Canine Fear and Anxiety: Welfare at Veterinary Visits in 2026

Fear and anxiety during veterinary visits is a major, underrecognised welfare problem for dogs, requiring a shift toward fear-free and low-stress handling across the profession.

Key Facts

Studies show 60-80% of dogs show signs of fear or anxiety at veterinary clinics
Fear in veterinary settings can escalate to aggression, causing risk to staff and worsening welfare for the dog
Fear-free veterinary certification programmes have significantly reduced animal stress in participating practices
Desensitisation visits and previsit pharmaceuticals can effectively reduce anxiety in highly fearful dogs

Welfare Considerations

Veterinary-associated fear is a significant welfare problem that compounds the stress of illness or injury. Fearful dogs experience genuine psychological suffering during examinations, and repeated fear-associated veterinary experiences sensitise animals, progressively worsening their response. Fear-based behaviour during examinations compromises clinical assessment and increases risk of missed diagnoses. Fear-free handling protocols — calm environments, low-stress restraint, high-value rewards, and avoidance of flooding — dramatically improve welfare during veterinary care. Previsit anxiolytic medication has transformed welfare for severely affected dogs.

What You Can Do

Choose a veterinary practice trained in fear-free or low-stress handling techniques
Request previsit anxiolytic medication from your vet for any dog showing severe veterinary anxiety
Undertake positive exposure visits to the vet clinic separate from medical appointments
Practice handling your dog at home as early as possible to habituate them to examination procedures