There are multiple reasons why an appointment model works best for this approach:

• Each pet is unique and we dedicate time to optimize the approach just for them

• Some pets will be on medications that require specific timing

• We are better able to manage the lobby to prevent interactions between pets

• Your pet will not have to wait long for their visit to start

• We can ensure your pet can be seen regularly

Yes, if doing so is unlikely to contribute to the development of escape attempts (flight), defensive aggression (fight), or shutting down (freeze).

This is a process-focused approach guided by the pet’s progress. The goal of every appointment is to end it closer to our goal than we started, whereas the goal of a ‘typical’ veterinary appointment may be to complete a full list of tasks, potentially even if the pet is feeling fearful, anxious, stressed, or is showing aggression. With cooperative veterinary care, we complete medical tasks as the pet demonstrates they are likely to be able to tolerate them, unless the goal is considered to be medically necessary (see the next question for more).

Medically necessary procedures are those that are urgent, life-threatening, and must be completed within seconds to days in order to achieve a favorable outcome. With these, we must evaluate whether there are short-term plans that can prevent behavioral injury while accomplishing our goals quickly.

Medically wanted procedures are everything else. With these, we have time to evaluate different plans and optimize the approach long-term.

Behavioral injury refers to the effect of a traumatic event on a pet which can lead to fear, anxiety, and stress often presenting as avoidance and aggression. Within the veterinary field, this most commonly occurs because people have prioritized a medically wanted procedure without keeping in mind that every experience the pet has is a learning experience. What seems like one trivial nail trim to us, happening just once or repeated multiple times, can lead to years of increasing anxiety for the pet resulting in compromised ability to deliver medically necessary care later.

Probably not, but we can teach them that there are worthwhile pleasant reasons to hold still while we poke them with a needle, even though it’s uncomfortable.

You may be as involved in the training process as you’d like. If you want to practice frequently at home, we will be delighted. If you want all the training to happen with Dr. Young, we will be delighted, provided you commit to an ongoing visit schedule to achieve consistent progress.

No, there may still be reasons for sedated medical visits. This includes medically necessary procedures and may include medically wanted procedures if it will significantly improve the pet’s quality of life. We will work together to optimize your pet’s sedation procedure so there is as little stress as possible. For some pets, training for an injection of sedation will be our top priority goal.