Fear Free Veterinary Visits Provide the Best Outcomes for Pets

The door clicks shut, and the sound tightens every muscle in the room. Fear arrives before the veterinarian. The air hums with the scent of disinfectant and tension. Fear crouches in carriers, slides under tables, and trembles on cold steel.

A happy dog leaning into its vet captures what fear-free care looks like when pets feel safe. Image: Shutterstock

In a 2019 study of over 26,000 dogs, more than half exhibited fear during veterinary visits. One in seven shook in terror. Cats fare even worse; three out of four display stress behaviors, such as crouching or striking, when handled.

A calm cat in a vet nurse’s arms illustrates how fear-free care can help the three out of four cats who typically show stress during vet visits. Image: Shutterstock

Fear floods the bloodstream with cortisol, distorts heart rates, and clouds diagnostic readings. Many animals remember each visit, and their anxiety grows until owners, unable to bear the distress, stop coming. What begins as simple avoidance can grow into a crisis of preventable illness.

In 2016, veterinarian Marty Becker launched Fear Free, a program built on the belief that veterinary visits should not cause suffering. This model of animal care emphasizes both comfort and effective handling. Exam rooms are designed to meet the needs of each animal. The space stays quiet as the lights soften and the floors provide paws with solid footing.

The Fear Free care approach also leads to more accurate exams. Cats given gabapentin before exams arrive calmer and more cooperative, while dogs guided with low-stress handling show lower cortisol and steadier heart rates. Controlled sound, serene lighting, and careful handling help lower stress and support more accurate readings. As a result, calm animals allow examinations to proceed smoothly, giving veterinarians more reliable data and safer conditions.

Fear Free certification requires hours of coursework and course fees that can be burdensome for small practices. Some veterinary programs still emphasize restraint techniques before introducing low-stress methods. Renovating rooms with softer light and quieter acoustics demands resources that some clinics lack. 

Sign the petition and help make fear-free care the expectation, not the exception. Image: Shutterstock

The American Veterinary Medical Association can lead the way in promoting Fear Free care. Good medicine makes room for comfort and leaves no space for fear. Until low-stress care becomes standard, veterinary visits will still involve stress.

Sign the petition and be part of making fear-free veterinary care the standard nationwide!