When owning a pet, you know that making the occasional trip to the veterinary office is inevitable. Taking your cat or dog to the vet is never an easy thing to do. Even if you’re fortunate enough just to bring your pet for a regular check-up, going to the vet can be quite a stressful experience for some animals (particularly cats).  So, just how do you make this visit and subsequent checkups stress free? Here are some ideas to consider.

If this is your pet’s first visit, it’s important to know that your pet will, no doubt, be a little frightened. That is why it’s so important to remain calm and talk in a pleasant voice. Sometimes coaxing the animal into the pet carrier with little treats helps alleviate the situation. If it’s an anxious canine, make sure to warn the vet and bring a leash and muzzle to restrain the upset dog.

One of the best ways to prepare taking your cat or dog to the vet is by teaching her to socialize. The sooner you get your cat or dog to socialize with other people, the better.  Before you actually bring your pet for his first checkup, try to make an occasional visit every so often to your vet just to say hello. This not only will help teach your pet to socialize, it will help reduce the stress when you actually need to take your pet.

If you have any questions or would like to know about a certain disease or medication, it would be wise to write any of this down so that you don’t forget to ask the vet.  While it’s ok to research advice on pet health and care (including behavioral issues), only your vet can diagnose and council. And remember to keep track of your pet’s health history and medications.

And no matter how easy or hard the trip to the vet was, always give your pet a treat (a snack or toy) at the end of the visit to reward him. Your pet deserves something good after a trip to the veterinary office.