Watch Temple Grandin, PhD, take an observational tour of a veterinary hospital with Fear Free founder Marty Becker, DVM. She describes what she sees, hears and experiences. Learn through Grandin’s firsthand observations to better see things from animals’ perspectives.
. . . even small improvements can make a world of difference for cats and dogs.”
Source: Fear Free, YouTube. Link. (14 minutes)
INSIGHTS: This is a must watch for all animal health pros. Grandin’s comments and observations are informative and actionable for veterinary clinics, boarding facilities, groomers and retail pet stores.
THANK YOU! Temple Grandin!!
As an amateur obedience, scent work, and tracking owner/trainer, the slippery floors and exam tables without mats have been a pet peeve of mine FOR YEARS!
I gave up years ago and started bringing my own “vet appt” bag [that contains treats & a yoga mat] with me to every vet appointment to cover the slippery metal exam table [or exam room floor] in order to ensure that every vet appt was a happy experience for my pet.
Reduce stress: I never sit with my pet in the waiting area of any vet hospital. I always wait in the car until there is an open exam room. Why would I expose my pet to other unknown, stressed animals? This practice of jamming unknown stress animals together in cramped waiting areas, before they head into the exam room, is wrong, out of date, and needs to stop! Wait in the car…
Reduce stress more: Why do veterinarians think its a good idea to separate a pet from its owner in order to conduct an exam? Study after study has shown pets are more stressed when separated from their owners in stressful situations. This practice needs to end. What are you doing to my pet?! Is my pet having a bad experience, out of my sight that I will now have to retrain for because veterinarians or staff don’t understand the animal behavior?
Why veterinarians don’t know more, or take the time to LEARN!, about animal behavior and training is shocking to me. Veterinary care is more than “medical” care. Veterinarians and their staff need to educate themselves about animal behavior and training. Thankfully my current vet hospital now works with a local dog training school [at my suggestion!] to better educate vets and staff about behavior and training.
Does the profession really want to reduce stress, burnout, and suicide rates? Then maybe you all need to look at the way in which you continue to practice outdated stress inducing techniques. Embrace the practice of waiting in cars, cover your slippery floors and exam tables, stop jamming on muzzles to manhandle animals, don’t separate people and their pets, etc…. Examine the ways to reduce stress not add to it in order to do your best to encourage happy relaxed pets. Fear Free for ALL!