10/18/2026
Meet Griswald! 🐾
Griswald is still a kitten (although you might not believe it looking at the size of him! 😂), and we’re working hard to make sure his experiences with veterinary medicine set him up for a lifetime of successful, low-stress veterinary care.
This is what Feline Friendly, Fear Free veterinary medicine can look like. ❤️
No scruffing. No wrestling. No pinning him down.
Instead, we’re using gentle control, a considerate approach, positive reinforcement, and a VERY tasty food distraction to help Griswald feel comfortable and in control during his blood draw.
And here’s the important part: This didn’t happen overnight!
Our wonderful nurse, Lauren, has spent multiple cooperative care sessions getting to know Griswald, learning his preferences, understanding his body language, and recognizing how he responds to a needle poke.
That relationship and preparation made this moment possible. 🥹
Will this approach work for every cat? Of course not! Every patient is an individual, and Fear Free medicine means adapting our techniques to THEIR needs rather than expecting them to adapt to ours.
But kittens, in particular, can be incredibly food motivated, and early positive experiences like this can make a HUGE difference in how they approach veterinary visits for the rest of their lives.
And for our veterinary professionals watching who are already wondering about sample quality… 👀
Yes, we checked! Griswald’s sample had only 1+ hemolysis and no clotting, with no impact on the interpretation of his final laboratory results. 🙌
At Red Rock Veterinary Health, we believe that HOW we provide veterinary care matters just as much as the care itself.
Because the goal isn’t simply to get the blood sample.
The goal is to get the blood sample while preserving the patient’s trust. ❤️🐈
That’s the difference thoughtful, individualized, Fear Free veterinary medicine can make.
