Unfortunately, your pet may not feel the same way about seeing us. A trip to the vet clinic is often an anxious experience for many pets.

At Petfocus Vetcare, we have a fear-free approach to all our consults.

This means we work with you and your pet in a way that reduces the stress and anxiety of the clinic, making the experience a much more positive one for everyone. Come into the clinic regularly with your pet, even just for a quick hello and sniff around the front desk, this will get them used to the smell of the clinic and also our voices. You can put them on the scales and get regular weight checks. This means they won't just associate us with check overs and getting needles.

Treats are another great way to make your pet feel happier. We will always have treats for your pet in our consult rooms but some have specific dietary requirements, or can be fussy, or some may not want to eat an unfamiliar treat.

By bringing a few of your pet's favourite treats with you can help them feel more at home.

Regularly touch your pets feet, ears and around their mouth at home.

These are things that the vet may have to do to check your pet over, if they are already used to this then there is less stress during the consult.

Most importantly, remember to stay calm yourself. Your pet picks up on your mood and will be more nervous if you are too.

If you have a pet that is particularly nervous about vet visits, it's a good idea to have a chat with your vet about other options that may help.