HOW TO MAKE THE VET VISIT LESS STRESSFUL FOR YOUR DOG
I’m pretty sure most dog owners can relate to this one. It seems that our dogs’ worst behaviors come out in this setting, and we wonder why they are not acting like themselves. Here are some tips to help your dog handle the stress of the vet’s office and make the vet a positive place for your pup!
TAKE THEM THERE FIRST
Dogs learn by association. If we only take them to the vet when they are getting poked and prodded, they will see the veterinarian's office as a negative place. This association leads to more fearful behavior and can create reactivity that you may only see at the vet. Try taking your pup to the vet office, let them smell around, give them treats, praise, and then leave. Do this twice before your vet visit, and now your dog associates the vet with positive rewards!
WALK
The most important gift you can give your dog is the gift of calmness. A calm dog can handle stress better and is less likely to be reactive and fearful. Both of these behaviors come from over excitement. A tired dog is happy and calm. I suggest taking your dog on a long walk prior to your appointment to let them release any excess energy or stress.
TREATS
As I stated earlier, treats are a great way to build positive association with the vet's office. Use treats when you get there, let the staff give treats, and use them as a distraction while they are getting examined. Again, this creates a positive association with the whole process.
CRATE
If you have a small dog, use a crate to take your dog to their vet appointment. This will make them feel safer, causing less stress and the intensity of any reactivity.
EXCITEMENT
As surprising as this may seem to some, excitement is not always a positive thing. At the vet, this excitement leads to fear, anxiety, and reactivity, even in the most relaxed dogs. In order to manage excitement, ask the staff to please not speak to your dog because verbal language ramps them up more. Ask the staff to avoid eye contact because eye contact is a threat in dog language, and if they are giving your dog treats, ask them to please be calm and avoid eye contact and words. We want the dog to associate the staff with rewards and calmness. Excitement is not the state of mind you want for your dog in this scenario.
INSIST ON BEING IN THE ROOM
Remember, these people are strangers to your dog, or they are associated with negative memories based on past visits. The staff moves quickly, your dog does not have time to think, and they handle the dog without letting the dog come to them, which gives the dog the opportunity to initiate the interaction, or wait for the dog to be comfortable. This happens because they are busy and have lots of animals to see. Now, we can't change their speed, but we can be there to reassure our dog there is no danger. We can reward them while they are being tended to and let them know that the staff is not a threat.
The vet is an unavoidable event, and crucial for your pet’s health. While you cannot avoid it, you can help your dog navigate the experience with the least amount of stress as possible.
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