What is a Dog Friendly Clinic?

We are pleased to announce that Woolton vets has joined the Dog Friendly Clinic Scheme (DFC)! But what does this mean? Aren’t all vet practices ‘dog-friendly’? Here we are going to explain all of the additional steps that we are taking to make sure that your dog’s visit to us is as positive as possible, as well as why this matters.  

 

What is a dog-friendly clinic? 

It’s a sad fact that many dogs dislike going to the vet. Data varies, but one study proposes that over half of dogs show some level of fearful behaviour when visiting their vet – which is a pretty high number. While trips to the vet for routine healthcare and illness will be unavoidable, there are measures we can take to improve these visits for our canine patients. 

 

A collaboration between the Dogs Trust and British Veterinary Behaviour Association has led to the creation of the Dog Friendly Clinic Scheme (DFC). This scheme gives vet practices guidance on how to help make their clinic as dog-friendly as possible. It also rewards them with an accreditation when they fulfil the required criteria. This marks them out as a practice that goes above and beyond for their patients. 

 

Why do some dogs dislike going to the vets, and why is this a problem? 

An important part of creating a dog-friendly environment is understanding what makes our canine patients feel fearful and anxious in the first place.  

 

A visit to the vet can be scary for several reasons: 

 

  • A vet practice is an intense place for a dog to visit. There is a whole array of new sounds (other animals, phones, doorbells and unfamiliar people), smells (cleaning products and other animals) and sights (other animals, new people, unfamiliar buildings and weighing scales). If your dog is not positively introduced to these from a young age, they may be anxious about them. There is also not often the time for your dog to acclimatize and explore their surroundings, particularly once they enter the consultation room. 

 

  • Many dogs have only ever had negative experiences at the vet, such as injections and procedures. This negative association leaves them fearful of future visits. Restraining dogs for procedures like nail clips or vaccinations can also make dogs more wary next time. 

 

 

  • Multiple unwelcome interactions. Other well-intentioned pet owners or members of the reception team directly approaching, touching or making eye contact with them can make some dogs feel anxious. That’s before they move into the consultation room and start to be handled and examined by yet another unfamiliar person (the vet). Their personal space feels invaded and being approached directly in this way can feel threatening. 

 

  • Not being allowed to express their behaviour. Owners may sometimes discourage certain behaviours in the waiting room, such as panting, restlessness and vocalising. Further behaviours like tense body posture, whale eye (showing the whites of their eyes) and submissive stances may be ignored or shrugged off as ‘normal when at the vets’. This means your dog’s behaviour escalates more quickly up the aggression/communication ladder, to growling or snapping. 

 

It can be a real problem if dogs develop a negative association with their vet. It can lead to stress and anxiety for both owner and dog, which can have an undesirable impact on the pet-owner bond. Dog welfare is also impacted, as it can be quite difficult to provide appropriate care for these patients. Vet visits may become less frequent and harder to manage. The safety of the veterinary team can be also put at risk by overly anxious or aggressive animals. 

 

What are the features of a dog-friendly clinic? 

The fundamentals of the appointment and building often cannot be changed, but many steps can be taken to make things as positive as possible for dogs when they visit. These include: 

 

  • Keeping wait times to a minimum where possible, and allowing dogs to wait outside or in the car rather than the waiting room, if they prefer. 

 

  • Using non-slip table mats for the examination table, and floor mats too, where appropriate. 

 

  • Decreasing the amount of noise in reception, with quieter phones and doorbells, and team members wearing soft-soled shoes. 

 

  • Hospitalising dogs in individual kennels that are suitable to their size. These kennels should also not be directly opposite each other, limiting the opportunity for direct eye contact between inpatients (which could trigger aggression or anxiety). If this is not possible then barriers or towels could be used to allow dogs to hide should they choose. 

 

  • The use of supportive and comfortable bedding in kennel areas. 

 

 

But much of what makes a clinic dog-friendly is the team’s understanding of canine behaviour.  

All team members in a Dog Friendly Clinic must have a basic understanding of dog behaviour, with at least one member of the team undertaking additional canine behaviour-focused CPD (continued professional development) annually. This person will be the designated dog advocate for the practice. 

 

The team should practice positive reinforcement where possible by offering treats (unless an animal needs to be fasted) and through careful handling of canine patients. Team members should also be able to help make training recommendations and advise on services like desensitisation sessions. Each dog is different and the team at a Dog Friendly Clinic will do their absolute best to accommodate this. 

 

What can owners do to help set their dogs up for success? 

While a Dog Friendly Vet clinic will do what it can to make things as comfortable for your pet as possible, there are steps that owners can take too. These include: 

 

  • Handling your dog from an early age, rewarding and praising them as you do so. This includes touching their feet, ears and mouths. You could even do a regular nose-to-tail examination so that they feel more comfortable when the vet does the same in the clinic. 

 

  • Arriving at the clinic for your appointment in a calm fashion. Dogs can sense stress from their owners, so by remaining confident your pet will feel less anxious too.  

 

  • Consider waiting outside or in the car until your appointment time, to reduce any waiting room anxiety building up in your pet. 

 

  • Bring your dog’s favourite treats along with you. 

 

  • Don’t punish your dog for any negative behaviours, as this can make your pet feel more anxious and worsen the situation. The clinic team are used to toilet accidents and noisy dogs in the waiting room. They may be able to make some suggestions to help you and your dog if you are finding things difficult. 

 

  • Attend regular desensitisation appointments if these have been recommended. This allows your dog to explore the veterinary practice without the need for an examination or any injections. Coming in for treats, with no medical interventions, can help to build a dog’s confidence.  

 

  • Muzzle train your dog. There is no shame in needing to use a muzzle, and it is far better that your dog is used to and comfortable with wearing one. This will make things easier and less stressful during a veterinary appointment. Your vet can advise you on this. 

 

  • Administer any anti-anxiety medications that your vet has prescribed. These will help make the appointment go more smoothly. 

 

Summary 

Being a Dog Friendly Vet Clinic means we have put a lot of extra care and attention into the clinic environment, team training and dog handling. All this combined should help to make your dog’s appointment with us a more positive experience – we are all about caring for pets, so it just makes sense to put in the extra work to reduce their stress when coming to see us. 

 

If you would like to discuss your pet’s care further or want to make an appointment, then contact us today. We look forward to seeing you and your dog soon!