We are proud to announce that Hollybank Vets Winnington has been accredited as a Dog Friendly Clinic!

The Dog Friendly Clinic Scheme has been set up by Dogs Trust and The British Veterinary Behaviour Association to help vet clinics and owners make every dog’s veterinary experience the best possible.

The Dog Friendly Clinic scheme helps practice staff develop dog behaviour knowledge and skills so they can recognise and address early signs of anxiety and improve the welfare of dogs whilst in the clinic.

To find out more, and how you can help your dog have a better trip to the vets, visit www.dogfriendlyclinic.org.uk

How we became Dog Friendly!

As a practice we have had to show we meet certain requirements to become a dog friendly clinic. The whole team is involved with making your dogs visit a positive one – vets, nurses and receptionists!

Firstly, it’s important to recognise that dogs can be affected by their experience in the reception area. Along with our separate dog specific waiting area, our receptionists will be on hand to ensure your dog gets the right experience for them. Our receptionists will greet you and your dog, if they are keen, with treats and a fuss however we do understand that not all dogs are happiest when they come to the vets so if they would prefer less interaction and to wait in a quieter area then we will also facilitate this.

The handling of your dog can also have an impact on their visit and we will always be gentle with your pets. Stress and pain can influence a dogs behaviour so if they are not feeling very well, you may notice they are not acting their usual self. They may be more worried, shy or even be less tolerant of being touched and examined so we need to take this into consideration. The majority of consultations will require physical interaction. A considerate, slow approach will help dogs to feel safe and minimise distress. The interpretation of the dog’s body language will also help the staff to understand how a dog is reacting to a situation.

If your dog needed to be hospitalised, whether that be for one day for a procedure or for longer if they are needing overnight care, then it is important we utilise dog friendly methods to ensure they feel safe during their stay. Our kennels have been designed to be as stress free as possible, no two kennels face each other so dogs cannot make eye contact. The kennels are made comfy with bedding, blankets and our nurses care for them, taking them out to the toilet and providing TLC with personalised and regularly reviewed patient care plans.

If your dog does get very stressed and worried coming to the vets, then there are things we can do to help including anxiolytic medications and socialisation clinics. Our socialisation clinics are designed to get your dog more used to the practice environment and experience happy visits with us so that when they do come for a vet appointment, they have a positive association with us.

Look out for an upcoming post regarding our socialisation clinics and featuring some star patients!