Chestnut Arbor Veterinary Hospital's Top 10 List

We keep promoting that our office is Fear Free - but many people don't know what that means...so I have compiled the list of the 10 things we do as a Fear Free clinic to make you and your pets more comfortable. So here is the top 10 list of what you can expect when you visit us at Chestnut Arbor Veterinary Hospital:

10 - Emotional Notecard- We note that your pet's emotional response is when they visit us - and we notate what works and what doesn't work for your pet. This means on your pet's medical chart it will state - 'likes peanut butter' or 'does well when mom holds in her lap'. We take notice so we can make future visits better.

9- Just say Yes - to pre-visit drugs that is - Drugs are not a bad word in our hospital - often pets need a little something to reduce anxiety before a visit - we can help with that. Whether it be a natural hormone (like milk hormone) or a stronger pharmaceutical like Trazodone - we can prescribe the right medication to alleviate any anxiety your pet may have

8 - No trips to the "BACK" - We keep you and your fur-baby together as much as we can during your visit. This means procedures will be done with you in the exam room unless you request otherwise or an extenuating circumstance requires us to separate you from your pet. If we need to use any particular equipment located in our treatment area, often we will suggest you accompany us and your fur-baby.

7 - Distraction is key - In order to facilitate procedures being done in a fear free way, often our team members will use toys to distract your pet. That means you can bring Fluffy's favorite stuffed animal to her visit!

6 - No white coats here - The white-coat phenomenon is a real thing in both human and veterinary medicine - therefore our staff does not wear white coats (sidenote, I have never really liked wearing one so this was an easy transition for me!). Most often our team is in scrubs or casual attire to help your pet feel more at home.

5 - Food is the way to their heart - Bring your pets hungry! Not only does fasting ensure better lab results but our goal is to offer your pets 60-100 treats during their visit. That's right - we totally and intentionally want to spoil them and bribe them to love us! And what better way then thru yummy treats. In fact you will be presented with a species specific menu to choose from and let our staff know what kinds of yummy foods your pet likes. Dietary restrictions ??? - no problem, we have hypoallergenic alternatives OR even better, you can bring their food/treats from home!

4 -  We look YOU in the eye - eye contact is stressful for pets so you will notice when our staff enters an exam room, we will make eye contact with you but not your fur-baby. Often we will even seem like we are ignoring your baby at first - in reality we are giving them a chance to check us out before we engage them. This gives them a sense of relief and calm, and allows us to get to know you as well!

3 - What's that smell? - Our rooms are equipped with pheromone diffusers - you won't be able to smell them but your pets do! Pheromones are pet-friendly substances that are detected by the central nervous system and help calm your pet. We even spray ourselves with them before entering a room

2- No slippery signs here - Exam room tables, slippery floors, metal scales - these all induce fear and stress in our pets. You will notice that we use yoga mats, blankets and do our procedures/exams on the floor where pets are most comfortable. For those that prefer to be up high we will create a comfortable environment for them on an elevated surface.

And the #1 thing - No waiting here! - Once you enter our office you will be greeted, by name, and placed directly into an exam room so your pet, and you, can relax. The rooms are designed with you and your pet in mind - comfy chairs, relaxing dog beds, cat perches and trees, and calming music greet you in our exam rooms and hopefully make you feel at home.

So there you have it - there is our top 10 list of what we do as a Fear Free Hospital to make you and your fur-baby feel at home. Check out our facebook page (www.facebook.com/chestnutarborvet) for more information.

Find the passion in vet med

There comes a point in every vet's career when they think - 'is this it?'. Is this what I went to school for - is that what I will do forever?  For some it is a fleeting and passing thought but for others, I think it is a turning point. Some people opt to leave the field and find something else to do, some people get out of clinical practice and go into industry or sales and others have to find their passion for this career again.

When I became director of a local ER department I thought I had reached the pinnacle of my career. I was working at a highly regarded hospital, with awesome staff and amongst a group of highly talented and educated doctors. I was getting a chance to see cases I had never seen before and getting to perform procedures weekly that some doctors only perform once in their entire career. I was helping to educate and train new graduate veterinarians and inexperienced technical staff. I was living the dream - or so I thought.

I loved ER - the rush of it all, the fun of not knowing what was coming in the door and the excitement when you saved a life and helped a client. ER has its darkness as well (and not just because we worked at night). Many of my cases ended in sadness - either due to the medical issues of the pet or lack of finances of the owner. Sometimes my cases ended before they started and more often than I care to recall, patients were presented to me solely for euthanasia. Those cases wear on you - emotionally, mentally, physically....and I fell victim to compassion fatigue and burnout. I regret to say that by the time I left my position as a full time ER doctor I had become cold and hardened and frankly I didn't care. I knew something had to change - I thought going back to day practice where I would have a more normal schedule and could see my daughter on weekends and holidays would help. And getting some regular sleep and doses of vitamin D on a daily basis did help, but I still found myself wondering - 'is this really the career I longed for when I was 5 years old'. I just didn't feel the passion and the sense of fulfillment that I once did. I knew it was possible to still be excited about this field - but I needed to find something to reignite my love for what I did.

When I decided to open my own practice, I also made the committment to make it Fear Free - and that is where I found my passion again. Part of my desire to open my own hospital was so that I could practice medicine 'my way'. I knew there had to be a better way to do things - a way that clients could see the value in the experience and a way that pets were happy to come to the veterinary office and a way that gave me that inner satisfaction that I longed for. Becoming Fear Free Certified reinstilled my passion and reignited my desire for this career. I began using techniques at the practice I was working at before I opened Chestnut Arbor Veterinary Hospital, and I could begin to see the difference it made for both the pets and the owners. I knew that this was it - this was  what I needed to make me feel fulfilled again as a doctor and even more so as a practice owner. I knew it would take time to adjust and create the type of practice where clients see the value in this type of approach.  So our practice moves a little slower - we take our time getting to know clients and patients. We spend time allowing pets to get to know us and we don't force them to do anything they don't want to do. And this is an adjustment for everyone - clients, nurses, even myself as a doctor. But seeing a pet who was scared to visit us, now come in wagging its tail and allow us to examine it while it eats some yummy snacks - that is worth it.

When someone asks why we are Fear Free - I say, why would someone not want to be Fear Free?

Fear Free Nail Trim Techniques

We have pets too

It's easy to forget that veterinary professionals have pets at home and when those pets get ill, or develop problems, often times our minds go into overdrive. We are amon
gst that group of people that have enough knowledge to be dangerous and therefore as soon as one of our animals limps, coughs, or vomits, our minds automatically jump to the worst possible conclusion out there. You will find that when it comes to our own pets, we lose all sense of medical knowledge in that immediate moment. I can't help but think of the time my sweet Madeline (a now 5 year old boxer) was only about 12 weeks old and choking on a piece of bedding - from a bed that she had nicely destroyed while at the hospital with me for my overnight ER shift. I completely lost my cool, forgot all sense of emergency veterinary experience I had, and instead handed her off to my colleague to deal with  her because at that moment I was not a doctor - I was a pet parent. Luckily she was fine and continues to shred bedding when at the hospital with me.

I tell you this story to say, we know what you are going through when your pets are sick. Please don't think for a second that just because we see these things day in and day out, that we aren't affected by it or that we can't relate or empathize to your concerns.  We know how scary it can be when your pet is hurt or how worrisome it can be when they just haven't been themselves for a few days. We know how it feels to hear that your pet has cancer, is diagnosed with seizures or needs more extensive testing. My 8 year old Boxer had a seizure today while with me at work - I know how scary those are and just sitting there with him while he recovered, I am thankful for the knowledge I have as a doctor and that I can empathize with my clients. I can relate because I have been there - and I think that helps make us better doctors.

So ask us about our pets - ask us our opinion on what you should do in situations - the odds are, we have been there too.