Behind the Scenes with Laurence Palleva from PalleVet
- johannabaur01
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
We had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Laurence Palleva, and from the very first moments, her gentleness and genuine love for animals left a deep impression on us. The way she speaks to them, observes them, and reassures both pets and their humans is something truly special.
Dr. Palleva embodies exactly the kind of professional we want to highlight on Pet Pro Booking: compassionate, dedicated, deeply knowledgeable, and committed to offering care that respects each animal’s emotional well-being just as much as their physical health.
Today, we’re excited to share her story, her philosophy, and her mission to make veterinary visits calmer, kinder, and Fear Free for every species — from dogs and cats to rabbits, reptiles, birds, and other NAC.
About Your Profession
What inspired you to work with animals?
Animals have been my whole life since I was a child.
I knew from a very young age that I wanted to become a veterinarian — it just felt obvious. Their presence has always meant so much to me, and very early on I felt the need to understand them, protect them, and care for them.
Working with them isn’t just a job; it’s truly a vocation that has been with me since childhood.
How long have you been practicing, and what do you love most about your work?
I’ve loved working with animals for 14 years.
For me, they are pure beings, and they depend on us. Being able to help them every day is a privilege. That’s what touches me most in my job.
What makes PalleVet unique compared to other veterinary clinics?
What makes PalleVet unique is our gentle and respectful approach to every animal.
Thanks to the Fear Free philosophy, we are reinventing the veterinary visit so that every animal feels protected, understood, and safe from start to finish.
We specialize in exotic pets (NACs) and provide high-quality medicine and surgery for each patient — whether it’s a rabbit, small mammal, reptile, bird, dog, or cat.
Every animal receives the same level of attention, respect, and medical standards.
How do you build trust and reduce stress in your clinic?
Stress reduction begins even before arriving at the clinic. For anxious animals — whether they stress in the car or even while preparing for the trip — we offer personalized advice: using pheromones, preparing the carrier properly, and when needed, prescribing an anxiolytic treatment.
At PalleVet, we’ve organized the clinic to be calm and reassuring, with separate waiting areas depending on the species to reduce unnecessary stress as much as possible.
For sensitive dogs, we also offer a special entrance and exit — a direct access that avoids the waiting room entirely. This prevents encounters with other dogs and makes the arrival much calmer.
We then work following the Fear Free philosophy: gentle handling, breaks when needed, treats, comfortable positions, calming pheromones… every detail matters so the animal can feel safe.
We also offer Mini Visits and Happy Visits — short positive sessions with no medical procedures. They allow dogs — and even cats — to discover the clinic gently and build positive associations. These visits make future appointments much easier and less stressful.
Are there specific animals or cases that are close to your heart?
Exotic pets mean a lot to me.They don’t always receive the same care or the same quality of medicine as dogs or cats, often due to a lack of knowledge or specialized resources.
At PalleVet, we want to change that: every species deserves the best care, whether it’s a rabbit, rodent, reptile, or bird. Providing modern, attentive, and respectful medicine to these small patients is one of our biggest motivations.
What do you appreciate most in your relationship with pet owners?
I deeply admire how devoted pet owners are.
They truly want what’s best — for their exotic pets as well as for their companion’s emotional well-being. Supporting them is a pleasure.
Advice for Pet Owners
What do you wish pet owners knew or did more often?
I wish owners knew that what is interpreted as a “behavior problem” isn’t always one.
Very often, a change in behavior is masking a health issue: pain, discomfort, or illness. The behavior is simply the animal’s way of telling us that something is wrong.
What are the most common mistakes you see owners make regarding veterinary care?
The most common mistake is thinking that an animal who shows nothing is not suffering. Many — especially exotic pets and cats — hide their pain for a very long time.
With dental problems, for example, it’s important to remember that an animal may keep eating even if they’re uncomfortable or in pain. Many hide this extremely well.
Sometimes changes are blamed on age: an animal sleeping more, being less clean, less active… but there is almost always an underlying medical reason, such as arthritis or chronic pain.
What advice would you give owners to help them prepare for a vet visit?
Get the animal used to their carrier early: leave it open at home with a blanket, treats, or a toy so it becomes a familiar, reassuring space.
Avoid “forcing” the animal into the carrier right before the appointment — it increases stress.
Cover the carrier with a towel or blanket and use calming pheromones.
For stressed animals — whether in the clinic or already in the car — contact us beforehand: an anxiolytic treatment or a Fear Free preparation plan may be recommended to make the visit much calmer.
What is one simple thing owners can start doing today to improve their pet’s well-being?
Stimulate the mental health of their exotic pets.
Many small mammals, birds, or reptiles lack environmental enrichment, which can lead to stress, boredom, or even health problems.
Adding enrichment, offering puzzle toys, slightly changing the enclosure layout, introducing a new texture, a hiding place, a tunnel, a branch, or providing a few minutes of supervised exploration… these small gestures can greatly improve their daily life and emotional well-being.
What is the most underestimated “warning sign” owners should pay attention to?
The most underestimated warning sign is any subtle change in behavior or habits. An animal becoming calmer, more irritable, sleeping more, eating differently, playing less, or hiding more often… these are often early signs that shouldn’t be ignored.
Physical changes are just as important: a messy coat, weight loss, a duller look in the eyes, changes in posture… all are valuable indicators of a potential health issue.
What would you say to someone looking for a veterinarian for the first time?
I would say it’s essential to choose a veterinarian you trust. You should feel comfortable, listened to, and respected — and so should your animal.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions, express concerns, and observe how your companion is welcomed and handled. When you feel understood, and your animal is treated gently, that’s usually the right place.
About You
Do you have pets? Tell us about them!
Yes, I have several pets at home: two cats, two rabbits, two tortoises, and even a pigeon.
Each has their own personality and habits, and they bring so much joy to our family.
Sharing my daily life with them also helps me better understand the owners I work with — I experience the same joys and sometimes the same worries.
Laurence Palleva and her cat Gatati Can you share a moment or story that reminds you why you love your job?
Yes, there is a very personal moment that deeply marked me. My cat Gatati, who was one of the sweetest and most affectionate cats, had a bad experience at the vet. After that, she became untouchable during visits — terrified — even though she had never shown any signs of fear before.
This experience made me reflect a lot. It was one of the triggers of our Fear Free mission: making sure no animal goes through what Gatati experienced. Protecting their emotional well-being has become just as important to us as caring for their physical health.
It’s one of the reasons I love my job so much: every day, we can truly change how animals experience their care.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working with animals?
Outside of work, nothing makes me happier than spending time with my daughter, my family, and my animals.
What do people often not realize about being a veterinarian?
People often don’t realize how much our patients stay in our thoughts.
They’re constantly with us, and often at night or first thing in the morning, they’re the first thing we think about. We worry about them, hope they’re getting better, and stay invested in them even outside working hours.
We share many emotional moments with owners, sometimes just as intensely. Their joy, fears, doubts — they touch us deeply, because we truly care for each animal as if they were part of our own family.
If you weren’t a vet, what would you want to do instead?
If I weren’t a veterinarian, I could see myself in a role focused on activism for environmental and animal protection.
Supporting their well-being, defending them, and raising awareness would still be part of my life in one way or another.
A Special Offer for Our Readers
Would you like to share a tip or special offer with our readers this month?
We warmly invite our readers to come discover our clinic through a Mini Visit.
It’s a short, positive visit with no medical procedures, allowing your animal to explore the space, meet the team, and get familiar with the smells — all in a pleasant, stress-free way.
Mini Visits are ideal for puppies and anxious dogs, but everyone is welcome.
🎁 And to celebrate our 4-year anniversary, each Mini Visit* comes with a little special surprise for your companion.
From December 15 until stocks run out.
*Mini visits are free but by appointment only.
We’d be delighted to welcome you!
About Déierepraxis PalleVet
Address:
54, rue des Trois Cantons L-8352 Dahlem
Website:
Social Media:
🐶 🐱 🐰 🦜 🐢 🦎 🐔 For Dogs, Cats, Exotic Pets (NACs)
Services:
Medicine and surgery for exotic pets
Dentistry for both small mammals and dogs and cats
Medicine and surgery for dogs and cats
Vaccination and preventive care
Personalized advice
Mini and Happy Visits to provide positive, Fear Free experiences
Products:
Specialized food for exotic pets, dogs, and cats
Care and hygiene products
Selected nutritional supplements
Enrichment items and accessories tailored to each species’ needs
For Whom:
Pets
Exotic pets (NACs: rabbits, rodents, ferrets, reptiles, birds, chickens, …)
Fearful, stressed, and reactive animals
Owners looking for a gentle, modern, Fear Free approach
