Veterinary visits are a major source of stress for many dogs, with fear-free and low-stress handling techniques dramatically improving the experience.
Veterinary fear causes suffering during visits and can generalise to car travel, handling and other situations. Fearful dogs may become aggressive in defence, risking injury to themselves and handlers. The traditional approach of restraining fearful animals regardless of distress caused unnecessary suffering and damaged the human-animal bond. Fear-free methods, informed by evidence on animal emotion, represent a major welfare advance in veterinary practice.