Four top tips to ensure your pet has a happy visit to the vet

Occasionally, pets can associate a trip to the vets with pain, being prodded and injected. We love your pets and don’t want them to be fearful of us, so here are a few tips to help change a scaredy-cat into a happy pet when visiting the us at The Vet.

Get your pet used to being examined

Come for regular health checks and practice your own head to tail examinations at home to get your pet used to being handled. You’ll also be likely to notice any strange new bumps to ask the vet about.

Getting to the vet

In the car, always use a harness or pet carrier lined with a piece of familiar bedding or item of your clothes. It’s also a good idea to cover the carrier with a blanket or towel to make them feel secure and safe. If you have more than one pet, take them to the vet together and give lots of treats and praise, even if only one is seeing the vet to get them accustomed to the surroundings.

The waiting room

We have separate waiting rooms for cats and dogs which helps enormously with anxiety. If your pet is very fearful sit as far away from other pets as possible and if they are behaving negatively towards other animals, ask reception if you can wait in the car. Pets can be deeply intuitive and can pick up on your anxiety and fear - so stay calm.

Associate a vet visit with fun

Consider skipping or postponing your pet’s meal before your appointment, then take super delicious treats with you to reward them. After your visit take your pet somewhere fun such as a pet shop, see a friend or run in the park.

The Vet provides walk-ins Monday-Friday and appointments 7 days a week and specialises in affordable, quality care with a low-price match guarantee in a state-of-the-art 5,000 sq ft purpose-built clinic. Go to www.thevet.co.uk or call (023) 9421 7644.