A bird, a cat and a dog enter through a door all within a few seconds of one another. Fortunately they are not walking into a bar as part of a punch line to a joke–they are in fact visiting a veterinary hospital for an early morning appointment.
So what should an onlooker see?–a bird in a carrier; a cat in a carrier; and a dog on a leash. Each Pet, accompanied by their owner who checks in at the reception desk. Many owners drop their Pet off for veterinary care in the morning at practices across the country, or they see the doctor in one of the exam rooms. This is a daily event for the caring individuals who work at the veterinary hospital, but it can be a once or twice yearly BIG AND STRESSFUL EVENT for Pets and their owners. Items such as appropriate carriers and leashes help keep Pets and owners safe while they wait to receive their vaccines, exams or other care.
Without leashes and carriers the scene would look entirely different. These same three Pets might enter the hospital as a stressful environment, where owners might be trying to restrain and direct over-excited or worried Pets. Accidents tend to occur more often when Pets are not securely restrained–a loose Pet in this environment may uncharacteristically run away from their owner and manage to escape from an open door out into traffic. Some Pets who escape wind up lost or injured. Pet owners, on the other hand, could find themselves scratched or accidentally bitten.
The proper restraint for your Pet, especially when visiting the vet, helps keeps him under control during what is likely the most unpredictable day of the year for them. When you arrive at the hospital, with your dog on a leash, it’s a good idea to take a quick potty break before heading inside to check in, helping to guide your dog along the way.
Cats in carriers have a place to curl up and hide which helps if they do not approve of the look, smell or sound of the dog sitting next to them in the waiting room. Carriers can also come in handy in helping to obtain an accurate weight on your cat by placing the carrier with the cat inside, directly on the scale! To get an accurate measurement you could weigh your empty carrier and subtract the empty carrier weight from the total weight. After weighing the carrier the first time, it might be helpful to place a sticker on the outside of the carrier that indicates the weight so you can skip that step in the future.
Bird carriers help reduce stress and provide protection from dogs, cats or other Pets with a “curiosity” for feathered friends. Carriers also provide owners with protection from sharp nails and beaks that can clamp down when a bird is preparing to flee from a scary cat or dog.
Consider yourself lucky if your Pets are typically mellow about their trips to see the vet. And know how much the veterinary team inside appreciates your efforts to help maintain a safe and stress-free environment for all.
If you have questions about safely transporting your Pet, you can always ask for additional tips from your veterinary team. We also have some information in our PetDr resource center. Here are a few other helpful links we’ve found:
Other information links:
Humane Society halter tips
Humane Society cat travel by car
