I am not one who often runs to the latest craze. In fact, I'm usually a bit skeptical of most things until they have been around for a while and have proven themselves. You might not think it, but even in medicine, trends come and go, and I always try to have a healthy circumspection toward them while, at the same time, remaining open-minded about their potential legitimacy. So, when I first heard of Fear Free Pets, it got my usual treatment. It sounded somewhat gimmicky or faddish. But since it had become quite the buzz in the veterinary world, I thought I owed it to my patients, my clients, and myself, to check it out, and I became Fear Free certified in 2021. I'm very glad I did! In a nut shell, Fear Free Pets focuses on the patient's mental, emotional, and behavioral responses to the veterinary experience as the starting point for successful care. In other words, if the animal's perceived veterinary experience is positive, it will directly and positively affect care in all of its dimensions. And of course, the reverse is also true. So, who benefits? Well, for starters, you do. If Fluffy is anxious, or fearful, or aggressive about her vet visits, you will be too. Rest assured. But if she's less anxious or fearful and not aggressive, you'll both be much happier about the whole thing. And she'll probably allow for easier handling, more thorough physical exams, smoother blood draws, more x-ray compliance, and more relaxed hospital stays. She may even get excited for her vet visits! Sounds crazy, but we see it! Furthermore, with happier patients and clients, the veterinary team stays more focused and efficient. Everybody wins. So, to facilitate the best experience for a given patient and client, Fear Free offers extensive veterinary team-centered training for receptionists, technicians, assistants, and doctors, i.e., the entire staff. But while I have always worked to provide a positive patient experience from the doctor's perspective, it never dawned on me just how incredibly powerful this becomes when everyone involved is specifically and uniformly trained and focused on making this happen. In hindsight, I think it was there all along, but it took the Fear Free folks to formalize it for us, which is a great gift to the animals, clients, and veterinary practitioners alike. I remain greatly impressed. And excited. It's not my intention to take you through the extensive knowledge that surrounds this concept. Nor am I portraying it as working miracles in every situation. But having implemented and witnessed some of these concepts myself, I can say that this approach can be very efficacious in making the dreaded "visit to the vet" much more enjoyable and beneficial for all. I view Fear Free Pets as a very positive and powerful shift in the profession, and I encourage you to look into it yourself. Or better yet, ask your vet about it at your next visit. Stay well. Love your animals. And see ya next time. © 2021 Eugene Aversa, DVM
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