Sedation in veterinary patients in-hospital is:

• A. Scary and should never be used
• B. Appropriate only for calm patients but not FAS patients because results are not predictable in FAS patients
• C. Often an integral part of a Fear Free visit
• D. More dangerous than excessive restraint

Answer: (C)

Sedation is a valuable tool that, when used appropriately, helps create a Fear Free in-hospital experience by reducing fear, anxiety, and stress during exams and procedures. It allows safer handling, better cooperation, and more thorough assessment and treatment, all while supporting analgesia and monitoring. In a Fear Free visit, sedation is often part of the plan to minimize distress for the patient and risk for staff, not something reserved only for calm patients or avoided entirely. Proper use—with patient-specific dosing, monitoring, and reversal plans—does not inherently make the process dangerous; in fact, it can reduce danger compared to forcing handling through excessive restraint. The other options miss the core idea that sedation, used thoughtfully, supports welfare and smoother care during in-hospital visits.