One of the biggest sources of anxiety for pet parents is saying goodbye at the exam room door. Handing your pet off to a technician—hoping for the best and waiting behind closed doors—is difficult, even when you trust your veterinary team.

For many pets, traditional clinic visits can be overwhelming. Strange smells, unfamiliar animals, loud noises, bright lights, slippery floors, and long waits all pile on stress before a veterinarian even enters the room. And when pets are anxious, their bodies and behaviors change—sometimes dramatically. Elevated heart rate, panting, trembling, hiding, aggression, and even suppressed immune responses can all be triggered simply by the environment.