Fear Free
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by Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton
Esq. www.hamiltonlawandmediation.com
If you had attended the 2015 American Veterinary Medical Association Conference in Boston in July, you would have found a remarkable number of human-animal bond speakers as instructors. One instructor in particular, Dr. Marty Becker, brought his Fear FreeTM veterinary practice information to attendees. Full disclosure requires that I tell you I’m on the advisory panel of Directors of the Fear FreeTM veterinary method. After attending Dr. Becker’s presentation at AVMA I thought my dog show colleagues would like to learn more about this eye-opening new program.?(https://www.drmartybecker.com/fear-free/veterinarians-talk-fear-free-practice/) Why am I talking about this in my article in The Canine Chronicle? Because, even though I’m on the panel, I didn’t fully understand what this program was all about, how much additional income subscribing veterinarians are now making and that there is a better way for our puppies and older dogs to go to the vet.
As show dog owners and breeders we know that fear in our dogs is one of the WORST personality flaws they can have. We attempt to help our puppies be fearless by giving them experiences that help them adjust positively to all things new that surround them. We spend money on heat lamps for temperature control, textured blankets to give them varying textural experiences, toys and obstacles that are meant to help them reach their intellectual potential, and community socialization. However, when we bring them to the veterinarian’s office, is it a fear free environment? If not, all the work we’ve done to stabilize our puppies may go right out the window. When our puppies leave us they are pretty bold. They have to be, they are show dogs after all. All the experiences we provide for them help them learn how to explore, learn and bounce back. In the vernacular of dog shows, we like to say our puppies are bombproof. We are responsible breeders and sell to responsible owners.
Yet, what happens when our puppies go home with their new owners is out of our hands, right? Maybe not. What can you do to facilitate a smooth, fear-free transition? Educate your new owners about the Fear FreeTM method and ask them to look for and ask if their veterinary practice subscribes to this environment. See if your own vet has vet techs that are certified in the Fear FreeTM method. It helps educate everyone, including the veterinarian, who may not know about the program and may want to add it to his or her practice. We want to empower ourselves and our new owners not to be intimidated by the veterinarian. We don’t want to allow things to occur that we can change. Yet, we want to keep our relationship with our veterinarian open. How do we achieve both?
It can be done through education and information not meant to criticize any veterinary practice. It is meant to empower. A lot of the fear that occurs in our pets comes from us. It goes right down the leash. It is our responsibility to assure we don’t contribute to the fear our pet feels at the veterinarian’s office. We do this by gently educating ourselves and our veterinarian about a new service we all may want to take advantage of that will enable our pet to enjoy going to the vet. Fear is not conducive to good pet health. If, while at the vet, our pet is so upset it raises their temperature and heart rate, an accurate physical cannot be conducted. In the Fear FreeTM presentation at AVMA it was amazing to watch how the readings from a dog that was fearful at the vet totally changed when the dog was checked away from the vet.
A vet who ascribes to the Fear FreeTM method of operation, versus the group method of tackling and overpowering a pet patient, would be an important piece of the puzzle in the happy life we envision for our beloved companions. Veterinary practices that have adopted the Fear FreeTM method not only increased their revenue by 40% but also had happier workers. Vet techs interviewed after watching a Fear FreeTM presentation prefer the Fear FreeTM practice because it solved, it did not overpower, the problem.
Now you know why I am talking about this program. It’s about operating a practice that focuses on everyone’s best interest. It’s not about overwhelming an animal because you can. It’s about working in a way that considers everyone’s experience and chooses to have all participants come away better off. That is why I became involved with Fear FreeTM. I am a true believer of respecting both sides of the leash. Appreciate the fear people bring into the vet’s office as well as the fear derived from the actions occurring in the vet’s office.
Being fear free in every facet of human and animal interaction is very important. This is a program that you can ask/look for at your veterinarian’s practice. Suggest to your veterinarian that he/she look into being certified as Fear FreeTM. Educate your new owners to do the same. Find a veterinarian who ascribes to the Fear FreeTM method so that the puppies you send off boldly will remain that way.
If looking for a vet who subscribes to the Fear FreeTM environment resonates with you then look for one or ask your vet to look into achieving a fear free practice. Fear FreeTM currently certifies vet techs via an online program which, it is hoped, will facilitate bringing these techniques back to the practice. They can take the program online at Vetfolio. It is hoped that in two years entire vet practices will be able to receive the Fear FreeTM designation.
As always, figuring out a way to solve for the best outcome for man and beast works best. Yes, it will take time. However, more pet owners will come in for wellness checks if their dogs are happy to be there.
Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=86082
Posted by ralbee
on Aug 19 2015. Filed under Current Articles, Editorial, Featured.
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