We see memes on the internet that seem amusing, like dogs looking frightened in cars and captions about going to the vet, but really, since the vet is your first line of defense to protect your dog, it is much better for everyone if your dog likes going to the vet.
You might be thinking that you can’t blame your dog because there are injections and samples of all kinds, but if you and your vet work together as a team, your dog doesn’t need to expect that anything unpleasant will happen. Seeing the veterinarian regularly is a critical step in your dog’s long and best life.
First, make sure your veterinarian is worthy of your dog’s love. Your veterinarian should be making an effort to ease your dog’s fears. There are protocols, like the Fear Free(sm) protocol, that are designed to make dogs comfortable in situations like a veterinary visit. No one at your veterinary hospital should be willing to force your dog to undergo anything that frightens him. It is easy to bring fecal samples with you from home that did not have to be forcibly removed. It is safe and humane to sedate your dog for procedures that are necessary, but scary.
Bring your dog to the vet hungry, so that treats are a stronger distraction. The right treat with the right amount of hunger drive can make examination and vaccines go unnoticed.
Don’t be afraid of sedation or premedication. Fear is stored in a different part of the brain than other memories and once your dog has feared for his life, he will never forget it. We have to be preemptive about fear and pain. If you know that your dog hates to have her nails trimmed, talk to your vet ahead of time about ways to make the experience better for her.
It is also important that you realize the stress of a trip to the vet starts at home. If your dog is unaccustomed to travel, the car ride alone will have him stressed and then, no matter what your veterinarian does, the stress will compound. If your dog gets car sick or develops anxiety on the car ride, ask for appropriate medications and/or herbal remedies to make this easier.
Being held down and forced to do something is terrifying. Do not let your fear of sedatives torture your dog. Don’t let any fear torture your dog. If your dog has to be dragged to the vet or starts panting and pacing the minute you pull into the drive, talk to your vet about applying some of these principles to your dog so that he gets the care he needs without even realizing it. (And while you are at it, call my physician and tell him that I really like chocolate!)
