Your Dog and Your Vet, Are They The Right Combination?
Below is another valuable lesson from the Cool Dog Newsletter. Hope you are enjoying them. Please let us know if there is any particular subject you would like for us to talk about. We enjoy reading our reader’s emails.
Taking the dogs to the vet is not fun. I definitively can think of a hundred things I could be doing, instead of taking my dogs to the vets, but as every responsible dog owner and because I love my dogs dearly, I faithfully take them to see their doctor.
My dogs don’t enjoying going to the vet either. My little Cody, used to pull me back to the door as soon as we got into the waiting room. Things are much better now, that I have been working in trianing Cody. Take a look at the article below to get some tips on how to deal with the “vet anxie” dog.
Here is your article:
————————————
Title: Housebreaking Your Dog, Sounds Easier Than It Is
Author: Dr. Mayra Alfonso
————————————
Training your dog isn’t the only responsibility you have to him; he also needs to have his own doctor. Just like you and me need to have our own doctors. Even my family need to have their own doctor. I am a physician but I do not treat my family members.
Why, you might ask? Well, there are way to many emotions involved when you treat someone you love. There is fear that you might miss something, and there is fear that you might diagnose a serious, deadly illness on someone you love.
Going back to our loved furry companions, it is important for them to be brought to the veterinarian, not only for his annual checkup and shots, but for those emergencies that do and canhappen to them.
On the first hand, if your dog has his own vet and he has an emergency, you will probably be able to save hundreds of dollars, by not having to run to the emergency veterinary clinic, since many vets these days also see their own clients during emergencies.
Many dogs do not like going to the veterinarian, they feel threathened and as soon they get into the office all they do is look out the door, to see if they can get out. A few tips to avoid the your dog’s “vet anxiety” are below.
If at all possible don’t change vets on your dog, they become accustomed to one person handling them and it is best for them if the same routine if followed.
During your training time, plan to teach your dog to lay down and stay on a table as well as on the floor. Make sure you don’t use the kitchen table for this, or he may end up in the middle of your dinner.
When dogs go to the vet for the first time, they can become anxious, especially if you are anxious, they will pick up on your anxiety. Having them trained to lie down and stay will be a big benefit.
When you are comfortable and relaxed at the vet’s office, which you will be if your dogs are properly trained, they will be more likely to stay calm and allow their doctor to check them over.
This was a hard lesson for me to learn, as every time I took my dog to the vet I would get stressed out, it made for a very anxious, whiney dog and I was the only one I had to blame for it.
When your puppy goes to the vet for the first time, stay calm, dont make this seem like a big deal. When he is on the scale or examining table, use the collar and leash, tell him to lie down. If you have trained your dog to lay down this could be very easily accomplished.
When he follows the down comand, praise him as a reward, it is so much easier to have a dog that behaves well at the doctors office.
It makes the experience better for both of you, and the vet really appreciates not having to fight with your dog.
Now, if you are applying all these tips and your dog is still anxious of the vet. Take a deep look at the way the vet treats the dog. Some dogs just don’t get along with their vets, I am not sure why, maybe the pick some negative vibrations. If you think that is the case, and you are willing to try a different vet for your dog, then do that, and watch how your dog behaves with the new vet. It might make a difference for your dog.
Dr. Alfonso
