Workshop Two: Practice makes progress - techniques for reducing stress for dogs visiting vets
Tracks
Workshops/Commercial Sessions - Room E1
| Wednesday, April 17, 2024 |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
| Room E1 |
Overview
Dr Petra Edwards
Speaker
Dr. Petra Edwards
Petra Edwards
Practice makes progress - techniques for reducing stress for dogs visiting vets
Abstract
Recent research suggests that as many as 1 in 7 dog caregivers report their dog shows severe or extreme fear during a vet visit, while up to 40% of dogs show some form of fear at the vet. It's important to reduce that fear or stress to help continue to improve the quality of care we can provide our canine patients and our clients.
No one enters the veterinary field to cause fear or stress in their patients, and everyone works to reduce stress where they can. But... What else could be done for better effect?
Do you try low stress strategies that don’t seem to work?
When was the last time you were coached through a low stress handling or restraint procedure?
There are many strategies out there to help dogs feel more comfortable and confident about such essential aspects of care, but navigating all the advice online can be overwhelming.
A low stress or fear-free approach is simply about taking active steps throughout every aspect of a veterinary visit to reduce the potential for fear or stress to occur. Sometimes you need to think outside the box, and sometimes, as with all technical skills, you just need more practice. With more tools in your proverbial low stress toolkit, a dog’s veterinary experience can improve at each subsequent visit.
This workshop will provide a brief overview of some common low stress handling strategies for dogs within the veterinary context. Practice makes progress, and with two qualified workshop coaches by the end of this workshop you’ll be able to:
• Understand the value of a low stress approach
• Demonstrate some common low stress techniques for restraint and exams
• Identify opportunities to create low stress environments for dogs
No one enters the veterinary field to cause fear or stress in their patients, and everyone works to reduce stress where they can. But... What else could be done for better effect?
Do you try low stress strategies that don’t seem to work?
When was the last time you were coached through a low stress handling or restraint procedure?
There are many strategies out there to help dogs feel more comfortable and confident about such essential aspects of care, but navigating all the advice online can be overwhelming.
A low stress or fear-free approach is simply about taking active steps throughout every aspect of a veterinary visit to reduce the potential for fear or stress to occur. Sometimes you need to think outside the box, and sometimes, as with all technical skills, you just need more practice. With more tools in your proverbial low stress toolkit, a dog’s veterinary experience can improve at each subsequent visit.
This workshop will provide a brief overview of some common low stress handling strategies for dogs within the veterinary context. Practice makes progress, and with two qualified workshop coaches by the end of this workshop you’ll be able to:
• Understand the value of a low stress approach
• Demonstrate some common low stress techniques for restraint and exams
• Identify opportunities to create low stress environments for dogs
Biography
Petra is a qualified dog behaviour consultant with a PhD in dog behaviour and welfare in the veterinary context. Her research focused on the potential causes of fear for dogs during veterinary exams, and reviewed the strategies used to reduce stress in the veterinary context. She currently works in local government developing community education and engagement programs for responsible pet ownership, animal behaviour and welfare, and has over 20 years’ experience in the dog training industry, including taking puppy pre school classes, basic manners classes and consults. Petra’s experience in low stress handling in a variety of contexts, and her passion for training for cooperative care, help aid in her sharing the practical outcomes of her research.
Felice is a qualified veterinary nurse and has worked in the industry since 2011 in both mixed and small animal practices, and in the shelter context. Over the past 12 years, she has invested much time in continuing education and canine behaviour. This resulted in her qualification in Companion Animal Services (Animal Behaviour and Training) through the Delta Institute and a diploma in Canine Behaviour Science and Technology through the Companion Animal Sciences Institute. In addition, she is also a Fear Free Certified Professional and currently working towards her certification through the Karen Pryor Academy. Felice currently works as a behaviour nurse in a private companion animal practice and also works as a puppy consultant, where she focuses on core aspects of keeping pets in homes - safe socialisation, handling and basic manners.
