Page16

64%

treats

The most common forms of taste in the practice come from medicine and potentially any treats you provide. Is the medicine bitter and could it have been compounded? Can you use a pill pocket to make it more palatable?

Think about how taste can influence pet owner compliance in giving their pet medications. Providing treats can be a helpful intervention. Make notes about how the pet reacted to the treats in the patient’s chart such as: Did the pet ignore them, eat them readily or just tentatively? Be prepared to offer a variety of tempting treats to satisfy any finicky appetite and meet any possible dietary or medical restrictions.

Providing treats is a great distraction and can make the visit more enjoyable, but only if the animal actually likes the taste.