Fear Free Certified Practices are ideal for routine care and pets with anxiety issues, while BluePearl is better suited for emergencies and specialized treatments due to its comprehensive services and advanced medical capabilities.
| Attribute | Fear Free Certified Practices | BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital |
|---|---|---|
| Certification Status | Offers certification for individual veterinary professionals and entire practices. Practice certification requires a joint effort from the entire team. Practices must meet specific standards and pass a virtual visit, including an onsite visit by a Fear Free Practice Certification Veterinarian. Recertification is required every three years. | Veterinarians are graduates of AVMA-accredited schools. Many veterinary anesthesiologists are board-certified specialists. |
| Emergency Services Availability | Not available | Most hospitals are open 24/7. |
| Specialty Services Offered | Not available | Anesthesiology & pain management, avian & exotics, cardiology, critical care, dentistry & oral surgery, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, radiation oncology, and surgery. |
| Appointment Scheduling Options | Not available | No appointment is needed for emergency treatment. For specialty visits, it's best to call to confirm. |
| Anesthesia Protocols | Not available | Customized anesthesia plans are created, and vital signs are carefully monitored during procedures. Advanced safety measures are used. |
| Pain Management Strategies | All patients are provided with pain management. Practices must have a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for monitoring and reducing pain in patients. Local analgesic blocks and topical analgesics may be used for surgeries, injections, and venipunctures. Pain scores are recorded for all patient visits and at least once daily for hospitalized patients. | Pain management is offered before, during, and after surgery, as well as chronic and acute pain management. |
| Staff Training and Expertise | Fear Free certification involves training in animal behavior and low-stress handling techniques. The program trains veterinary teams to ensure their care is a positive experience for pets. Staff are trained in gentle handling and restraint techniques. The courses are self-paced and typically take around eight hours to complete. | Board-certified specialists are on staff. They also have training and mentorship programs like EmERge and House Officer programs. Approximately 200 interns, residents, and ER clinicians are trained annually. |
| Facility Cleanliness and Comfort | Fear Free practices modify the clinic environment to minimize stress, including dimming lights and reducing loud noises. The interior and exterior of the practice are neat, clean, and free of offensive odors. Calming pheromones and gentle music can be used to create a peaceful environment. Some facilities have separate sections for dogs and cats to minimize stress. | The facility is generally clean, and the environment aims to be calming for pets. |
| Client Communication Methods | Fear Free practices educate clients on how fear, anxiety, and stress impact a pet's well-being. Practices provide pre-visit questionnaires to gather information about the pet's emotional state. The practice displays client education about Fear Free. Team members communicate effectively with owners about Fear Free throughout the visit. | They communicate closely with the pet's primary veterinarian. Treatment plans with cost estimates are provided. Pet owners are educated about their animal's health, care, and treatment plans. |
| Pricing Transparency | Not available | They aim to be transparent and provide treatment plans with itemized estimates before care is administered. |
| Follow-up Care Procedures | Not available | The emergency vet will explain follow-up care, including information to help the pet continue healing. A detailed summary of the ER visit is sent to the family vet. |
| Technology and Equipment | Practices provide non-slip surfaces for procedures and handling. Stress-reducing equipment such as platforms for elevating cat carriers, visual barriers, calming pheromones, calming music or white noise, soft lighting, species-specific exam rooms and kennels, and separate machinery from patient housing. | Innovative procedures, high-tech equipment, and the latest treatment methods are used. Sophisticated monitoring tools are used to track vital signs during anesthesia. |