Going to the Veterinarian
One of your dog’s necessary parts of life is going to the veterinarian. Fifty-three years ago, I remember my first dog, Susie, a Brittany Spaniel, and her terror at walking in that door. She would shake, cry, pant and her feet would be soaking wet from sweating pads. As a child, this vision followed me into adulthood and I vowed never to make any of my dogs go through that.
These days, the face of that office has changed considerably. The veterinarian’s office is a place to go for very fun day care, and a place to find loads of toys, chewing items, dog food and even dog clothing. We seem to frequent the office on a much more deliberate and frequent basis, especially considering the level of health care options we now have available. We are also blessed, locally, with so many very compassionate veterinarians that are so kind and gentle with our animals.
Making the trip a good one starts as soon as you get your puppy and continues with each visit. One bad experience can linger on in a dog’s mind for a very long time.
How do we do that? Here are a few tips I have found make the experiences good ones.
- As part of your puppy or new dog socialization, take your pup frequently just to go get weighed and ask the front desk staff to give them treats. Practice having your puppy sit for those treats adds to teaching very polite behaviors as an adult. Short visits are always easier for a puppy so they don’t get over stressed. Day care is a wonderful way for puppies to get socialization after they have the required vaccinations. Although, again, visits should be very short at first to avoid over stimulation or over stress.
- Take your puppy or dog in the office on a leash. If there is another dog there that is very sick, that dog may not have the patience to visit with another dog in a friendly manner. You risk exposing your dog to illness with close contact, but also a dog bite or fight if the other sick dog is pushed beyond their limit. Think of yourself when you are sick. Do you want to have someone new play with you in the waiting room? A conflict between two dogs is an event neither dog will forget making those visits horribly stressful in the future. All dogs need medical treatment, and some dogs simply are not social dogs. Respecting another dog’s space is crucial ANYTIME, not just at the vet office. Even if you are on your way to dropping your dog off at daycare, your dog may come face to face with a sick dog, or a dog that just had surgery. Please be respectful and not allow your dog to visit or jump on other dogs until they get to Day Care.
- Take your dog’s favorite treat or toy. While waiting in the exam room, sometimes a little toy play or even practicing sits and downs for treats is a great way to keep your dog from feeling stressed about the visit.
A few minutes of planning ahead to bring a toy, treats and a leash can make the veterinarian’s office a delightful experience that continues throughout your dog’s life.
Caption: Just take a few minutes frequently to just go and get weighed. Pretty soon, the event is pretty easy for your dog!
