the floor- keep at seat or table level. It is great if owner bring a favorite treat or toy from home what we coax them out of carriers with, and use a reward after the exam. Some cats even prefer their own towels from home.
Trick #5 – Chose a Cat Friendly Vet, and one certified in Fear Free practices. Here at Garden Ridge Animal Hospital, we have a “cat room”, use Feliway diffusers , soft yoga mats on tables, spray our towels with Feliway calming pheromones, and handle cats gently, and trying to avoid triggers. We are able to do so much more with cats since we adopted these principals. Most owners are amazed that a few tricks can make such a difference. And often that success builds with each visit, as the cat doesn’t have scary experiences. Because one day, that cat will get sick, need to go the vet, and already be stressed from the illness.
So now you know HOW to set the stage for Fear Free cat visits to the vet. Call us to set up your cat’s annual well check exam, and maybe some vaccines. If you do these steps, YOU will be less stressed.