Companion Veterinary Clinic

In Puppy Socialization & Exploration, we teach the fundamentals of place, touch, recall, loose leash walking, paw to the button for house training and husbandry (intro to nail trims, teeth brushing). We also have discussions about housetraining, crate training, enrichment, puppy biting and how to set up home alone training. Then, each week we explore different novel stimuli (kids toys, things the roll, obstacles and surfaces) Puppies will have the opportunity to socialize with their classmates at the beginning and end of each class. Puppies are separated by play style to ensure a successful playtime experience. Join us for a fun, positive and Fear Free Class! 🗓 Sundays, July 7 to July 28 ⏰ 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM 💲 $200 plus GST Register online: https://www.companionvet.ca/classes/ Email [email protected] if you have any questions! All dogs must be fully vaccinated (including Bordetella) and comfortable around other people and dogs. If your dog is fearful or anxious, we have private training options available. #yegpuppies #yegpuppy #yegdogtraining #yegdogs #rvt #fearfreepets #forcefreetraining #companionveterinaryclinic

Winter training classes are open for registration! 🐶 Puppy Socialization: Starts February 25th for puppies aged 8 to 13 weeks 🐶 Puppy Foundations: Starts February 25th for puppies aged 14 to 21 weeks 🐕‍🦺 Mind Your Manners: Starts February 14th for dogs 6+ months 🐕‍🦺 No Hassle Nail Care: Starts February 26th for dogs 6+ months In Puppy Socialization and Puppy Foundations, puppies will have the opportunity to socialize with their classmates at the beginning and end of each class. Puppies are separated by play style to ensure a successful playtime experience. Initially, if your puppy is uncertain about playing, they will be given an opportunity to watch from behind a baby gate where they can feel safe until they gain the confidence to join in. Mind Your Manners classes are not set up for dogs to interact with one another. We will work on foundation behaviours (sit, down, touch, place, recall, loose leash walking, calmly through the door, etc.) in a minimally distracting environment. No Hassle Nail Care will teach you how to help your dog feel comfortable with nail trims as well as introduce your dog to a nail board to file their nails. If your pet is fearful of nail trims, using a nail board while you work up to being able to do nail trims is a great tool for nail care. (Virtual class) Cost: $200 plus GST Register today using the link in bio 👈 Email [email protected] if you have any questions! With the exception of our virtual No Hassle Nail Care class, all dogs must be fully vaccinated (including Bordetella) and comfortable around other people and dogs. If your dog is fearful or anxious, we have private training options available. #yegtrainers #fearfreepets #forcefree #positivereinforcement #edmonton #yegpets #yegdogs #cooperativecare #yegvet #edmontondogs #edmontondogtraining

Are you ready to take the hassle out of nail care? This class will teach you how to help your dog feel comfortable with nail trims as well as how to teach your dog to use a nail board to file their nails. If your pet is fearful of nail trims, using a nail board while you work up to being able to do nail trims is a great tool for nail care. This low volume class will allow for more one on one attention and the ability to cater to your dog’s nail trims needs. 🗓 Mondays February 26 to March 18 ⏰ 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM (MST) 💲 $200 plus GST Take the hassle out of nail care and register today 👇 https://www.companionvet.ca/classes/ #yegdogtraining #nailtrim #veterinarycare #cooperativecare #yegdogs #dogtraining #animaltraining #trainingclasses #puppy #puppys #rvt #vts #positivereinforcement #fearfreepets #animalbehaviour #forcefreetraining

Dog training hack! This is a little trick we love to use when it gets cold outside. You can fill a silicone bottle with something squeezable and delicious like peanut butter, canned dog food, cream cheese or yogurt. This is great for cold weather walks or when you want to increase your dog’s treat value. Enjoy! #dogtraining #albertaweather #pethacks #yegdogtrainer #yegpets #positivereinforcement #dogwalking

This is a great example of how our blood collections are done at Companion Veterinary Clinic! Rupert is struggling with some health concerns and requires frequent blood collection appointments. By setting up a predictable and safe environment for him he is successful for all his appointments. There is great communication between our RVT, Janna and his guardian to safely position him with a food lure rather than physically manipulating him which could increase stress, and letting everyone know when she is going to begin with the procedure. He is able to be in a comfortable position on a non-slip surface and fed treats before, during and after the procedure. Great work Rupert! #FearFree #FearFreeVet #Yegvet #Yegveterinaryclinic #companionveterinaryclinic #RVT

Pixel had his second cooperative care exam! All his guardian's hard work and dedication paid off. Pixel offered his consent behaviour for not only one vaccine, but two! Prior to Pixel's cooperative care training, he displayed defensive behaviours and required sedation. We are so proud of Pixel and how far he has come! #cooperativeveterinarycare #companionveterinaryclinic #consent #yegvet #rvt #vts #cooperativecare #fearfree #fearfreepets #kpa #lowstress #vetmedicine

Congratulations Kitsune! Kitsune graduated from her Fear Free sessions at Companion Veterinary Clinic. Kitsune already had a great chin rest behaviour taught by her guardian (who is also a wonderful trainer Freedom Dog Training & Behaviour) so we worked to ensure Kitsune could be comfortable participating in our clinic for her veterinary exam and future care using this consent behaviour. Kitsune enjoyed a buffet of treats for all her visits so she could choose what she needed on that particular day and we also started to see as her comfort increased her treat choices could change. Since Kitsune also struggles with car rides we made the choice to use a pre-visit pharmaceutical to ensure her travel to the clinic could be successful thus improving her experience in the clinic. She was a rockstar from start to finish and it was a pleasure working with her and her lovely mama. Thank you to our team for once again helping to make this sweet girl happy in-clinic. #cooperativeveterinarycare #consent #teamwork #postivereenforcement #rvt #abvta #yegdogtrainer #companionveterinaryclinic

#Injections can be painful and scary for many animals. Breaking down all the different steps of the procedure and then reinforcing each step can help build resilience and decrease stress for injections. Once the animal is comfortable practicing with a capped syringe we use blunted syringes of different gauges to further desensitize and counter-condition the animal to the sensation of an injection.This video demonstrates steps that can be done to help make your pet more comfortable with injections. Every animal is an individual and training for mock injections is going to look different for everyone. What is most important is that you go at their pace and break down steps even more as needed and give frequent breaks throughout the session by tossing treats away to ensure they want to continue to come back and participate.Are you interested in learning more about cooperative care? We have a virtual class coming up on April 20th! In this class you’ll learn to teach your pet to be comfortable with veterinary exam handling and equipment, medication administration for ears and eyes, and how to teach chin rest and stationing consent behaviours! #yegvet #edmontonvet #yegpets #cooperativecare #fearfree

We have a few spaces left for the session beginning April 16th! 🐶 This class is for puppies 8-16 weeks of age. The maximum age for registration is 13 weeks. This is a sensitive period of learning for all puppies. The more positive experiences they have with dogs, people, and different environments, the more confident they will be in the future. In Puppy Socialization & Exploration, we teach the fundamentals of sit, down, place, touch, recall, loose leash walking, paw to the button for house training and husbandry (intro to nail trims and teeth brushing). We also have discussions about housetraining, crate training, enrichment, puppy biting and home alone training. Then, each week we explore different novel stimuli (kids toys, things the roll, obstacles and surfaces) Puppies will have the opportunity to socialize with their classmates at the beginning and end of each class. Puppies are separated by play style to ensure a successful playtime experience. Join us for a fun, positive and Fear Free Class! Register now 👇 https://loom.ly/nP-C74E #companionveterinaryclinic #yegpuppies #yegdogtraining #puppysocialization #yegdogs #rvt

After almost a year of Fear Free sessions, Java had his annual exam! It is hard to describe the pride and joy that comes from seeing a patient progress as far as this sweet boy has. #cooperativevetcare #yegvet #fearfreepets #positivereinforcementtraining

Environmental Enrichment For Cats

🐱 FREE handout on our cat resources page! 🐱 Environmental enrichment is a necessity, not a luxury. It’s time to increase the fun factor in your cat’s life! Customize these ideas to suit your cat’s age, mobility and health factors. Here are 10 ways to provide your cat with the enrichment they deserve! https://www.companionvet.ca/cat-resources/

Conditioning Your Pet to a Cone Collar

Conditioning Your Pet to a Cone Collar Conditioning your pet to a cone collar prior to a procedure can be very helpful! Steps should be broken down to ensure your pet is successful doing every step and does not display signs of fear, anxiety or stress. There are many different kinds of cone collars, traditional plastic ones, soft collars, inflatable cone collars and surgical onesies that can help with recovery from medical procedures. Here is a video on how to introduce the cone collar to your pet to help them build a positive association. I am gradually introducing the cone in a manner that does not produce fear and then pairing each step with food. I watch her body language and behaviour closely; ears forward, taking treats, choosing to come back after her reset treat, neutral tail. Over several sessions, I will shape her to place her head through the cone and increase her comfort with duration and moving around with a cone collar on.

Being comfortable in a carrier is invaluable for your cat. Having a negative association to the carrier is often the first stressful event that occurs prior to veterinary visits and it can set the tone for your cat's experiences at the vet. There are so many benefits to carrier training your cat. Happy car rides, vet clinic visits and a safe place for them to find comfort and safety within your home. Check out our new handout on tips to make carrier training successful! https://www.companionvet.ca/cat-resources/ If you have any concerns with your cat's veterinary visits or carrier training, do not hesitate to contact us to help at [email protected] #catcarrier #catcarrides #yeg #yegvet #yegvettech #edmontonvet #fearfree #edmontonveterinarian #animalbehaviour #veterinaryprofessionals #rvt #kpactp #positivetrainingtechniques #cats #behavior #free #educationispower #catlife #vettechlife #vetmed #catsofinstagram #kpactp #feline #catlover #catbehavior #fearfree #felinefriendly #veterinary

Do you have concerns about trimming your dog’s nails? This class is for you! Nail care is a very common challenge that we encounter in the clinic because many dogs feel anxious and uncomfortable about having their nails trimmed. A few common signs that indicate your dog is feeling stress include: ➡️pulling their paw back ➡️panting ➡️lip licking ➡️looking away ➡️ears back ➡️walking away ➡️yawning If your dog is displaying any of these signs during your nail trim sessions, this is very unlikely to resolve on its own. Often, it starts with the body language above and can progress to growling, snapping, and even biting. Whether your dog is experiencing stress about paw handling, or you want to take this class to prevent future concerns, this class is appropriate for ANY dog. You will learn how to get your dog comfortable with nail trims, paw handling, and how to teach your dog to use a nail board to file their nails. If your pet is fearful of nail trims, using a nail board while you work up to being able to do nail trims is a great tool for nail care. We’re running this class virtually, so you can log in from the comfort of your home and learn from the @cvcanimaltraining team! Reserve your space today 👇 https://www.companionvet.ca/classes/ #nailtrims #nailcare #nailtrimming #virtualdogtraining #yegdogtraining #veterinarycare #cooperativecare #yegdogs #dogtraining #animaltraining #trainingclasses #puppy #puppys #prevention #pandemicpuppy #rvt #vts #positivereinforcement #fearfreepets #animalbehaviour #forcefreetrainingforthewin

October is RVT Month! What exactly is an RVT? An RVT is a Registered Veterinary Technologist, also known as a “vet tech”. RVTs perform a variety of duties in order to help treat and care for your animals. Our RVTs are truly vital members to our team. On a daily basis, they work hard to provide amazing patient and client care. Our RVTs continue to adapt quickly to the changes in restrictions created by the pandemic, and the quality of care provided to our patients has never been compromised. A huge thank you to our amazing RVTs! #RVTmonth #ThankanRVT #abvma #abvta #proudlyrvt #fearfreepets #fearfreeclinic #yegvettech #yegvet

Rosco's Fear Free Exam

Rosco had his preventative exam and oral and injectable vaccine yesterday! He has come a LONG way since last year! He was fearful for auscultation, having his feet examined and vaccines even with considerate approach, gentle control techniques and treats. Jessica, his owner and the team at Companion Veterinary Clinic have worked together to desensitize and counter-condition him to the steps involved in a physical exam as well as injections! Here are a few clips from his successful exam!! Jessica taught him predictor cues to let him know what is going to be touched and/or what piece of equipment will be used next, these cues have been paired with a clicker and treats to help change his negative emotional response to veterinary handling to a positive emotional response, as well as reinforce him for remaining on the consent station and choosing to participate. If he is uncomfortable at anytime he is able to leave the consent station, this was taught during his previous behaviour modification sessions. Yesterday he chose to station on his mat on the floor for his exam rather than the platform. It was decided it would be best if Jessica vaccinated him. She has worked hard to desensitize and counter-condition him to injections over several sessions and he was able to have his vaccine given this year restraint free! Dr. Benoit and Jessica communicate throughout his exam regarding his predictor cues (some patients have different ones) and how to best do his exam to keep him comfortable. Such great work by everyone but especially Rosco ❤️🐾 #fearfreepets #rvt #vet #cooperativeveterinarycare #desensitizationandcounterconditioning #treats #clickertraining #yourpetcanlovethevet #dreamteam #kpactp #cpdt #fearfreevet #vetteam #yegvet

Meet Geri! Over several months we have been working together to desensitize and counter-condition her to veterinary handling and injections. Pre-Covid we were able to work with her regular veterinary clinic VCA Canada Calgary Trail Animal Hospital and her vet, the wonderful Dr. K to transfer her care. Ideally, Geri would wear a basket muzzle for her vaccines however she had a very traumatic experience with a muzzle. We are slowly desensitizing and counter-conditioning her to a muzzle but she is due for her injectable vaccines so we have decided to introduce her to a cone collar. Geri has been taught a chin rest behaviour, this cue has helped encourage her to place her head through the cone collar and helps her make a positive association with the cone collar. I modified this cone collar to ensure she remains comfortable working with it and will work up to using an appropriately sized cone when she is ready. Normally consent behaviours are not placed on cue as we prefer the patient offer them when they are ready to be handled but for the purpose of conditioning her to the cone collar I have used her verbal cue (at times you can see she is already offering it as I cue it) and overtime the cone collar be the cue to place her head in the cone collar and resting her chin in my lap. She has already had her physical exam and oral vaccine, she was prescribed anti-anxiety medication to help ensure she had a pleasurable experience and she was able to be examined using her chin rest behaviour and predictor cues! I am so proud of her progress! #cooperativeveterinarycare #conecollar #safety #rvt #kpactp #cpdt #yegvet #clickertraining #vetclinic #yourpetcanlovethevet #positivetraining #treats #fearfreepets

We got our very first patient review!!Thank you so much Rosco!! Rosco has been been reviewing all his favourite places around Edmonton on his soon to be released YouTube channel and looks like Companion Veterinary Clinic made the cut! 😂❤️🐾 #patientreview #fearfreepets #somanytreats #fearfreepractice #yegvet #thankyou #kidsanddogs #rvt #vet #review #talkingdogs