Over the past several years overseeing the Veterinary Practice Certification department, our team has heard many reasons why clinics feel Fear Free may not integrate smoothly into their workflows. One of the most common concerns? That it takes too long and disrupts hospitalefficiency. In reality, quite the opposite is true.

Take a moment to consider how much of your day is spent trying to get something done—or waiting for a pet to calm down enough to proceed. Before I adopted Fear Free techniques in my own patient care, I remember spending upwards of 45 minutes trying to collect a blood sample, obtain a diagnostic-quality radiograph, or simply complete a physical exam on a highly stressed patient. If someone had shown me then that addressing the root cause of a pet’s distress could help me accomplish those goals more quickly and safely, I would have jumped at the chance.

It may seem counterintuitive, but slowing down to assess a pet’s stress level can actually increase efficiency. A 2018 study by Dr. McBroom and colleagues1 found that Fear Free physical exams took only 29 seconds longer on average than traditional exams. Most veterinary professionals would agree that half a minute is a small price to pay for a smoother appointment—and likely time saved in the long run.

Recognizing when a pet is too stressed to proceed, rather than spending 30 to 45 minutes struggling through a procedure, is a game-changer. With tools like pre-visit pharmaceuticals, a thoughtfully prepared environment, and awareness of a pet’s triggers and preferences, you can help ensure that each visit is calmer, more efficient, and more successful.

As veterinary professionals, our goal is to set every patient up for success. That starts with recognizing how our actions impact emotional wellbeing—and how stress can directly interfere with our ability to get things done.

This week, I encourage you to try incorporating just one Fear Free technique into your workflow. Maybe it’s offering a lickable treat during a blood draw for a cat, or administering pre-visit meds to a nervous Yorkie to finally complete that orthopedic exam. Whatever you choose, I hope you’ll see firsthand that supporting a pet’s emotional wellbeing isn’t just compassionate—it’salso efficient.

Learn more at fearfree.com

 1. Reducing Fear in Canine Veterinary Appointments Through Fear Free Tactics

Christina F. McBroom and Dr. Martha Caron

College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University