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How do you cope when visiting the vet?

Bunny

I had to take one of our cats to the vet today, in what was supposed to be a quieter time slot.

As it was raining, I thought it would be unfair to ask the vet to follow our usual routine, in which they kindly fetch and return in the car park, to avoid me going in.

Inside, there were already two dogs, which I really don't like. My stress level was rising, but the wait was quite short. After the appointment, a HUGE dog was barking and misbehaving right outside the consulting room. I recoiled, the vet moved them aside, and I left through the two sets of doors of an enclosed, porch area (I think of it as an airlock).

As soon as I got outside, the alarm on the car next to mine went off, with a horrendous, high-pitched siren. I retreated into the airlock, feeling trapped and panicky. The alarm then stopped, so I went back outside - only for it to go off again. 

I then retreated all the way inside, now very agitated, and told the receptionist that I couldn't get to my car. Thankfully, it belonged to a gentleman who was being served, so he quickly dealt with it (he'd accidentally locked his colleague inside, but hadn't recognised the sound).

So it was a lose-lose situation. Even if I'd waited in the car, the alarm would still have gone off right next to me. Next time, I'll take my earplugs - which, of course, I didn't have with me :(

How do you get on with visiting the vet, and what coping strategies (if any) do you use?

Cat   Dog   Rabbit   parrot   Rat.   Chicken    

  • I also find dogs intimidating because of barking. I used to go, with my cat, to a vets inside a large pet supplies 'supermarket'. It had the advantage of space; if there were dogs in the waiting area, I would edge away, but within earshot to be able to hear when I was called into the examination room. It worked quite well.

  • I take my dog to the vet regularly because he is older and needs more attention than he used to. I make appointments with just the one vet who knows us both well and usually sees us without too much waiting around. I can struggle in confined spaces with other people, so if it is overcrowded the receptionist doesn’t mind if I wait in the car park, and a member of staff will tell me when it is my turn. My dog is calm and very laid back, so I keep my eyes on him and that helps me stay calm too.

    Each veterinary surgery has its own way of doing things, depending on the size of practice. If you are not overly attached to your current vets, you could consider shopping  around for one that might have a quiet are for cats and their humans. These tend to be the larger practices.

  • Vets visits can be a bit stressful, it's not something I have a particular problem with, my Mum usually comes with me as somebody has to hold the cat box on thier lap to stop the cat/s throwing themselves about in the box.

    How is your cat?

    I hope you feel less wobbly soon.

  • I'm sorry you had such a traumatic experience. Are you feeling better now? Sending virtual hugs x.

    I no longer have a cat but when I did I always dreaded going to the vets. The vets was always busy, felt too hot and the noise of animals and people chatting was overwhelming and more than once caused me to meltdown. In the end I came up with my own special survival kit: ear plugs, cooling wipes so if I got too hot I could dab my face with them, comfort beads and chewlery to keep me calm and I used to carry a first aid kit in my bag. Lol. That was just me though being a health freak!

    The car alarm etc you heard was unfortunate but like overwhelmed & underwhelmed said another day and another time would be completely different so please don't let that worry you about future visits. It's unlikely to be like that next time. When I used to go to the vets the outside was my safest place, when I was done and I went outside I felt I could breathe.

    I'm sorry this was a negative experience for you. Be kind to yourself now, rest and recover, remind yourself next time will be different and this was just "one of those days". Tomorrow is a new day! Hopefully a better one Slight smile

  • It may be good practice to keep several "emergency kits" in small bags to keep with you when you may be otherwise unprepared.

    Having something like earplugs, headache tablets, tissues, some of your favourite sweets, even an eyemask etc, maybe sunglasses, disposable gloves or whatever may be of use in an emergency would give you some confidence that this is just within reach.

    Keep a set in your handbag / coat pocket, in the cars glove compartment and one or two at home to slip into another coat if you need it should cover most circumstances.

    In your situation I would have "checked in" then told the receptionist I would wait in my car, giving some safe space from the other people / animals.

    The car alarm would have been unavoidable  but you may have been able to prevent being blocked in by asking the guy not to stop there - but there will always be curve ball situations unfortunately.

    I found that building my confidence in being able to cope with the unexpected or undesirable was the best way to conquer anxiety. It doesn't go away completely but I can shut it down much more easily now.