Latah Creek Animal Hospital is a fear free certified hospital.

APPOINTMENT

What is a fear free experience at Latah Creek Animal Hospital?

Fear Free is the concept of practicing veterinary medicine that involves reducing stress in our patients, which in return will result in a better experience for all involved — including pets, owners, and the veterinary team.

The Fear Free concept is based on recognizing and taking steps to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress (referred to as FAS) associated with visits to the veterinary hospital and requires good communication between the owner and the veterinary team.  We must, as a team, understand how our patients communicate signs of FAS to us and how to alleviate those signs.

Our goal is to reduce stress as it negatively affects pets, owners, and the veterinary team. Ultimately, it can result in decreased veterinary wellness visits, a decreased ability to appropriately examine and treat the pet, and slower recovery from disease or injury.  Long-term effects of stress are still being studied, but thought to have far-reaching negative metabolic effects.

The first step in addressing FAS is discussing any concerns you have about coming into the veterinary hospital or known stressors for your pet. A stressor can be any experience, environment, an inanimate or living object that disrupts the body’s normal functioning state. Examples of stressors to pets include noise, odor, pain, disease processes, and unfamiliar people.

We encourage you to take a tour of our hospital to see how it is different.  Every inch of our hospital was designed with Fear Free in mind, and that is evident from the moment you walk through the door – from species-specific waiting areas, exam rooms, and treatment wards, to pheromone use, to calming music, to low volume talking – every thing we do is to keep your pets as comfortable as possible.

The reward for Fear Free is immeasurable – a better experience and less stress for all involved – your pet, your family, and our veterinary team.

To learn more about a fear free visit, click here.

Fear Free Resources for Your Pet

Preparing for Your Visit

Trip to the Veterinary Hospital

How to Manage a Fear Free Return Home

How to Pill Your Pet With Kindness

Giving Medications to Your Pet

10 Things Your Vet Should Know

Creating a Fear Free Happy Home