Ed. Note: The following content was provided by Cinema Veterinary Centre, who is a client of KHTS AM-1220.

Taking your dog or cat to the vet can be stressful for both you and your pet, but following a few easy tips from Santa Clarita veterinarian Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto can help make the process go a little smoother.

If it’s a canine companion you have at your side, you can help take the fear out of the car ride to the vet by getting your dog used to going for rides to other places too, like the pet store, hiking trail or other local dog-friendly spots.

Jaimie Ronchetto, DVM

You can also help your dog feel more comfortable at the vet by bringing him by for a quick visit to the lobby for treats, which Ronchetto welcomes at Cinema Veterinary Centre in Valencia.

“It can be a fun experience where they get treats for sitting on a scale,” Ronchetto said, “so that they don’t always associate coming into the veterinary clinic with getting poked and prodded.”

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For feline pet parents, you can help make the carrier feel like a safe place for your cat by leaving it out around the house with the door open and otherwise ignoring it.

By giving your cat the chance to explore it on his own, you may find him sneaking in and out, playing or even sleeping in it– and adding a comfortable blanket, a few toys and the occasional treat helps too.

“Getting them used to the carrier without taking them someplace is always a good idea,” Ronchetto said. “Once they’re used to the carrier, then the rest of the trip is a lot easier because that becomes their safe place.”

Carriers with a removable top can even allow your veterinarian to conduct some, or all, of the exam while your cat lays in the bottom of the carrier, helping them feel safer longer. Spraying the carrier with a calming pheromone spray before a vet visit can also help make the experience a little less stressful for your cat.

While these tips can help take the stress out of vet visits for a lot of pets, some pets may still need to take a sedative prescribed by your veterinarian before their visit.

“If all else fails, some (pets) do need to go home with some sedatives,” Ronchetto said. “There’s been a few times where I can’t do anything with the dog because they’re so terrified and it becomes dangerous for us as well as their owners. We just send them on their way with some sedatives they can give at home first orally and come back in on a different date.”

Whether your pet is a saint bernard or a chihuahua, a kitten or a senior feline citizen, putting in a little extra effort before their next check-up can help take the stress out of the vet visit, for everyone involved.

Cinema Veterinary Centre

23460 Cinema Drive

Valencia, CA 91355

661-253-9300