Does your dog love going to the veterinarian, or dread it? For some dogs, the obligatory annual a
ppointment is the equivalent of a stint of water boarding.
Three-year-old Pointer mix Annabelle recognizes the veterinary clinic parking lot immediately. She engages the brake pads in her paws; her owner half-carries her to the door. Once inside, her nervous trembling causes her short hair to shed and drift throughout the waiting room. Her face is wide-eyed and terrified as she awaits the upcoming ordeal.
The owner of two-year-old Chocolate Labrador Carter calls the clinic from the parking lot so that a staff member can open the “Employees Only” door. Carter needs to enter without encountering another dog, or for that matter, anything with a pulse. He wears a soft muzzle that somewhat muffles his barking but does little to discourage his fury at having to go to the doctor. At least two vet assistants are needed to restrain the dog for his checkup and inoculations.
Herbie is a six-year-old Shih Tzu who wears a blue barrette to keep his silky hair out of his eyes. Herbie adores his vet and the entire staff at the clinic, all of whom flutter and fawn over him, plying him with treats and kisses. He is happy to be weighed, happy to have his heart listened to, happy to open wide for a look down his throat. Even the thermometer routine doesn’t faze him. It’s a small price to pay for time spent with his favorite fan club.
Vet clinic staff do their best to accommodate every dog – and every owner – to make the encounter as painless and stress-free as possible. However, unless your dog is a Herbie, here are some suggestions to ease your dog’s vetphobia:
· Don’t bring your dog into the clinic until you take him for a walk first. Not just a quick pee walk, but a good 5-10 minute expend-some-excess-energy walk.
· You’ve heard of helicopter parents. Don’t be one! No hovering! Your pet will feel your tension and you will make the dog anxious. If you can’t relax, hand your dog over to the professionals and chill in the waiting room.
· Most vets are fine with you bringing your dog for the equivalent of a drive-by. Stop in, let your dog get a greeting and a biscuit, and leave. Hey! Going to the vet doesn’t always have to mean a hypodermic in the scruff!
· If you own an Annabelle or a Carter, get some help working on leash control and behavior in public. When your dog is trained, you won’t have to use the back door and a disguise to go to the vet.
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