DOES YOUR DOG STRUGGLE WITH VET VISITS?
- Emily Savage
- Sep 9
- 3 min read
Twelve top tips for a tip-top veterinary visit!
A visit to the vets can be hugely stressful for both ends of the lead when you have a sensitive dog. Many dogs find veterinary clinics scary places to be as they can be busy and noisy, with strange sights, sounds and smells, and that’s before they’ve made it through the door of the consulting room to be met by a human they may not yet know, who may need to provide treatment which is potentially unpleasant and perhaps painful. Even routine visits such as for annual vaccinations can cause difficulties, and can feel like a huge hurdle to overcome.
However, there are steps you can take to improve things massively, by planning ahead and being proactive.
In the first instance, have a chat with your veterinary staff and tell them what your concerns are so that you can work together and make a plan of action.
Some tips to consider:
*A good place to start might be to spend time just doing "happy visits", without the pressure of having to have any hands-on treatment. Why not practise sitting in the waiting room when it’s quiet, just to watch goings on while feeding your dog tasty treats? A lot of vets encourage this as it makes life easier and less stressful for everyone. Reception staff and nurses are usually very happy to oblige in helping your dog feel more comfortable, and love coming over to chat, armed with tempting treats!
*Find out when the clinic’s quieter times tend to be, or ask for a first or last appointment of the day to help your dog avoid human or doggy triggers.
*Ask if there is an alternative entrance that can be used to access the consulting room to avoid a busy reception area.
*Leaving your dog outside in the car while you go and book them in might be an option that works well. Ask to be called in when the vet is ready, so that you can keep your dog calm outside and then go straight into the consulting room when called, with a clear gangway through.
*For some visits, your vet may even be able to treat your dog outside, for example, vaccinations could be given outdoors.
*If your dog is wary of men, is there a female vet that your dog might feel more comfortable with? Asking to see the same vet for each visit can also really help, rather than being handled by a stranger each time.
*Is slippery flooring an issue? Trigger’s vet treats him in their carpeted staff room and it has made a big difference to his comfort levels, now that he is old and creaky.
*For some fearful dogs, taking prescribed medication prior to a vet visit can be a huge help towards feeling better able to cope. However, medications do need to be trialled beforehand to work out the most effective dosage or combination of meds, to minimise the likelihood of any unwanted side effects.
*If your dog is very fearful and perhaps not yet able to travel safely, looking into having a vet come to your home might be an available option; you may be lucky enough to have a Fear Free certified mobile vet in your vicinity.
*There are some really good online cooperative care tuition groups which teach you how to prepare your dog for general husbandry handling and help them feel comfortable, with some specifically tailored to what will be encountered during veterinary visits.
*Muzzle training can really reduce stress levels by keeping everyone safe, and is something which is beneficial for all dogs, regardless of whether they pose a bite risk. The Muzzle Up Project is a great resource; muzzle conditioning can be lots of fun to train!
*Taking videos of your dog to show areas of concern to the vet can be really helpful if your dog is nervous being handled. I like to make notes on what I need to mention too, as it’s easy to forget things when worrying about your dog being worried!
Here are some resources to go alongside these tips:
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