Fear Free Vet in Cedar Falls: Advanced Pet Care Clinic

At Advanced Pet Care Clinic in Cedar Falls, Iowa, our mission has always been to provide the highest standard of care for your pets. As part of this commitment, we decided to pursue Fear Free certification, ensuring that every visit to our clinic is as stress-free and pleasant as possible for both pets and their owners. Here’s what it means for you and your furry family to bring your pet in to see a Fear Free Vet and Fear Free trained staff for your veterinary needs.

Understanding the Fear-Free Approach

A group of veterinary professionals dedicated to alleviating the fear, anxiety, and stress that many pets experience during veterinary visits developed the fear-free approach. While effective in providing medical care, traditional veterinary practices often unintentionally contribute to a pet's stress. The Fear-Free approach focuses on creating a calming environment and using techniques that reduce anxiety and discomfort.

Why Fear Free Matters

1. Enhanced Pet Health: Stress can significantly impact a pet's health. Minimizing fear and anxiety, we help ensure your pet remains calm and cooperative, allowing us to conduct thorough examinations and provide the best possible care. Reduced stress can also positively affect recovery times and overall health outcomes.

2. Strengthening the Human-Animal Bond: A Fear-Free environment helps to foster a positive relationship between pets and their owners. When pets have a good experience at the vet, it reduces the stress for both the animal and the owner, making it easier for you to bring your pet in for regular check-ups and necessary treatments.

3. Creating Positive Experiences: Your pet's visit to the vet shouldn't be a traumatic experience. Using Fear-Free techniques, we aim to create a welcoming and soothing environment that pets associate with positive experiences rather than fear and discomfort.

What We Did to Become Fear-Free Certified

Achieving Fear Free certification required a comprehensive approach to redesigning our clinic and training our staff:

1. Staff Training: Our team members underwent extensive training in Fear Free techniques. The training includes understanding animal behavior, recognizing signs of fear and anxiety, and learning how to interact with pets to minimize stress. Meet our Fear Free staff:

2. Clinic Environment: We made several changes to our clinic’s physical environment to create a more calming atmosphere. This includes using soothing colors, diffusing calming pheromones, and playing gentle music. We also have separate waiting areas for cats and dogs to reduce stress caused by interspecies interactions.

3. Handling Techniques: We design our handling techniques to be gentle and reassuring. We use treats and positive reinforcement to create a positive association with visits. Additionally, we allow pets to acclimate to the exam room and equipment at their own pace.

4. Reducing Stress in Cats: Let's face it, cats hate coming in for their annual visits and vaccines. Some pet parents find it difficult to even get the cat into the carrier. Advanced Pet Care Clinic offers Bonqat Oral Solution, the first and only FDA-approved treatment for alleviating acute anxiety and fear associated with transportation and veterinary visits in cats.

The Benefits We’ve Seen with Our Fear Free Vet Clinic

Since implementing Fear-free practices, we've noticed a significant difference in the behavior and well-being of our patients. Pets that were once fearful and anxious are now more relaxed and cooperative. A calmer pet makes the visit more pleasant for them and allows us to perform more thorough examinations and provide better care

Our Commitment to You and Your Pets

Choosing to become a Fear Free certified clinic was not just about following a trend—it was about meaningfully improving how we care for your pets. At Advanced Pet Care Clinic, we are dedicated to continually improving our practices to ensure that every visit is a positive experience.

We invite you to experience the difference a Fear Free certified clinic can make for your pet. Schedule an appointment today and see how our commitment to reducing fear, anxiety, and stress can benefit your furry loved ones.

Warm regards,

Dr. Stevenson & Team

Advanced Pet Care Clinic