Many dogs and cats can find coming to the vets stressful despite everyone’s best efforts to make the experience as calm as possible. Certain procedures can be be triggers for some patients such as having their nails clipped, having blood taken or having their ears examined. If they need to visit the vet regularly, this stress can build with each visit and snowball until they can become so anxious that we are unable to examine them safely. For this reason we have begun to encourage the use of pre-consult calming medication prior to any treatment for anxious patients, and seen good success in the pets that have taken us up on this recommendation.
Why do we recommend this?
We want our patients to have a positive experience with us. We hate seeing them stressed but we understand this is sometimes unavoidable, especially if a patient is in pain or feeling unwell or we have to do a procedure they may find uncomfortable. Unmanaged stress or anxiety can escalate at each interaction, meaning in some severe cases we may not be able to complete an examination or take a blood sample if we feel the patient is in too much distress.
There is also a safety aspect, whilst we can physically restrain patients, have a dog wear a muzzle or towel wrap a cat in order to examine them, our job is a lot safer if the patient is calm before and during their consultation or procedure, and we are likely to be able to do more for them.
By administering calming medication, it breaks the stress and anxiety cycle. It allows us to help your pet while they are under its effects, de-escalating the stress of the visit for them. The more positive visits they have, the more positive their association and the better it is for them and you.
What medication is recommended?
The medication we use for cats is prescription strength anti-anxiety medication which works to supress overly stimulated neurons in the brain that cause anxiety. For dogs we use this alongside another anti-anxiety medication which increases serotonin levels. The medication is generally given in two doses, the evening before and the morning of an appointment.
What can I expect?
You may not see any effects after the initial dose but after the second dose your pet may be a little sleepy and seem a bit more ‘chilled out’. We have found that cats react consistently to the medication and are visibly more relaxed and happier to be examined. Most dogs have a similar reaction but some may still be excitable and bouncy despite the medication, the reactions can vary among patients. Largely, the results have been positive.
Are there any side effects?
As with any medication your pet may experience an adverse reaction but we have found that unwanted side effects are rare and minimal. You may notice some wobbliness or disorientation and with cats we have noticed they may drool a little.
How long do the effects last?
We recommend having patients seen around 2-3 hours after their second dose, the effects should gradually wear off a few hours after this.
Is it safe to use long-term?
If you have a pet that needs to be seen regularly for check-ups or blood tests the calming medication can be used each time safely. Both medications are regularly given to patients with chronic conditions as long term daily pain relief.
Can I use the calming medication alongside my pet’s regular meds?
The calming medication is fine to use alongside other medication, your vet will only prescribe the medication when safe to do so.
Can calming medication be used in other stressful circumstances?
If your pet becomes stressed in certain situations you can speak to your vet about whether medication may be suitable. Calming medication can be used before stressful journeys, prior to grooming appointments and during fireworks season.
How do I order calming medication?
When you need to book an appointment give our team a call on 01435 864422 and we can have our vets dispense some calming medication to collect before your pet’s appointment.
Success story
Milo is a 3 year old cockapoo who belongs to receptionist Grace and hates being examined by the vets despite many hours spent at the practice with his mum! He is a normally very friendly, bouncy and playful character, and all round good boy. However, he has a particular fear of his head and feet being examined which made administering his kennel cough vaccination (a vaccine which needs to be squirted up the nose) incredibly stressful for him. After a failed attempt where Milo was so afraid and anxious that he became aggressively reactive we decided to try some calming medication. He was given his tablets the evening before and the morning of his appointment, Grace noticed he seemed a little sleepier than usual and much less bouncy. When it came time for his examination he was a lot calmer than the previous attempt and much less reactive when we administered the kennel cough vaccine. Our hope is that Milo will begin to relax with each visit and not associate the vet exam with his normal fearful response. Grace has also been trialling the calming medication prior to Milo’s grooming visits which can be stressful for him and has seen some improvement.
Call us on 01435 864422 if you think your pet may benefit from calming medication before their next visit.
