No-Stress Handling

At Old Lyme Veterinary Hospital, we strive to provide a happy, stress-free visit for your pet. However, going to the vet can be a nervous experience for your pet due to strange smells, sights, and sounds.

To help your pet feel at ease, we continually assess your pet's body language and reactions to stimuli (including handling, injections, and treatments). These assessments help us work with your pet at the appointment, and even to begin planning for future appointments. Our staff uses the Algorithm for Handling Patients, developed by Colleen S. Koch, DVM. From her article A low-stress handling algorithm: Key to happier visits and healthier pets:

"This algorithm outlines assessing body language, initiating contact, reassessing body language, and readjusting based on the patient's response every time the environment changes and with each interaction with the veterinary team. Being cognizant of your patient's emotional state will help you build a better relationship with both your clients and patients, thus increasing patient well-being, client compliance and job satisfaction for the entire veterinary staff."

To help explain this concept, we've included Dr Koch's visual algorithm below. To read her full article explaining the algorithm, please visit the following link: https://www.dvm360.com/view/low-stress-handling-algorithm-key-happier-visits-and-healthier-pets

If you have any questions, please contact us. We look forward to working with your pet!

Algorithm for Handling Patients