Vet Office Etiquette

People bring their animals into veterinary hospitals for many reasons. It may be to ask questions, pick up food or medications, and more commonly routine checkups which include vaccines. Your visit may require investigation of other issues. This is why it’s important to respect your fellow pet owners, their animals, veterinary staff, and veterinarians.

Here are our top 5 “Vet-iquette” tips so your pet’s relationship with their veterinarian can start off on the right paw.

1. Leashes and Carriers

Your pet may be a social butterfly and get along with animals of all shapes and sizes, but it’s important to realize that not all pets may be like yours. For this reason, it is important to keep your dog on a leash with a firm grip, ensure that they sit next to you, and do not interact with other animals unless it is ok with the owner. Some pets may act aggressively out of fear or anxiety. It would be best not to let your dog wander the waiting room. Cats should always be kept in carriers either placed on a chair or under a chair. Please don’t allow your dog to walk up to a carrier because not all cats are comfortable with dogs. If you find your cat is nervous, don’t be afraid to ask for a blanket to be put in a room while you wait. Your veterinarian staff want to keep your pet as calm as possible because it makes our jobs a little easier and your feline friend much more relaxed. Some animals may be under the weather or recovering from surgery and would appreciate it if you respected their personal space.

2. Do You Have a Brand New Fur Family Member?

You have a new family member with four paws. We would love to get him or her familiar with our clinic and staff! If it’s your pet’s first visit, you’ll want to arrive early to introduce your pet to the team. It will help get over the initial nervousness they may face. Plus, we love the opportunity to get to know your new fur baby, give treats, and even get a little cuddle time in!

3. Accidents Happen

We get it, accidents happen. Although it’s best practice to let your pet relieve themselves outside, they still may come inside and use the floor instead, and that’s okay! It may leave you red-faced but be sure to let us know so that one of our staff members can clean it up promptly. It’s not only dogs that make a mess, but some cats can also be nervous travellers in the car. They may mess in their carriers and all over themselves. Just let a staff member know, and we’ll freshen your cat up and make their carriers as good as new!

4. Nervous Pets

We understand that not all pets are social butterflies. Some may be anxious and not enjoy the chaos of the waiting room. The waiting room can be a scary place for some pets. To lessen your pet’s anxiety, you can always call the clinic from your car when you get here. Once we have a room ready for you, we will give you a call. The car, for some, can be a familiar place that smells like you and creates a peaceful environment for your pet. Be sure to keep lots of treats and maybe a favourite toy or blanket handy as it can be a comfort to a nervous pet.

5. Be Patient

We understand that it can be frustrating to have to wait a little longer than your scheduled appointment time. However, our days can often be unpredictable at best, and any number of things can happen. Just know that if you’re waiting a little longer than usual, your veterinarian may have had an appointment that turned into an emergency. They may be in a situation where they are trying to save a life. We try our best to be on time, but emergencies can sometimes happen. Just know that if it were your pet in crisis, we would do our utmost to treat your pet as well.

Your veterinarian is your pets doctor, emergency doctor, surgeon, radiologist, dentist, and so much more! Caring for your fur family is our number one priority. It is why we are here and what we are most passionate about!

If you have any questions, please give us a call at 709.368.7981 and a member of our team will be happy to assist you.

Written by: Brittany Bowering