Raising the Standard with Fear Free Care

At IndeVets, we recently made Fear Free® Certification a requirement for all of our veterinarians, becoming the first veterinary relief provider to take this step.

This decision reflects our commitment to delivering strong clinical care alongside a better experience for patients, clients, and veterinary teams.

Fear is one of the most significant, and often underestimated, factors shaping a pet’s experience in the clinic. For many animals, veterinary visits can be overwhelming, leading to increased stress over time and, in some cases, making routine care more difficult or avoided altogether.

As hospitals place increasing emphasis on patient experience, safety, and trust, we believe Fear Free car training is an important part of how great medicine is practiced today.

Why Fear Free Matters

Fear, anxiety, and stress can directly impact both the patient experience and the quality of care delivered.

Fear Free care provides an evidence-based framework for recognizing and reducing those stressors. In practice, that can look like:

• Identifying early signs of stress, such as lip licking, avoidance, or changes in body posture
• Adjusting the environment, including minimizing noise, using non-slip surfaces, or incorporating calming pheromones
• Using positive reinforcement, like treats and praise, to build better associations with care
• Modifying handling techniques to avoid force and allow pets to remain in more comfortable positions

These approaches support calmer patients, which can lead to more accurate exams, fewer complications, and safer interactions for veterinary teams.

Just as importantly, they can transform what was once a stressful visit into a more manageable, and sometimes even positive, experience.

Clinics that adopt these approaches often see improvements in patient behavior, client satisfaction, and overall team engagement.

A Clinical Perspective

As a Fear Free Level 3 certified veterinarian, I’ve seen how meaningful these changes can be in everyday practice.

Often, it’s not one major adjustment, but a series of small, intentional decisions that shift the experience. Slowing down an approach, recognizing subtle signs of stress earlier, or adjusting handling in the moment can prevent escalation and create a more manageable visit.

That not only benefits the patient, but also the team. Repeatedly handling stressed or fearful animals can take a toll, and reducing that strain helps create a more positive and sustainable work environment.

Fear Free care provides a practical framework for making those decisions consistently, even in busy or unfamiliar environments.

Raising the Bar for Relief Medicine

Relief veterinarians play a unique role, stepping into a wide range of hospitals, teams, and workflows, often with limited time to acclimate.

That variability makes consistency especially important.

By requiring Fear Free Certification across all IndeVets veterinarians, we are establishing a shared, evidence-based approach to patient care. No matter where an IndeVet is practicing, they bring:

• Training in low-stress handling and fear, anxiety, and stress reduction
• A consistent approach to patient and client interaction
• The ability to integrate seamlessly into any hospital while maintaining a consistent, high standard of care

In many cases, our veterinarians also help introduce or reinforce these practices within hospitals, supporting teams in delivering calmer, more cooperative patient experiences.

What This Means for IndeVets Veterinarians

For IndeVets veterinarians, this requirement is part of how we invest in clinical excellence and professional development.

It ensures that every doctor is equipped with tools that support both high-quality medical care and a more thoughtful, low-stress approach to patient interactions.

This shared foundation allows our veterinarians to practice with greater confidence and consistency across a variety of hospital settings.

What This Means for Hospitals

For our hospital partners, it provides a clear and consistent standard.

Every IndeVet brings:

• Strong clinical expertise
• Evidence-based training in reducing fear, anxiety, and stress
• An approach that supports patient experience, team safety, and client trust

In relief settings, where onboarding time is limited, this consistency helps support smoother workflows, safer handling, and a more predictable experience for both teams and clients.

Looking Ahead

Veterinary medicine continues to evolve, with growing focus on both clinical outcomes and the experience of care.

At IndeVets, requiring Fear Free Certification across our veterinary team reflects our commitment to advancing that standard, ensuring that every doctor we place delivers not only excellent medicine, but a more thoughtful and compassionate approach to care.