How can veterinarians create a positive experience through handling?

Creating a positive experience through handling is fundamentally about building a positive association between the veterinarian and the animal. Linking touch with pleasurable outcomes plays a crucial role in this process. When veterinarians associate handling with positive experiences—such as treats, praise, or gentle interactions—they help the animal feel more at ease and less fearful. This makes visits to the veterinary clinic more pleasant, reduces anxiety, and fosters a trusting relationship between the animal and the veterinary staff.

Using minimal restraint also contributes positively by allowing the animal to feel more comfortable and secure; however, it is not as directly influential in creating the kind of positive experiences that come from enjoyable interactions. Maintaining a strict approach could lead to increased stress and anxiety for the animal, which is counterproductive to creating a positive experience. Providing sedation may be necessary in some cases, but it does not promote a positive experience through the handling itself, as it removes the opportunity for the animal to have an interactive, positive experience with the staff. Thus, linking touch with pleasurable outcomes remains the most effective method for ensuring a positive handling experience.