When Nicola Cohen, DVM, FFCP (Veterinary), was in kindergarten, she decided she wanted to be a doctor who worked with animals. Even at that early age, she would pay attention when her pocket pets visited the veterinarian and always noticed if the veterinarians were working to keep the pets calm.

Now Dr. Cohen works at Broadway Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, California. She’s been a veterinarian for over five years and Fear Free certified for a year and a half. “At the very first clinic I worked at, Fear Free was not yet a consideration,” Dr. Cohen says. “Timing of appointments precluded taking the time for a calm, slow, lower stress approach.” They knew that this wasn’t a good way to handle anxious pets, which could result in higher stress at the next visit, so the staff began working on better methods.

“Even before being Fear Free certified,” Cohen says, “the clinic where I worked at the time started promoting comfort kits and pre-visit calming medications for nervous dogs.”

After her Fear Free training, Cohen started sending home more calming/sedating medications, and any pets who came in too stressed would get a minimal, hands-off, low-stress visit and come back on the medication another day. “The biggest change to the whole clinic, including both staff and clients, was not pushing through treatments or visits with the scared pets,” says Cohen. “Changing the mindset that we had to get everything done at that one visit really helped decrease human and animal stress.”

Another change Broadway Veterinary Hospital adopted is carrying many different treat options. Cohen says squeeze cheese is definitely one of the most helpful options.

And owners have responded well to Fear Free methods. “Only a few owners were disappointed about having to return,” Cohen says, “but when we explained that it was best for their pet, for the most part, they understood.”

Some owners have begun requesting “getting to know you” visits before bringing pets in for treatments. Those help their scared pets adjust better to the clinic.

“We also have stopped nail trims unless medically needed,” Cohen says, “because it causes so much more stress. That seems to be the biggest thing owners complain about.” Instead, the staff hands out business cards for local groomers.

Of course, the victory of winning over a pet who is afraid is what it’s really all about. “One of my most memorable success stories was a very nervous, very young puppy who was already showing extreme fear at his first visit to our clinic,” Cohen says. “He had been labeled ‘caution/will bite’ at his previous clinic.

“I took things slowly and, at that first visit, we only threw him treats — with no handling and no shots. One week later, he came back and was visibly less scared,” says Cohen. “He ate cheese smeared off the floor while allowing me to do a gentle slow exam and just one vaccine. We had him come back a few days later and he allowed us to hold him and give him shots with minimal restraint and lots of cheese.

“He continued to do better each visit and now stops by on his walks sometimes just for a treat and to get pets from the staff.” A true success story! Becoming Fear Free certified can make those Victory Visits a reality in any clinic or hospital.