Fear Free

Here at the Crookston & Prairie Pet Clinics, we strive to provide a fear-free environment for your beloved pets. We understand that coming for veterinary care can cause stress for our beloved furry friends, and we want to do our part to minimize and eliminate those fears.

So how do we minimize fear?

• Pheromones for relaxation
• Use a quiet, slow approach
• Encourage pets to exit their carriers on their own, or remove the tops for a less stressful extraction
• Use treats for distraction
• Recommend anti-anxiety medications to be given at home before the visit

We also strive to minimize pain by…

• Changing needles after loading syringes
• Using the smallest needles possible for injections
• Use appropriate local and regional anesthesia
• Give pain medication before, during, and after any surgical procedure
• Monitor response to post surgical pain medication
• Use multiple pain medications and other treatment modalities for the safest, most effective pain control

We may also recommend sedation because…

• It will reduce emotional stress
• It will reduce physical stress such as increased heart rate and blood pressure
• It will decrease the risk of harm to patients
• It will allow better examination and more complete care of the pet

---