Fear Free Veterinary Care: Putting Emotional Health First
At Littlepage Animal Hospital, your pet's emotional well-being is just as important as their physical health. Fear, anxiety, and stress can have a lasting impact on pets and may even affect their long-term health. That's why our team is Fear Free Certified and committed to providing low-stress veterinary visits whenever possible.
Fear Free care means we actively work to prevent and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress by adjusting how we handle, examine, and treat each patient. No two pets are the same, and we tailor every visit to the individual.
A Dedicated Cat-Only Space
Cats experience the veterinary visit very differently than dogs—and we've designed our hospital with that in mind. Littlepage Animal Hospital features a separate entrance and fully dedicated cat-only area, created to reduce stress and overstimulation for feline patients.
Our cat-only space includes:
- A separate entrance just for cats
- A quiet feline-only lobby
- Three cat-only exam rooms
- A dedicated treatment area exclusively for cats
By minimizing noise, unfamiliar scents, and interactions with dogs, we're able to provide a calmer, more comfortable experience for our feline patients.
What Fear Free Care Looks Like in Our Hospital
Our Fear Free approach may include:
- Gentle, low-stress handling techniques
- Calm, quiet exam rooms
- Treats, praise, and positive reinforcement
- Allowing pets time to acclimate to new environments
- Modifying exams based on your pet's comfort level
- Discussing pre-visit calming medications or supplements when appropriate
- Sedation when needed
We believe veterinary visits should feel safe—not rushed or overwhelming.
How Pet Owners Can Help
Fear Free care is a team effort. There are many things you can do at home to help make veterinary visits easier for your pet:
- Practice gentle handling and mock exams at home
- Bring high-value treats your pet loves
- Use pheromone sprays or calming aids as recommended
- Schedule visits during quieter times when possible
- Talk with our team about pre-visit medications for anxious pets
- Acclimate dogs to a basket muzzle so that it is not a trigger
Our staff is always happy to provide individualized recommendations to support your pet before, during, and after their visit.
Helpful Fear Free Resources
We encourage pet owners to explore additional Fear Free education:
These resources offer practical tips, videos, and guidance to help reduce stress in everyday life—not just at the veterinary hospital.