Thanks for the help, taking my cat that was given to me to the vet for the first time tomorrow, I went to the groomers yesterday to get her nails trimmed and they immediately turned her away because she was aggressive, and now I'm freaking out because the vet is my last hope. Will give an update after tomorrow.
We went with our cat to the vet to get her a trim and she freaked out so much she was scratching and hissing at everyone, my sister was bitten pretty badly. The cat was very stressed and we didn't know we could calm her down before going to the vet. The vet didn't finish her job, we ended up leaving with the cat getting half a haircut. They didn't use any sedatives, they just went into cutting her hair and when they saw she is freaking out too much they just gave up. It was horrible for everyone. Thank you for your advice, I hope we can manage to calm her down at home, I don't know about the vet...
I’m a vet tech student and have been working at a clinic for about 3 years now. We are pretty good about fear free techniques! However I totally enjoy your videos and love this video about cats! Dealing with fractious and nervous kitties is still totally one of my weaknesses. I love these tips and we use some of them but I’m going to use more when dealing with kitties! Thank you!!
+Victoria Birch you are such an inspiration to me! I relate to you so much and I love your attitude about everything! I am 3/4 through my schooling but have learned so much from your vlogs! Thank you for all that you do!!!
I just adopted 2 kittens. Right away I started socializing them and even harness training them. They now love car rides and aren’t fearful of the vet when we go. They just walk around and enjoy the extra scritches and treats :) love your videos :)
Lovely tips that I haven't heard of before. I'm a vet tech practicing in Northern Canada and you are an amazing vet nurse! Never heard of that alternate use for gabapentin! Love the videos!!
Yes! Fear free!! I work at a cat only animal hospital and we are always implementing and referring back to different fear free practices. Way to go girl!
I love your videos so much! I’m currently in school to become a vet and you’re videos make me 19393939x even more excited and happy to do something I love for the rest of my life
I admire you so much for bringing awareness of Fear Free !! everyone who works in a veterinary clinic should have awareness of fear free techniques , btw fantastic video as always girl !:)
What the heck. I was already subscribed to you because of your sister and now that I'm trying to become a vet tech, I've found you again! Your channel is perfect lol 🤠👍
Our clinic found that using gabapentin before the appointment on cats that were just slightly stressed is fine but the majority of cats really need it dosed the night before as well. Makes all the difference!
This would be have been great yesterday, we had an aggressive cat yesterday, the cat was freaking out and I don’t have a lot of experience with overly aggressive cats so the other tech took over and I observed how she handled the cat
Mark Balbin I highly recommend taking your dog for “happy visits”!! Drop by the vets office to weigh him, feed him treats, and get him comfortable with the staff! Most vet clinics encourage this so his next vet visit, he will be looking forward to treats and cuddles!
@@user-ts2lp2wh3y my dog is fine at the vet. i work at an er vet clinic and also studying to be an lvt. im more curious on her viewpoints and maybe fear frees recommendations for aggressive/fearful dogs in the clinic. (also my name is danielle. the husband has the UA-cam red account)
Well, very informative but try to hold my cat from hell that way with the towel and the one with stiches would be yourself haha I think your advice on sedation is better, thank you!
I wish my vet cared as much about helping a stressed out animal as you do. The last time I took my cat there it was traumatizing to say the least. And she has never had any issues with the vet before. She truly freaked out and was hiding in a corner, two vet techs chasing her and throwing a blanket on her to grab her while she is making horrible noises I have never heard before. I understand it's difficult handling a cat in a situation like that and they obviously know what they are doing, but something about it just did not sit right with me. I will try some of the things you have mentioned here to hopefully make the experience go smoother next time.
@@TheBirchFamily Thanks! Your videos definitely help to keep me informed and feel more confident in asking questions to my vet to make sure the experience is as positive as it can be. Thanks for being so awesome!
I so wish this video came out before I quit my job. I was bitten by a cat because of my boss- who completely blamed it on me. It made me realize the only person who could protect me was ME- my boss will LITERALLY throw an aggressive cat at me and leave the room. I couldn’t handle the stress of this, and watching this would have helped me so much. I might’ve gone to a different clinic instead of quitting the field altogether.
Awww I love your cover and scoot method!! So thoughtful! I wish more vets were this mindful of cats. My vet provided a towel doused in Feliway to place over the carrier ASAP while we waited in the lobby. I was impressed, she was so relaxed and actually slept on the ride home instead of trying to bust out of the cage. I bought some Feliway that night on Amazon to keep on hand.
I'm trying to just spray my cat for ringworm and its hard to aim at the spot because she's so aggressive when I try. I kind of hate how I'm breaking her trust by revving her up so time for the calming supplement
My cat Cosmo is 5 years old and I haven’t took him to the vet since I adopted him at 6 weeks post vaccines after. He’s a very anxious soul…his fav place is hiding under blankets. I actually saw him underneath his bed when I adopted him 😢…literally every big sound or moving he freaks out and just hiding when other folks come by that he isn’t aware of. I’m scared to take him to get a check up because of how anxious and skittish he is. Any suggestions????
went to the vet today with bf and his cat. she screamed bloody murder and i know it was hard for him to see her like that. she just hates being held down. but i think we gonna work on holding her more. just so she knows it isnt the end of the world when she cant get away from a human
My cat was very aggressive when I tried to trim her nails or brush her. I trained her with treats and I praised her a lot to let me do those and now she does not have any problem with it. She even starts purring most of the time. Sedating a cat just to trim her nails is way too much.... Now she has ear mites and she would not let the veterinarian to touch her ears at all... So I trained her at home the same way to let me clean her ears, and now she lets even the vet to do that if the vet follows the steps that I trained her with. (let her calm down for a few minutes, praise her, do the slow blink, give her rewards before and after ear cleaning) - watch Jackson Galaxy's videos for other tips.
I would absolutely love to become a veterinary nurse some day, but i have a bleeding disorder called ITP where i have chronically low platelets. I have never been crazy comfortable handling cats, but I can read dogs a lot better and know when theyre fed up with me messing with them lol Is it possible for me to work as a veterinary nurse and avoid handling cats? Or is that just something I need to get used to.
Just from my experience in tech school, it seems like a lot of the people are afraid they're going to break or hurt the cat when they may need to use force in order to not get their colleagues or themselves bit and that's when the accidents happen; when you get scared.
do you have tips on restraining if your practice doesn't allow you scruff? we are a "feline friendly" veterinary hospital and we do not scruff in the hospital, and we do everything in the exam room with the client.
Hey! I am looking into becoming fear free certified (I am currently a vet. Assistant and I am thinking about heading off to vet. School). I realize everyone studies at different paces, but how long did it take for you to finish the modules and become certified? I would really like to complete them over Christmas break, but I want to make sure I will have enough time to complete them! Thanks 😊
I have a question! How do you feel about benedryl as a mild sedation? I have a 98 pound lab that REFUSES to get her nails trimmed. She goes crazy and bites. Can I give her benedryl or should I just let the vet do it their own way?
I work at a clinic and some of our clients do prefer to give their dogs Benadryl so they’re not so nervous and worked up when they come in for their appointment! Just be sure to ask your veterinarian beforehand for their thoughts and dosage :)
Benadryl is typically very safe to give pets but doesn't always have the same drowsy effect that it does on us. But the dose is 1mg per pound of body weight, so a dog her size can get 4 regular 25 mg tablets. I agree that it's best to call and ask your veterinarian though!
Hey girl! I'm going to be doing my undergraduate at Boise State University and biology and then going to a vet tech school either in a program at the College of Southern Idaho or one in Denver like Bel Rea or Salt Lake like Broadview. Do you think your biology degree helped you at all get a raise and your salary or prepare for a vet tech program? I know some of the schools I talked to said that the classes I take in my undergraduate might transfer when I enter a vet tech program did that happen for you?
It took me 2.5 hours a day for almost 3 weeks to get this stray to trust me enough to let me pet her. She's now to the point where she cuddles with me in the house. I'm a little worried about taking her to the vet Monday for her shots and getting spayed. I pulled this up because she's going to be VERY scared and angry. I just wanted to know how vets handle cats because I'm worried this is going to NUKE my cats very hard earned trust
I am fear free certified, and I do avoid scruffing whenever possible, but I find that it is sometimes necessary. What I try to do instead is to hold their head with my hand over the top and my fingers holding the jaw, kind of like restraining a snake! Haha It works most of the time, but for very fractious kitties that maybe cant be sedated due to medical conditions but just need a quick injection, a LIGHT scruffing tends to be better. I think the reason FF is against it is because so many people jerk cats around by the scruff, carry them that way with no support of the body, and scruff far too roughly to where it is painful to the cat.
I am in school to be a vet nurse! Your videos are amazing for me! From clinic friendly make up to great nursing skills like this! You are the best!
Good luck in school and thank you so much for the sweet compliment!!
Thanks for the help, taking my cat that was given to me to the vet for the first time tomorrow, I went to the groomers yesterday to get her nails trimmed and they immediately turned her away because she was aggressive, and now I'm freaking out because the vet is my last hope. Will give an update after tomorrow.
We went with our cat to the vet to get her a trim and she freaked out so much she was scratching and hissing at everyone, my sister was bitten pretty badly. The cat was very stressed and we didn't know we could calm her down before going to the vet. The vet didn't finish her job, we ended up leaving with the cat getting half a haircut. They didn't use any sedatives, they just went into cutting her hair and when they saw she is freaking out too much they just gave up. It was horrible for everyone. Thank you for your advice, I hope we can manage to calm her down at home, I don't know about the vet...
I’m a vet tech student and have been working at a clinic for about 3 years now. We are pretty good about fear free techniques! However I totally enjoy your videos and love this video about cats! Dealing with fractious and nervous kitties is still totally one of my weaknesses. I love these tips and we use some of them but I’m going to use more when dealing with kitties! Thank you!!
You’re welcome!!!! I’m glad you all are practicing fear free techniques!☺️
+Victoria Birch you are such an inspiration to me! I relate to you so much and I love your attitude about everything! I am 3/4 through my schooling but have learned so much from your vlogs! Thank you for all that you do!!!
I just adopted 2 kittens. Right away I started socializing them and even harness training them. They now love car rides and aren’t fearful of the vet when we go. They just walk around and enjoy the extra scritches and treats :) love your videos :)
Lovely tips that I haven't heard of before. I'm a vet tech practicing in Northern Canada and you are an amazing vet nurse! Never heard of that alternate use for gabapentin! Love the videos!!
Your videos are always spot on, I've been a RVT in Toronto for 12 years and I love watching your videos!!
12 years AND in Toronto?! So cool!! I'm glad you are enjoying my videos!
Everyone at the animal hospital I work at is Fear free certified!!
Yes! Fear free!! I work at a cat only animal hospital and we are always implementing and referring back to different fear free practices. Way to go girl!
I was handling cats this morning so this is a perfect video to reinforce what I just learned. Thank you ❤😮
You're welcome! Thanks for the sweet comment!
That kitten looked really aggressive and scary! 😉
I love your videos so much! I’m currently in school to become a vet and you’re videos make me 19393939x even more excited and happy to do something I love for the rest of my life
That is soooo exciting!!! Good luck in school!
I admire you so much for bringing awareness of Fear Free !! everyone who works in a veterinary clinic should have awareness of fear free techniques , btw fantastic video as always girl !:)
I’m a vet tech and your videos help me so much! Keep up the good work !! 💗🐾🐾🐾🐾💗
Thank you, I am so glad you benefit from my videos!
💗💗💗💗💗
What the heck. I was already subscribed to you because of your sister and now that I'm trying to become a vet tech, I've found you again! Your channel is perfect lol 🤠👍
Our clinic found that using gabapentin before the appointment on cats that were just slightly stressed is fine but the majority of cats really need it dosed the night before as well. Makes all the difference!
This would be have been great yesterday, we had an aggressive cat yesterday, the cat was freaking out and I don’t have a lot of experience with overly aggressive cats so the other tech took over and I observed how she handled the cat
It will get easier with practice! :)
I wish more assistants were like you
hey victoria. would you be able to do the same video for dogs that are fearful when it comes to going to vet??? thanks! -Danielle
Mark Balbin I highly recommend taking your dog for “happy visits”!! Drop by the vets office to weigh him, feed him treats, and get him comfortable with the staff! Most vet clinics encourage this so his next vet visit, he will be looking forward to treats and cuddles!
@@user-ts2lp2wh3y my dog is fine at the vet. i work at an er vet clinic and also studying to be an lvt. im more curious on her viewpoints and maybe fear frees recommendations for aggressive/fearful dogs in the clinic. (also my name is danielle. the husband has the UA-cam red account)
Well, very informative but try to hold my cat from hell that way with the towel and the one with stiches would be yourself haha I think your advice on sedation is better, thank you!
I wish my vet cared as much about helping a stressed out animal as you do. The last time I took my cat there it was traumatizing to say the least. And she has never had any issues with the vet before. She truly freaked out and was hiding in a corner, two vet techs chasing her and throwing a blanket on her to grab her while she is making horrible noises I have never heard before. I understand it's difficult handling a cat in a situation like that and they obviously know what they are doing, but something about it just did not sit right with me. I will try some of the things you have mentioned here to hopefully make the experience go smoother next time.
I'm so sorry you and your baby experienced a traumatizing vet visit! Hopefully next time won't be so bad :(
@@TheBirchFamily Thanks! Your videos definitely help to keep me informed and feel more confident in asking questions to my vet to make sure the experience is as positive as it can be. Thanks for being so awesome!
I so wish this video came out before I quit my job. I was bitten by a cat because of my boss- who completely blamed it on me. It made me realize the only person who could protect me was ME- my boss will LITERALLY throw an aggressive cat at me and leave the room. I couldn’t handle the stress of this, and watching this would have helped me so much. I might’ve gone to a different clinic instead of quitting the field altogether.
Also you are one of the most gorgeous people I’ve ever seen, I’ve been subscribed for a while now but I’m still blown away every time!!
That is soooo sweet, thank you sooo much!! I'm so sorry you had bad experiences in the field though! :(
Amazingly put together!!!!❤️
Thank you!!!❤️
This was very helpful!! ❤
Awww I love your cover and scoot method!! So thoughtful! I wish more vets were this mindful of cats.
My vet provided a towel doused in Feliway to place over the carrier ASAP while we waited in the lobby. I was impressed, she was so relaxed and actually slept on the ride home instead of trying to bust out of the cage. I bought some Feliway that night on Amazon to keep on hand.
yay! love your cat videos! honestly i thought id never feel this way but i feel more comfortable with cats than dogs! Xoxo
I'm trying to just spray my cat for ringworm and its hard to aim at the spot because she's so aggressive when I try. I kind of hate how I'm breaking her trust by revving her up so time for the calming supplement
My cat Cosmo is 5 years old and I haven’t took him to the vet since I adopted him at 6 weeks post vaccines after. He’s a very anxious soul…his fav place is hiding under blankets. I actually saw him underneath his bed when I adopted him 😢…literally every big sound or moving he freaks out and just hiding when other folks come by that he isn’t aware of. I’m scared to take him to get a check up because of how anxious and skittish he is.
Any suggestions????
Please show an adult aggressive cat. I can’t even get flea medicine on my now semi feral cat
Can you wear long sleeves with your scrubs at work? Like a long sleeve layered underneath the scrub?
Yes! Of course you can!
Victoria Birch awesome! I’m interested in working at a vet office but have scarring I’d like to cover. I’m glad it’s allowed!
Loved this vid! Please do more like this! 😘
went to the vet today with bf and his cat. she screamed bloody murder and i know it was hard for him to see her like that. she just hates being held down. but i think we gonna work on holding her more. just so she knows it isnt the end of the world when she cant get away from a human
Wow, I wished I can take my cat to your clinic where you work at! Are you in Los Angeles by any chance?
My cat was very aggressive when I tried to trim her nails or brush her. I trained her with treats and I praised her a lot to let me do those and now she does not have any problem with it. She even starts purring most of the time. Sedating a cat just to trim her nails is way too much.... Now she has ear mites and she would not let the veterinarian to touch her ears at all... So I trained her at home the same way to let me clean her ears, and now she lets even the vet to do that if the vet follows the steps that I trained her with. (let her calm down for a few minutes, praise her, do the slow blink, give her rewards before and after ear cleaning) - watch Jackson Galaxy's videos for other tips.
Good job on the training!!!!
There's more than one way to do things, and animals respond differently to different methods :)
I would absolutely love to become a veterinary nurse some day, but i have a bleeding disorder called ITP where i have chronically low platelets. I have never been crazy comfortable handling cats, but I can read dogs a lot better and know when theyre fed up with me messing with them lol
Is it possible for me to work as a veterinary nurse and avoid handling cats? Or is that just something I need to get used to.
Just from my experience in tech school, it seems like a lot of the people are afraid they're going to break or hurt the cat when they may need to use force in order to not get their colleagues or themselves bit and that's when the accidents happen; when you get scared.
do you have tips on restraining if your practice doesn't allow you scruff? we are a "feline friendly" veterinary hospital and we do not scruff in the hospital, and we do everything in the exam room with the client.
Laura A. Omg. How many times do u get scratched a day?
Hey! I am looking into becoming fear free certified (I am currently a vet. Assistant and I am thinking about heading off to vet. School). I realize everyone studies at different paces, but how long did it take for you to finish the modules and become certified?
I would really like to complete them over Christmas break, but I want to make sure I will have enough time to complete them! Thanks 😊
I have a question! How do you feel about benedryl as a mild sedation? I have a 98 pound lab that REFUSES to get her nails trimmed. She goes crazy and bites. Can I give her benedryl or should I just let the vet do it their own way?
I work at a clinic and some of our clients do prefer to give their dogs Benadryl so they’re not so nervous and worked up when they come in for their appointment! Just be sure to ask your veterinarian beforehand for their thoughts and dosage :)
Benadryl is typically very safe to give pets but doesn't always have the same drowsy effect that it does on us. But the dose is 1mg per pound of body weight, so a dog her size can get 4 regular 25 mg tablets. I agree that it's best to call and ask your veterinarian though!
Hey girl! I'm going to be doing my undergraduate at Boise State University and biology and then going to a vet tech school either in a program at the College of Southern Idaho or one in Denver like Bel Rea or Salt Lake like Broadview. Do you think your biology degree helped you at all get a raise and your salary or prepare for a vet tech program? I know some of the schools I talked to said that the classes I take in my undergraduate might transfer when I enter a vet tech program did that happen for you?
It took me 2.5 hours a day for almost 3 weeks to get this stray to trust me enough to let me pet her. She's now to the point where she cuddles with me in the house. I'm a little worried about taking her to the vet Monday for her shots and getting spayed. I pulled this up because she's going to be VERY scared and angry. I just wanted to know how vets handle cats because I'm worried this is going to NUKE my cats very hard earned trust
Scruffing is used in Fear Free?🤔
So we’re also fear free. I thought it was against the “guidelines” for them to scruff a cat??
I am fear free certified, and I do avoid scruffing whenever possible, but I find that it is sometimes necessary. What I try to do instead is to hold their head with my hand over the top and my fingers holding the jaw, kind of like restraining a snake! Haha
It works most of the time, but for very fractious kitties that maybe cant be sedated due to medical conditions but just need a quick injection, a LIGHT scruffing tends to be better. I think the reason FF is against it is because so many people jerk cats around by the scruff, carry them that way with no support of the body, and scruff far too roughly to where it is painful to the cat.
Is she kneeling or just real damn short
Your beautiful. I also love the western charm.