Fear Free Practice Research Paper

A movement has made its way across the country, it is a concerted effort to reduce the fear and anxiety that our companion animals as well as many of their human caretakers have upon entering a veterinary hospital setting. The ideology is referred to as a “fear free practice”. In my humble opinion I believe this should have been adopted a long time ago and seems, simply put, a “No Brainer”. The principles of a “Fear Free” animal hospital was first introduced to the field by world renowned veterinarian and most importantly animal behaviorist and trainer, the late Dr. Sophia Yin. In addition, to Dr. Yin’s work the movement was also fueled by the work of Dr. Karen Overall. The two coupled with many others who have picked up the torch of Dr. Yin’s
I am one who is a big proponent of the holistic approach when it comes to the welfare and wellbeing of humans and animals alike. I further believe this is a great and wonderful movement within the Veterinary profession one that could lead to big dividends in the long run. But like many things most people do not like change perhaps it is like the old adage states “Better the devil that you know than the devil you don’t know”. I have read and heard that it is too costly or too much work to facilitate a fear free veterinary setting. Both of these in my humble opinion are just cop outs, the very idea to think that benefitting an animal is too expensive or too much work is mind boggling to. If I were working in a Veterinary hospital setting I would suggest some very simple low or no cost tips that could be instituted, the following are just a
Have more accurate blood tests.
2. Have more accurate TPR.
3. Have more accurate physical exams.
4. Require less sedation.
5. Have less immune suppression.
6. Experience less vomiting.
7. Have less diarrhea.
If their beloved pet is less stressed, owners will be, too, and will be more likely to come back for rechecks and yearly exams. Ryan Bragg, DVM, MS, Dipl, ACVECC, and others confirmed in a recent study (R.F. Bragg, et al. “Evaluation of the effects of hospital visit stress on physiologic variables in dogs.” JAVMA 2015, Vol 246, N 2, p. 212-215) that we “should consider stress from transportation and environmental change when canine patients have abnormalities of vital signs. “Specifically, he found significant differences in blood pressure, respiratory rate and pulse rate between home and hospital environments.

References
Dog Fear and Anxiety - How to Calm an Anxious Dog | petMD. (2016). Petmd.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016, from http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/behavioral/c_dg_fears_phobia_anxiety

Nichols, J. (2016). Removing the Fear and Anxiety From Your Dog's Vet Visits. Preventivevet.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016, from