High-Quality Veterinary Care in a Low-Stress Environment

Exceptional Medicine Doesn’t Have to Feel Stressful

At Homestead Animal Hospital, we believe exceptional veterinary care includes caring for both your pet’s physical health and emotional well-being.

For many dogs and cats, a visit to the veterinarian can be overwhelming. Unfamiliar sights, sounds, smells, handling, and previous experiences can all contribute to fear and anxiety. Those emotions don’t just affect how a pet feels—they can also affect their health, the accuracy of their examination, and their willingness to receive future veterinary care.

That’s why we’ve intentionally created a hospital where advanced, evidence-based veterinary medicine is delivered in a calm, compassionate, low-stress environment. Our goal is simple: provide the highest quality medical care while making every visit as comfortable as possible for both pets and their families.

Dr. Claire Surber is Fear Free Certified and has spent more than 20 years helping pets receive exceptional veterinary care while minimizing fear, anxiety, and stress whenever possible.

Why Low-Stress Care Matters A calmer patient allows us to practice better medicine.
Reducing stress can help us:
  • Perform more thorough physical examinations
  • Obtain more accurate diagnostic information
  • Improve patient comfort and pain control
  • Create safer experiences for pets, owners, and our team
  • Build positive experiences that make future veterinary visits easier
Low-stress care isn't about doing less—it's about providing better care in a way that respects each pet as an individual.

How We Help Pets Feel More Comfortable Every pet is different, so every visit is individualized.
Some of the ways we reduce stress include:
  • Comfortable, living room-style exam rooms
  • Separate dog and cat examination rooms
  • Calming pheromones, soft music, and a quiet environment
  • Gentle, patient handling techniques
  • High-value treats, toys, and positive reinforcement
  • Allowing pets to be examined where they feel most comfortable whenever possible
  • Personalized pre-visit comfort medications for anxious or fearful pets
  • Individualized anesthetic and pain management protocols for all surgical patients
Rather than expecting every pet to fit the same routine, we adjust our approach to meet their individual needs.

Happy Visits & Behavioral Support

Some pets simply need positive experiences before they need medical care.

Our Happy Visits are short, reward-based appointments designed to help pets become comfortable with the hospital, our team, and routine handling. For pets with more significant anxiety, we also offer behavioral consultations and customized desensitization plans to gradually build confidence and reduce stress over time.

Better Medicine Through Compassion

Whether your pet is here for a wellness exam, diagnostics, dentistry, surgery, or a sick visit, our commitment remains the same:

To provide exceptional veterinary medicine in an environment where pets feel safe, families feel heard, and trust is built with every visit.

If your pet becomes anxious during veterinary visits, let us know when scheduling your appointment. Together, we’ll create a personalized plan to help make veterinary care a more positive experience.