Fear and anxiety at veterinary visits causes genuine suffering in dogs and compromises the quality of clinical examinations, but can be substantially reduced through training and practice modifications.
Veterinary fear in dogs is not a trivial problem: it causes acute suffering during each visit and chronic anxiety anticipating future appointments. Dogs with severe vet phobia may injure themselves, bite staff, and receive suboptimal care because examinations cannot be completed safely. The fear is largely preventable through puppy habituation to handling and clinic environments, but treatment of established phobia requires systematic desensitisation. Veterinary practices can reduce fear through modified handling techniques, reduced waiting room exposure, and emotional-support approaches. The Fear Free movement has demonstrated that fear reduction is achievable without compromising clinical care.