Fear Free Commitment
Many of our team members at South Shore Veterinary Hospital are Fear Free-certified, meaning they have undergone training to reduce fear and anxiety in animals they treat. Find out more about what this certification offers for you and your pet.
A Legacy of Excellence Since 1977
Fear Free: Our Commitment to You
We are proud to have Fear Free-certified professionals on our team and are dedicated to caring for your pet’s emotional and physical well-being.
We’d like you to know how we meet that goal. Is your pet showing signs of stress and anxiety before arriving at the veterinary hospital? Ask us if pre-visit sedation or supplements might help reduce stress and keep your pet more comfortable during their visit.
Would your pet be more comfortable waiting in the car rather than the waiting room? Just let us know, and we’ll be glad to accommodate you.
You’ll be brought into the exam room a few minutes before your pet is seen by the veterinarian because we’d like the two of you to spend some calm time together. This will allow your pet to explore the room and relax a little first. Special calming chemical signals, known as pheromones, may be infused throughout the room. Only dogs and cats can smell them, and they find them relaxing.
We promise to keep our voices low and calm and to never use force to examine, test, or treat your pet. We’ll use gentle control techniques, innovative tools, and medication when necessary to ensure your pet’s emotional health isn’t sacrificed for the sake of medical care.
Unless it’s medically inappropriate, we’ll be giving your pet lots of treats during the visit. This helps your pet start associating a trip to the veterinarian with positive experiences. That will keep stress levels low. Bringing your pet into the appointment hungry can help this process along!
Some pets prefer to be examined up high, on the table, in your lap, in their carrier, or on the floor. We’ll go where we need to go to make your pet comfortable during the exam. We’ll also use specialized distraction techniques to keep your pet focused on good experiences while we perform procedures such as injections that might cause brief stress or pain.
