Low Stress Veterinary Care in Savannah, GA

For some dogs and cats, a trip to the veterinarian starts becoming stressful before they ever reach the exam room. They may tremble in the car, hide in their carrier, resist being touched, refuse treats, or become increasingly worried as an appointment continues.

At Case Veterinary Hospital, we want veterinary visits to feel different. Our low stress veterinary care for Savannah, GA pets uses gentle handling, positive reinforcement, careful attention to body language, and an environment designed to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress.

Our team practices Low Stress techniques that adapt the veterinary experience around the individual pet instead of expecting every patient to tolerate the same approach. Case Veterinary Hospital also offers Happy Visits, short technician appointments created specifically to help pets form more positive associations with coming to the hospital.

If veterinary visits are difficult for your dog or cat, call us at (912) 352-3081 or request an appointment to talk with our team about a lower-stress approach.

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What Is Low Stress Handling for Dogs and Cats?

Low Stress Handling® focuses on recognizing and reducing the fear, anxiety, and stress a pet may experience during veterinary care. Instead of relying on firm restraint simply to complete an exam or procedure, our team watches your pet's body language and adjusts how, where, and how quickly we work.

That may mean giving your dog a few extra minutes to become comfortable, examining your cat in the bottom half of an open carrier, allowing your pet to stay on the floor, or stopping an interaction when we see that stress is increasing.

The goal is to provide the medical care your pet needs while helping them feel safer throughout the experience.

How Does Case Veterinary Hospital Reduce Stress During Appointments?

There isn't one technique that works for every dog or cat. Our team can combine several approaches based on your pet's comfort level, previous veterinary experiences, and response during the visit.

  • Calming Pheromones

    We use species-specific synthetic pheromones, including Adaptil for dogs and Feliway for cats, in exam rooms and on towels to help create a calmer environment.

  • Treats and Positive Rewards

    When appropriate for the patient, high-value treats such as squeeze cheese, tuna paste, or peanut butter—available upon request—can help create positive associations while we examine or handle your pet.

  • Exams at Your Pet's Level

    A stainless steel exam table isn't comfortable for every animal. Depending on your pet, we may perform portions of the exam on a non-slip yoga mat, in a dog bed, in your lap, or with a cat remaining in part of their carrier.

  • Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals

    For pets with significant veterinary anxiety, our veterinarian may prescribe pre-visit pharmaceuticals (PVPs) to help reduce anxiety before they arrive at the hospital. These medications are prescribed for the individual patient and may be one part of a broader low-stress plan.

Happy Visits Help Pets Practice Coming to the Vet

Sometimes the best veterinary appointment is one where no medical procedure needs to happen at all.

Case Veterinary Hospital offers 20-minute technician-led Happy Visits for dogs and cats who could benefit from building confidence in the veterinary environment. These appointments use gradual exposure, voluntary interaction, rewards, and gentle practice rather than forced restraint.

Happy Visits may be especially helpful for:

  • Dogs and cats who become anxious during veterinary appointments

  • Puppies and kittens learning that the veterinary hospital can be a positive place

  • Pets with previous stressful veterinary experiences

  • Pets who need gradual desensitization to handling

  • Dogs or cats who struggle with activities such as being weighed or having their ears, paws, or body handled

What Happens During a Happy Visit?

1. Arrival and Acclimation

Your pet gets time to settle into the lobby or exam room without immediate pressure or direct interaction.

2. Positive Interaction

Our team encourages voluntary approaches while using calm positioning and high-value rewards to help your pet become comfortable.

3. Low-Stress Practice

Depending on your pet's needs, we may practice activities such as walking onto the scale, standing on an exam table, allowing gentle ear or paw handling, or becoming familiar with soft towel restraint.

Happy Visit Pricing

  • A single Happy Visit is $25.

  • A package of three Happy Visits is $65, paid in full when purchased and valid for three months.

How Do We Know When a Pet Is Becoming Too Stressed?

Low-stress veterinary care depends on recognizing what a pet is communicating before fear or anxiety escalates.

Our trained team monitors Fear, Anxiety, and Stress (FAS) throughout the visit. Rather than focusing solely on completing the planned procedure, we use your pet's behavior to determine when we should slow down, change our approach, pause, or stop.

FAS Level Signs We May See How Our Team Responds
Mild FASLip licking, yawning, trembling, mild avoidanceWe slow the pace and reduce the intensity of handling.
Moderate FASGrowling, hiding, panting, refusing treatsWe stop the current exercise, pause, and redirect.
Severe FASLunging, snapping, panic, escape attemptsWe safely end the visit or interaction and notify the attending veterinarian.

Stopping isn't a failed appointment. In some cases, ending an interaction before a pet becomes overwhelmed can protect the progress they have made and help us plan a different approach for next time.

Meet Our Low Stress Trained Veterinary Team

Low Stress Handling isn't limited to one veterinarian or technician. Veterinarians, licensed veterinary technicians, and support team members at Case Veterinary Hospital complete Low Stress training so they can recognize patient cues and contribute to patient-led visits.

  • Haley, Client Education Coordinator

  • Lexi, Exam Room Coordinator

  • Anna, Veterinary Assistant

  • Anthony, Veterinary Assistant

  • Brenna, Veterinary Assistant

  • Stephanie, Veterinary Assistant

What Can a Low Stress Veterinary Visit Look Like?

Small changes can significantly alter how a pet experiences an appointment.

Potential Stressor Our Low Stress Approach
Firm restraint to keep a pet stillGentle, minimal guidance based on the pet's body language
Elevated stainless steel exam tablesFloor exams, non-slip mats, lap exams, dog beds, or open carrier bottoms when appropriate
Busy environments and unfamiliar clinical scentsCalming pheromones, quieter spaces, and direct-to-room options when available
Negative associations with veterinary visitsHigh-value treats, praise, gradual exposure, and Happy Visits

Veterinary Care Shouldn't Be a Battle

A dog who freezes at the front door or a cat who disappears when the carrier comes out isn't being difficult. Those behaviors can be signs that your pet anticipates something stressful.

With Low Stress Handling, our team can start changing that experience one interaction at a time.

Case Veterinary Hospital has cared for Savannah pets for more than a century and has maintained AAHA accreditation since 1982. Today, that long history is paired with modern veterinary medicine and a deliberate focus on creating calmer experiences for dogs, cats, and the people bringing them through our doors.

If your pet struggles with veterinary visits, call us at (912) 352-3081 or request an appointment to discuss low stress veterinary care.

Make an Appointment

Frequently Asked Questions About Low Stress Handling

How can I prepare my pet for a lower-stress veterinary visit?

Should I tell the veterinary team about my pet’s triggers?

Can I stay with my pet during a low-stress exam?

Can low-stress handling help with future veterinary visits?

Is low-stress veterinary care appropriate for senior pets?