Fear, Anxiety & The Vet: Making Visits Happier for Pets (and Owners!)

Is your dog shaking before the vet even touches the thermometer? Does your cat know you turned left instead of right and start planning its escape? This week on Off Duty, Maireád and Sabrina deep-dive into Fear Free veterinary care — what it is, why it matters, and how tiny changes at home can transform the entire clinic experience for pets. We cover: 🐾 Why nail clipping becomes a lifelong trauma (and how to undo it) 🐾 What a FAS score is — and why a “5” means “stop everything!” 🐾 How clinics can design calmer consult rooms, kennels, scents & colours 🐾 Emotional records: the notes that matter just as much as medical history 🐾 Cat carriers (and the hilarious ways owners accidentally ruin them) 🐾 Why groundwork at home helps both dogs and horses 🐾 How sedation, pre-visit meds and pheromones can change everything 🐾 “Happy Visits” — and why every puppy needs them Plus, we tease next week’s festive episode: 🎄 Christmas safety for pets and ponies — and what not to put in a stocking! Based on real experiences at Arra Vets and Dooneen, this episode is packed with practical, kind, fear-free advice for the pets (and owners) we love