Making the Vets Less Scary: How RVN Emily is Changing the Experience for Nervous Pets

For many pets, a trip to the vets can be a stressful experience — unfamiliar smells, strange noises, and being handled by new people can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re so lucky to have our amazing Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) Emily on the team.

Emily has introduced a wonderful initiative that’s already changing how animals feel about coming through our doors. Her social visits are all about building trust and positive associations with the veterinary environment. These aren't medical appointments — instead, they’re friendly, pressure-free visits focused on cuddles, fuss, gentle handling, getting used to things like the stethoscope, and even a relaxed exam when pets are ready.

It's Making a Real Difference — Just Ask Dolly!

One perfect example of the impact these visits can have is Dolly, a 1 year and 2-month-old Australian Labradoodle. When Dolly first started coming to us, she was very nervous and scared of the vet environment.

Since February, Dolly and her lovely owner have been committed to regular social visits with Emily. During these visits, Dolly had the chance to:

• Walk around the practice and sniff at her own pace

• Pop into the prep area and kennels to see what goes on behind the scenes

• Meet the team, including the friendly faces she’d later see during her surgery

• Get used to being touched in vet-style ways with lots of praise and rewards

• Build confidence and start to feel safe in our care

  
  

Fast forward to Dolly’s recent spay, and the difference was amazing. She came into the practice much more relaxed. Thanks to the familiar faces and friendly environment, she was far less stressed before her procedure — and she even wanted to come back for her post-op checks!

Her mum told us that without these social visits, Dolly would have been a very stressed and scared dog, which could have affected her recovery and her willingness to return in the future. Instead, Dolly came back with a waggy tail, ready for cuddles and check-ups.

She even got some well-deserved TLC and snuggles in recovery from our lovely VCA and receptionist, Abbe — who, of course, Dolly had already befriended during her visits!

Helping Pets Feel at Home at the Vets

We believe that a fear-free experience can make all the difference to a pet’s health and wellbeing. Building positive relationships before a pet needs treatment helps them stay calmer, happier, and more comfortable throughout their life.