Fear Free, pioneered by "America's Veterinarian," Dr Marty Becker, has redefined companion animal practice. Drawing from the expertise of countless professionals in behaviour, medicine, and handling, Fear Free prioritises the holistic wellbeing of your beloved pets.

At KSAH, Fear Free empowers our team to provide exceptional care by addressing both the physical and emotional needs of your pet. We work to identify and minimise anxiety triggers, whether they occur at home, during transport, in the waiting room or while being examined in the veterinary hospital.

Every pet responds differently, so our team looks for signs of fear, anxiety and stress and adjusts our approach accordingly. Recognising these early warning signs allows us to slow down, change our approach or give your pet a break before their stress escalates.

Most importantly, Fear Free is about safety for everyone. A frightened or stressed pet may react differently from how they normally behave, even if they are usually friendly. By recognising stress signals and using low-stress handling techniques, our team can reduce the risk of fear escalating into defensive behaviour, helping to keep your pet, their owners and our staff safe.

Our goal isn't simply to get through an examination or procedure, it's to create a veterinary experience where your pet feels as comfortable, safe and supported as possible.

Sometimes it's the small changes that make the biggest difference. We use non-slip mats to help pets feel more secure, allow them to sniff and investigate veterinary equipment before we use it, and use Feliway-scented towels to cover cat carriers in our cat waiting area.

We have separate waiting areas for cats and dogs and also use Feliway diffusers in our cat consultation room and Adaptil diffusers in our dog consultation rooms to help create a calmer environment for our patients.