Stress is a biological response that helps humans and animals avoid dangers in the wild. In the modern world, many of these stressors are no longer life-threatening and instead make us feel nervous, anxious, or unsure doing normal activities. Pets can also experience stress, and just like in humans, prolonged stress can lead to changes in behavior or health in animals. Recognizing signs of stress in pets is an important element of overall health and wellness.
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If you have decided to adopt or bring a new pet companion into your life, congratulations! Pets are wonderful companions and are so hard to resist when we see them looking lonely in a shelter or rescue. No wonder there are so many multi-pet households, since one sweetie is never enough!
If you have never cared for a pet before, there is a lot to consider when it comes to making the adoption and your life with a new pet successful. The team at Berkeley Veterinary Center is here to give you some helpful tips as you embark on new dog ownership.
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It’s common to have life-altering goals in mind as we approach a new year, but sometimes, it’s as simple as the little things that can make a big difference in health and happiness!
Similarly, small steps can give our four legged best friends healthier, happier, and even longer lives. When it comes to pet care resolutions, there doesn’t need to be any pressure to be the best!
Take it one day at a time, and let Berkeley Veterinary Center provide the guidance you need to take better care of your fur babies in 2020.
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The older we get, the faster time seems to fly right by us. This cross-cultural phenomenon can be explained by “ratio theory,” a 140-year-old concept that suggests we constantly compare intervals of passing time with how long we’ve lived so far. In other words, a single year to a small child comprises a large percentage of their life, whereas a mere 12 months to a person of middle age is a scant percentage. Experts say that the reason for this is because as we age, fewer meaningful events happen to us.
This really couldn’t be further from the truth at Berkeley Veterinary Center, a place that values even the smallest victories. Whether or not we’re consciously focused on our perception of time, we can tell you that this past year gave us many reasons to be grateful.
Our monthly pet care blogs are inspired by our ever-growing community of pet owners, and published online so that you may better care for your best friend.
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In a perfect world we could help all animals, regardless of circumstance. If you have ever been to your local animal shelter, you know how hard it is to walk away without adopting them all.
You might not know that there are many great ways you can choose to help homeless pets.
Here are some of Berkeley Veterinary Center’s favorites.
Summer means different things to different people – backyard barbeques, camping, trips to the lake, or a big family vacation may be on your agenda. For many pets, however, the warmest months are also the scariest. Thunderstorms, fireworks, and all the parties and gatherings can trigger a host of upsetting behaviors and put a real damper on everyone’s quality of life.
Pet noise anxiety can be a serious concern for pet owners. Prolonged periods of anxiety can be harmful to a pet’s health and wellness, and it can put them at risk for escape or injury. At Berkeley Veterinary Center, we’re a certified Fear Free practice, meaning we’re committed to reducing fear and stress in pets.
Keep reading to understand more about pet noise anxiety and how you can help your furry loved one remain calm and comfortable this summer.
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At Berkeley Veterinary Center, a Fear Free experience for you and your furry friends is of utmost priority to us. Did you know that our staff and doctors have undergone special training to ensure that your pet’s stress, anxiety, and fear is kept as minimal as possible during their visit?
Learn about all the extra things we do at our Fear Free Certified facility to make your pet’s experience a great one!
There are so many things that go into helping each pet who enters our practice feel at ease. Fear Free is about adapting to the needs of each individual patient. For example, a food-loving lab is going to require a much different approach than a terrified kitty!
Some of the things that we do to decrease fear, anxiety, and stress in our patients may include:
Treats, treats, and more treats — We utilize food as a reward and a distraction for many of our patients. This helps us to earn their trust and is often enough to keep a pet preoccupied during their exam. Special high value treats like spray cheese and peanut butter are always on hand, but you are encouraged to bring along your pet’s favorites. Be sure your pets arrive to their appointment hungry!
Pheromones everywhere — While you may not notice them, your dog or cat is sure to take note of the pheromone diffusers throughout our hospital. Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs help to put our patients at ease.
Getting down — Getting down on your pet’s level helps to create a sense of calm in many of our patients. Don’t be surprised to see us down on the floor. We may also get creative about performing procedures where your pet is most comfortable, such as in someone’s arms or up on one of our chairs. It’s all about getting things done safely and without anxiety.
A smelly undertaking — We hope that you notice the absence of smells in our hospital when you walk in. Your pet is sure to notice as well. We take extra care to remove odors that may cause nose-blindness or feed fear in the animals who visit.
No dogs allowed — Almost nothing is scarier for our feline patients than being greeted face-to-face by an unfamiliar and most unwelcome dog. The barking, smells, and general commotion that comes with canines can increase stress and anxiety in our cat patients. Separate dog and cat entrances into the hospital, separate dog and cat waiting rooms, and a cat-only exam room help to minimize this.
A considerate approach — You may wonder why we don’t just jump in and get the job done. Moving slowly and using a pet’s body language to gauge how they are feeling can help us to get more accomplished during your pet’s visit with less stress and anxiety.
Calming sounds — Sometimes the sounds at a veterinary hospital can be disconcerting for already anxious animals. We do our best to minimize these, often using calming music to help.
Prioritizing wants vs needs — We may have a laundry list of things that we hope to accomplish during your pet’s visit, but your pet will likely have some different ideas. We do our best to prioritize the things that “need” to happen, saving the things that we “want” to happen for last. This allows us to provide the best medicine for your pet, while making good judgements about when to push on and when to maybe try under different circumstances another day.
A Fear Free experience is very important to us. It is a rewarding feeling to work with your pets in a stress-free environment. Creating this experience for our pet patients is rewarding because it helps to build a sense of trust in the dogs and cats we treat and makes them want to see us again. It also allows us to see their true personalities, and to get to know them better.
If you have questions or want to learn more about Fear Free, please give us a call. We would love to meet you and your pet. You can also find more information on Fear Free at FearFreePets.com.
2019 is upon us, and we’re looking forward to a new year. It’s exciting to think ahead to all the upcoming goals, challenges, and triumphs that hopefully await us. Surely many of us are already hitting the gym more often, practicing mindfulness and gratitude, and spending more time with our loved ones (including our pets!).
Don’t get us wrong, 2018 was filled with wonderful moments for our staff, and many of those were with our Bayville area patients and clients. So, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we wanted to share one more look back with you. Our monthly blog has been a privilege to research, write, and publish this year, and we’re flattered that so many of you are reading it. To that end, we’re looking back at Berkeley Veterinary Center’s top 5 pet care blogs of 2018, and we hope you enjoy!
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Most of us place a lot of value on family traditions this time of year, like caroling, making gingerbread houses, or binging holiday movies together. In fact, we often strive to top our experience from the previous year! The point is, making holiday memories is fun and important.
Since it’s natural to want to get the whole family involved, holiday pet traditions are becoming more and more popular among pet owners. Looking for some ideas for your own two- and four-legged loved ones? You’re in luck!
(more…)In 2016, Dr. Marty Becker coined the phrase “Taking the Pet out of Petrified” as he took up the mantle of the Fear Free veterinary movement. We are happy to announce that Berkeley Veterinary Center has become the first Fear Free certified practice in the state of New Jersey! We’re so excited to share this veterinary approach with everyone.
The fear free movement began when surveys of pet owners showed that pets weren’t getting the care they need at their veterinarian largely because pets were afraid of going there. Pet owners want to do the very best they can for their pets, but when your cat yowls in the car all the way to the vet’s office, or your dog shakes like a leaf (or bites!) during the entire visit, it becomes difficult to even come in once a year.
Enter: the fear free movement, which endeavors to help practice teams, veterinarians, and pet owners come together to help pets be less stressed before, during, and after their veterinary visits, and thus get the regular preventive care they need to lead healthier and longer lives.
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