Page 705 - Cote clinical veterinary advisor dogs and cats 4th

Fear Due to Veterinary Visits/Treatments 325.e1

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED veterinary staff and owners. J Vet Behav Clin Appl Rodan I, et al: AAFP and ISFM feline-friendly
Res 17:24-31, 2017.
READINGS Overall KL, et al: Frequency of nonspecific clinical handling guidelines. J Feline Med Surg 13:364-
375, 2011.
VetBooks.ir Cat-friendly practice information (website). www. signs in dogs with separation anxiety, thunderstorm Stevens BJ, et al. Efficacy of a single dose of Diseases and Disorders
catvets.com/cfp/veterinary-professionals.
phobia, and noise phobia, alone or in combination.
trazodone hydrochloride given to cats prior to
Hammerle M, et al: 2015 AAHA canine and feline
veterinary visits to reduce signs of transport- and
J Am Vet Med Assoc 219:467-473, 2001.
behavior management guidelines. J Am Anim Hosp
Assoc 51:205-221, 2015. Overall KL, et al: The AAFP behavioral guidelines examination-related anxiety. J Am Vet Med Assoc
for cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 227:70-84, 2005.
249:202-207, 2016.
Lind AK, et al: Assessing stress in dogs during a visit Pizzorusso T: Erasing fear memories. Science
to the veterinary clinic: correlations between dog 325:1214-1215, 2009.
behavior in standardized tests and assessments by
Situation:
Entry to clinic
Through door happily Distressed: Vigilance/scanning, continuous panting, salivation

Mat – waiting room or Walks without resistance Walks with resistance, struggle, slipping
exam room

Quiet room for 20 min
Happily goes Unhappy, doesn’t
takes treats take treats, shaking
NO GO until you figure out
how to relieve this;
Takes treats Cannot take treats compulsion is not a solution

GO Consider how anxiety will affect
exam and results
GO Progress Change to bigger room, windows
kindly and
mindfully New response Problem long-standing

Still distressed Calmer GO
BZD!! Anxiety/memory Treat now and plan;
GO only if risk low
Talk to clients/history/risk
Problem worsening

Mitigate distress Concern of worsening NO GO NO GO if cannot
relieve suffering;
defer & TX plan

Short-term, fast-acting meds Treat now: clonidine, Sileo, BZD, trazodone
(BZD, trazodone) and rewards

Better Still distressed
Not happy Happier GO

GO with caution NO GO if not urgent – need plan
and plan for
future help
and assessment
NO GO if not essential
Resched/trainer/premed/desensitize
NOTE: If procedure is essential and NO GO for non-distressed cooperation – SEDATE – consider neuronal damage
FEAR DUE TO VETERINARY VISITS/TREATMENTS Sample Go/No Go decision tree for distress in clinical
situations. (Courtesy Dr. Karen L. Overall.) BZD, Benzodiazepine.

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