The Coronavirus pandemic has changed much about how we are all experiencing our day to day lives. Convenient and casual trips to our favorite spots or to run errands are dramatically different now that we must all do our part to follow safety guidelines, wear masks and social distance.
With the introduction of curbside appointments, visiting your favorite holistic veterinary clinic is a little different too.
No worries though! We’ve put together these tips and tricks to help you and your animal smoothly navigate curbside veterinary appointments.
1.) Make sure dogs are well exercised right before the appointment.
This relaxes them and generally creates a calmer visit. Take them for a walk or romp in your yard before heading to your veterinarian.
2.) Give your fur-baby an opportunity to ‘do their business’ before the appointment.
Make sure your kitty has access to her litter box before she goes into her carrier, and be sure your pup has time to tinkle or poop before the appointment starts. This decreases the likelihood of an accident in the car or in the clinic, and it helps with anxiety during the appointment because your four-leggeds are not focused on when or where they will get to relieve themselves.
3.) Get yourself in a relaxed frame of mind.
Take a moment to check-in with yourself and address any concerns you may have about being separated from your furry friend during the appointment. Do your best to be calm about the separation and trust that your animal will be cared for and at ease during his appointment. Animals are well versed in sensing emotions, so when you are relaxed, this increases the likelihood of your animal relaxing. Remember to “reflect what you desire” for your furry friend.
4.) Visualize the appointment.
Visualize a happy and relaxed visit with Dr. Laurel where your love-muffin will get to share her wisdom and wishes. Set aside some quiet time to share this image with your furry friend and be as specific as possible. Imagine the car ride and her entering the clinic self-assured and confident. Visualize the Sunvet crew being patient and gentle with her and giving her lots of cuddles and treats. Imagine her returning to your vehicle safe and sound. Do this several times in advance of the appointment.
Mentally sharing images of a caring and gentle visit can provide emotional support for your furry friend and sets the stage for your pal to feel safe during the consultation. It helps your four-legged ‘know what’s coming’ and be less surprised by the new experience of a curbside appointment. Even as you wait in the car while your buddy is in the office, you can share your own calmness by continuing to visualize a peaceful, happy visit.
You don’t have to be an intuitive expert to support your dog or cat in this way. However, if you are looking to fine-tune your connection with your furry friend, check out our blog, How to Listen and Connect Deeply with Your Dog or Cat, for some helpful tips.
We understand that watching your buddy enter Sunvet without you is a lot like dropping off a child at school. We promise to honor your beloved 4-leggeds and to spend extra time giving them the reassurance they need to feel safe.
If you have any questions about our curbside procedures, we would love to hear from you. Feel free to give us a call or email your questions to info@sunvetanimalwellness.com.
