Our goal at Old Farm Veterinary Hospital is to care not only about your pet’s physical well-being, but also their emotional well-being. If your pet is showing signs of FAS (fear, anxiety, and stress), the doctor may prescribe medication for their appointment. The main objective of the medication administration is to minimize anxiety in short-term situations, as needed, or for generalized anxiety, administered daily. It is also used to keep patients calm during vet visits or while confined before and after surgery.
Medications are often given to pets who are afraid of fireworks. It is best to administer the medication before the stimulus occurs, so that your pet remains calm when the stimulus begins. If fireworks are scheduled for 9 pm on July 4th, it would be a good idea to administer the medication around 7 pm, before the fireworks, instead of after the first boom.
Another example is before a vet visit. If your pet is usually fearful at the vet, administering a dose before you leave will allow the medication to take effect in time for the car ride. The time of onset and duration vary from pet to pet. Please follow your veterinarian’s instructions regarding dose and time of dosing. Please do not change the dose or dosing time without consulting your veterinary team first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my pet need this medication?
High levels of FAS can have a negative impact on a pet’s physical health. When your pet’s stress hormone level is elevated, it can lead to negative effects on the immune system, changes in bloodwork, and even shorten your pet’s life. Every time your pet is in a stressful situation, such as going to the veterinarian, they learn to associate it with feeling anxious or scared. When your pet learns this association, each time they go to the vet, your pet will become a little more scared, and their anxiety can start sooner and sooner.
My pet isn’t aggressive, can’t you just do what they need?
We may physically be able to force your pet to do these things, but it would have a negative impact on their mental health. We don’t want them to learn to be more afraid at the vet’s office or start being afraid of strangers or you in other situations. If your pet stays at a high level of FAS, they may learn that the only way to make people stop doing things that scare them is to be aggressive. This adaptation could result in a situation where your pet is very sick or injured, making sedation risky but necessary because of aggression due to repeated negative experiences. The risk can limit our ability to provide necessary medical care to your pet.
He didn’t need medication last time. Why are you saying he needs it now?
FAS often increases because of memories of bad experiences. Giving medication to lower FAS also changes what your pet is learning, so they don’t continue to become more and more anxious or aggressive.