Vet Visit from Hell

[ozziesmom]

Ozzie is my five year old baby, intact male and very self-confident, but not arrogant. He has been going to the same vet for the last five years, and yesterday we went for his annual shots.

Ozzie was fine when we arrived. He tried to smell some of the other dogs. You know, doggy stuff. I had muzzled him with a basket muzzle, which he doesn't mind. We went into the room, and he was sitting at my feet. I was rubbing his shoulder blades and talking to him, he was fine. Anyway the vet assistent came in, and he was still fine. Stayed at my feet and watched her. He usually loves women. Anyway, she started walking towards him with to take his temperature. He jumped up and ran behind me, as if he was freightened. After settling him down, we finally got his temperature, but I had to hold him down, and by then there were two attendants. After the temperature, the doctor was ready to give the shots. He jumped up again, and went ballistic. Ran behind me, started slobbering, eyes got really big, and wouldn't settle down. When I finally settled him down, he was shaking so, and his heart was beating so hard. He was really freightened. It took three attendants, and the doctor to finally give him his shots (after some manuevering).

I don't know why he was so afraid. I felt so bad, I rubbed him, talked to him, but he was scared. Well by the time it as over (an ordeal for all of us), and I got him into the car, he settled down. By the time we got back home, he was his usual self. Such a different dog then in the vet's office.

Any insights why he was so afraid. Next time we are going to sedate him at the beginning of the session. This is the first time.

[sophie's-mom]

Originally posted by ozziesmom
I felt so bad, I rubbed him, talked to him, but he was scared. Any insights why he was so afraid.

I think this was a mistake. He may have been reading something from you and played on that.....then when you rub him and talk to him instead of telling him to knock it off, he gets the idea that he gets attention if he acts like a butt!

Next time we are going to sedate him at the beginning of the session.

That is a DRASTIC measure, in my opinion. Try to figure out WHY he freaked and work on THAT.

QUESTION: Why do you have to muzzle your dog to take him to the vet?

[TrishB]

Originally posted by ozziesmom
I don't know why he was so afraid. I felt so bad, I rubbed him, talked to him, but he was scared....
Any insights why he was so afraid. Next time we are going to sedate him at the beginning of the session. This is the first time.

When he was allowed to squirm, get away and jump off of the table - he ran behind you and you 'reassured' him. What that means is that you actually praised him for squirming, getting away, jumping off the table and hiding behind you.

Take him back to the office (call first to make sure they're not busy). Get the attendants to put him on the table, feed him cookies, etc.

He should ONLY get attention when he's behaving. Ignore the over-reaction of the slobbering, nervous, hiding. Be very matter-of-fact.

Tables in vet clinics are very nerve racking. They're high up, they're slippery and they often wobble. He reacted to that (honest reaction). But when he was able to get away from it, hide and get praise for it - the behaviour was reinforced.

Ignore the silly behaviour, encourage the good behaviour. I'm sure he'll be fine next time, just like he always was. :)

Try training more before sedation.

[TrinityRun]

Holding him down - meaning 3 of you restrained him to the floor to get his temp? If so, all the extra force probably only made matters worse.

[Judy Chrusch]

I was just wondering if he ever had any training or was ever taught to stand still to be examined by you or anyone else? That's what you must do, everyday, work on going over his whole body, don't pity or baby him, he has to get over it and except things being done to him. No one was their to kill him so you MUST work with him so he doesn't have to be sedated for simple routine things at the vets. The next step may be a bite and yes they can bite through a muzzle. I know a girl who has the scars to prove it. This can be turned around, you are the one to do it and the babying has to stop ASAP.

He knows when he behaves in a scared way he'll get your attention but that's not a stable trait of a rottweiler to be afraid. Get tough and work daily, it does work with effort and patience. If he isn't in any type of training perhaps he should have a refresher course.

Judy

[Brooke&Ryan]

We actually pop into the vet from time to time. Usually at least once a month with Julius. He was showing apprehension at the vets (drooling, backing away, etc.) & so we've been working on it for months now. It helps that our vets office has a store so we can go check it out w/ Jules or just pop in to weigh him. I would think that your vet would have no problem with that....& if they do....well I would have a problem with that & look for another vet. Julius is now much more calm & inquisitive in the vet's office & it helps that we learned the "stand for exam" in class. Like Judy said the training comes in very handy there.

Also---it took us a long time to realize that we were coddling Julius in stressful situations which was just making the problem worse. Now if I notice Ryan coddling Julius or vice-versa we just aim a dirty glare at the person.....:p

Good luck on getting your boy more comfortable with the vet.

:)
Brooke

[Ilovemypuppy]

Even though it is not advised...coddling is a natural reaction from a human to their beloved pet in a situation like that....don't beat yourself up over that..but remember to work on that. It is entirely possible that a strange or scary smell could have caused your boy to react that way. Maybe an animal had just died in the clinic or been euthansized there before you came in...things like that 'the smell of death' could caused him to react like that with so much fear...especially where he had been good on previous visits..you might want to enquire to see if anything like that had taken place there before you arrived. Our vet does not put big dogs on the table..he works with them on the floor...a much better idea and much safer and less stressful to the dog, IMO.

[sophie's-mom]

I'm sorry, but a VERY SELF CONFIDENT, INTACT MALE that is MUZZLED when at the vet, reacts with a JOLT at the sight of the Dr.???

I can't see where that would have been my natural reaction, coddling.

In my opinion, calling a SELF CONFIDENT, INTACT MALE that requires MUZZLING while at the vet, a BABY, is the FIRST mistake.

And actually, nowhere in the OP does ozziesmom state that they put the dog on the table and the 3 attendants were the LAST part of the visit........he'd already been coddled at that point!

[ozziesmom]

I thank all of the respondents for the insight.

Ozzie was not on the table. He was on the floor. I can see where my behavior possibly re-inforced his behavior. But I could not stand to see him so afraid. He's been to this vet for four years previous without any issue.

This was my first time muzzling him. I did it more so for others than for him. Because he is so big, I did not want others seeing him getting apprehensive. Some of my neighbors express apprehension when they see him.

Also, he has had extensive training, and gets handled every month by the groomer (a male).

But, overall, I think that the problem is most likely me. And that I baby him too much, and that I reinforced the bad behavior. I think the suggestion to take him on periodic visits is a good one, and other suggestions to start handling him more in a standing position is a good one.

Again, thanks for the suggestions. I would definitely like to avoid a repeat of this visit and anesthesia.

[TrinityRun]

And perhaps you should consider not muzzling him anymore. Muzzles can be very frustrating to the dog. I also feel they leave the public with a poor impression of the breed.

I don't sit with my dogs in the reception area. They wait in the truck, in their crates until it's their turn.

[danyp1]

Originally posted by Brooke&Ryan
We actually pop into the vet from time to time. Usually at least once a month with Julius. He was showing apprehension at the vets (drooling, backing away, etc.) & so we've been working on it for months now. It helps that our vets office has a store so we can go check it out w/ Jules or just pop in to weigh him. I would think that your vet would have no problem with that....& if they do....well I would have a problem with that & look for another vet. Julius is now much more calm & inquisitive in the vet's office & it helps that we learned the "stand for exam" in class. Like Judy said the training comes in very handy there.

Also---it took us a long time to realize that we were coddling Julius in stressful situations which was just making the problem worse. Now if I notice Ryan coddling Julius or vice-versa we just aim a dirty glare at the person.....:p

Good luck on getting your boy more comfortable with the vet.

:)
Brooke

Thank you for that info I have not even thought of this.. My pup was also not too happy with the vet last time. So I did what you said and called up the vet. They said we would be welcome to come any time. Thanks again for that suggestion. :)

[rottnkidd]

I experienced the same problem when we took my girl in for her annual exam this past April. I have no idea why her attitude changed from the year before, but I've resumed taking her in every couple of wks (something I used to do), to say hello, to get touched, weighed, and sometimes just to sit in the outer office quietly. It's time consuming, but it's helped tremendously. Best wishes -
kathy

[LORHEL]

I definitely recommend the "unofficial" vet visits. Make them happy times, like the others said, they get praise, attention when they are listening. Make it a positive experience, they get more exposure to the situation, it happens more often.

You don't want to sedate your dog, there is no need for that, you've got enough time now, to work with him, show him leadership, and get him out and about so he realizes, that it is expected of him to cooperate, and he will not be coddled the next time, he will be cooperative and you will be calm.

And some dogs do feel very frustrated by the muzzle, thus adding to their anxiety. Have you tried the gentle leader. Some like it some don't. You might want to check into that. Its not a muzzle. But it gives you control over the dog... again, its just a suggestion, don't give up, just keep on working with your boy.

[Judi W]

Well, I will say that about the only time my dogs get squirmy is during eye exams which are done at each visit. I put my hand on their heads to keep them from turning away from the scope which comes quite close to the eyes and tell them to knock it off and hold still. My voice says I mean it. You might try letting the dog who is being difficult know that you do not approve. It is much more difficult for a doctor to give good medical care if they have to fight with the dog to even touch it and you want good care for your animal. Do not accept bratty behavior and you are not likely to get it. If you think your dog might bite, by all means muzzle it, but the same rules apply and that is good behavior and manners. The confusion between being stroked and babied and fought with at the same time is certainly going to give the dog mixed messages but make him fight against the doctors and assistants even more as mommy is saying this is a scary thing. Mommy needs to say "knock it off mister" and mean it and she should also give a friendly and happy chat to the staff letting the dog know that she considers them friends, not dangerous strangers.

[Lucinda195]

Hi there,
I'm in agreement with the group as far the "coddling' goes.

I can tell you as a vet tech we have many clients that do this with their pets and yes it is a natural reaction for 99% of our clients.

If we have a dog that will not allow us to do our assessments we ask the client if they mind us taking the dog from the room. As soon as the dog is removed from the owners presence we have a different dog on our hands.:) Will let us do just about anything.:D

I would not sedate him for his visits. It does not sound that he was aggressive toward anyone, just scared. We only use sedation on dogs in need of care that are totally unapproachable and bite. I also would not muzzle him. We do use muzzles at times(depending on the dog) for they are a distraction. Some dogs seem to concentrate on the thing they have on their nose rather then what we are doing.:D

I agree that the vet visits sound like a great idea. Explain your situation to the techs/receptionists. Have them give some goodies and make his visits pleasant.:)

Good luck with your visits!:) :)

Lucinda