As vets and nurses, none of us want our patients to be stressed. Not only is it not nice for the animals we all love, but it's difficult for us, too. Stressed patients are harder to examine, and harder to treat. It's not hard to agree that a low-stress, fear-free clinic is the goal - but how can we get there?
While there's a huge amount of information out there on this topic, we've decided to simplify it into five tips that every veterinary practice can try - no matter how limited their space! - to help their patients be stress free.
1. Rethink the waiting room
Traditional waiting rooms often create more stress than comfort. Pets are surrounded by strange smells, other animals, and unfamiliar noises — all while being confined in close quarters.
Consider practical changes:
- Separate zones for cats and dogs, ideally with barriers between.
- Elevated shelving for cat carriers so they’re off the floor.
- Towels and blankets sprayed with Feliway to cover cat cages
- Calming music or white noise to soften sudden sounds.
- Let clients check in from the car and wait outside if needed.
You don’t need a full renovation — just thoughtful adjustments to layout, sound, and flow can help reduce anxiety!
2. Build more flexibility into the schedule
Squeezing anxious or reactive patients into a packed appointment list only increases stress on everyone. Instead, offer quieter time slots for pets who struggle, or cat-only appointment times that are twice the length. Don't worry, you can charge for these! Leave room for longer appointments or utilise your reception and nursing teams for “happy visits” where no procedures are done, just positive experiences.
Even small time-buffers between consults can make a big difference — helping animals decompress and giving staff a moment to reset so pets aren't picking up on your stress.
3. Make handling a conversation, not a struggle
Low-stress handling is about building trust, not just getting the job done.
Book some CPD that can help your team to observe and respond to each animal’s signals. A dog backing away, a cat flicking its tail — these signs should guide the pace and method of care.
Use treats, soft voices, towel wraps, or lick mats to reduce anxiety. Whenever it's safe to do so, perform exams where the pet is most comfortable, whether that’s on the floor, in their carrier, or even sitting in a staff member’s lap.
4. Equip and encourage pet owners
Many clients feel powerless when their pet becomes anxious at the vet, and it's a major reason for them to delay vet visits and treatment. So, how can you step in and support them?
Use your newsletters and social media to share practical, bite-sized tips they can use at home:
- How to make car travel less stressful
- Crate or carrier training techniques
- Simple at-home handling exercises
- Socialisation and habituation exercises
Recommend appropriate calming aids and consider offering short consults with a veterinary nurse qualified in behaviour to provide guidance tailored to the pet. When owners feel informed and supported, their pet's benefit — and so does your practice.
5. Let a nurse behaviourist lead the way
To make a real difference in practice, you need to have someone passionate driving change. That’s where a behaviourally trained nurse can be invaluable. By supporting a veterinary nurse through a behaviour certificate, you aren't just upskilling them and tending to their professional development, you are helping your entire practice evolve and improve.
To get the full benefit, give your nurse real influence within the practice:
- Lead staff training on low-stress handling.
- Help redesign the waiting area to reduce sensory triggers.
- Create protocols for identifying and supporting anxious pets.
- Offer short behaviour consultations and evening classes for clients.
A vet nurse with a behaviour certificate can also take 'in-house' referrals - not every behaviour problem needs a referral to a specialist. Sometimes pet owners just need early guidance from someone who understands both behaviour and medicine and is confident referring patients on when they need it.
Interested in expanding your behaviour knowledge?
If you are a nurse or if a nurse in your team wants to build confidence in recognising and managing behavioural issues in practice, take a look at our Veterinary Nurse Behaviour Certificate Programme . Designed specifically for nurses, this programme helps behaviour-keen vet nurses reduce stress for patients and staff, boost client satisfaction, and help your practice stand out as a leader in compassionate, modern care!
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Jan 2026
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