Kelly_Louise Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I took Sash to the vet today and both times she has gone she was petrified. The first time though was in a spacious room where she could back away and no one tried to push her (it was only to look at stitches that could be seen from a distance). Today she needed an examination. It was in a small cubicle, she had nowhere to go. She was jumpy and scared. She took food from the vet, no problem. But when the vet approached to examine her she growled and snapped (doesn't make contact) - but being a big dog it is still scary. Even when the muzzle went on she growled and still tried to snap and jumped around to try to escape. She is a good girl. She has no food or possession aggression - in fact she is very placid. She is a fearful dog but we've worked so hard on that and she has made huge leaps. But today I was concerned as she needs to be examined for her health. She would let me touch her and i even showed her the instruments to smell etc and touch her, no problem. But when the vet would approach she was petrified. They told us next time we can try it outside the surgery in the open where there are no smells etc and there is space. But how can I help her overcome it? Behavourist? And more socialisation of course. We've been working on training and triangle of temptation and it's working really well. She responds well to training. However, I'm not sure how I can help her with this issue and it may be detrimental to her health one day. Any advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Definitely a behaviourist and in this case I would recommend a veterinary one because eventually any desensitisation will need to invovle a vet surgery/vets. Do you take her to the vet with your other dogs? You need professional input but I do find that visits to the vet where nothing is done to the dog and a treat is given do help to make it less stressful to be there. This is way beyond such a simple solution though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 (edited) I received similar advice in my other post in health - and I do think it's worth a try. She has responded really well to desensitisation in all situations so far with her other fears. To the point where people do not recognise her as the same dog. She welcomes strangers into our house, no problem. She is very good at reading body language though and knows when I'm coming toward her for ear cleaning, nail cutting etc. I've had to change my approach so she doesn't see it coming. So when she was backed into a corner and a stranger was coming at her, she was very scared. She is only young and learns really quickly. I think I will try some desensitisation and see if it will help her. Small steps of course. I will also look into a behaviourist though to see what can help her best because she is such a very good dog. Oh, and no she doesn't go with my other dog. My other dog lives with my parents as it was too stressful to relocate her and she is happier there as she's been there her whole life. Thanks for the advice PF. Edited March 18, 2009 by Kelly_Louise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Clearly when her flight option is removed, she is prepared to offer up a fight. It would pay to keep that in mind. You may also wish to discuss sedation with a behaviourist for essential veterinary treatment. Once again, you need to talk to a veterinary behaviourist about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Behaviourist- yes definitely. But also consider how you can break it down to as many steps as possible- - the smell- get some of the antiseptic from the vet to use around the house and when you are doing happy things! - the action of the vet- you moving closer to the dog, building up to cornering, small rooms etc. - physical examination- can other people do this at home without issue? - the vet clinic itself- regular trips where nothing happens, ideally progressing to walk in and out of the consult room - the vets clothes and equipment- coat, stethescope etc - the vet/ stranger- consider a few home visits - speak to the vet about tranquil paste to be given before a veterinary appointment, i would prefer this to sedation IF possible and safe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 (edited) Oh thank you for the advice - it's given me some great ideas to help Sash, and being the angel she is I know she will respond well. I've emailed a vet behaviourist to see what he says as well. I feel I've got good direction now - thank you all so much for the ideas - they may seem small but will help enormously. If I can think of all the small steps that trigger her we can surely work on it. It must be awful to feel so scared. I want her to feel safe, and that I would not let anyone hurt her. She has only been with us for such a short time but has come so far. Edited March 18, 2009 by Kelly_Louise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Whats her history? Just curious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lab lady Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 One of my girls torn one of her nails and required sedation to remove it, she had a bad reaction to the sedation and when she had to return to the vets a few days later she panicked, she was shaking and crying and it took 3 of us to hold her to get the bandage off, she didn't show any aggression. She had xrays done and the vets other clinic two weeks after this and was fine at this hospital, no fear or apprehension at all. I have over a few months visited the vets ( the first one), just walking her in she usually gets a treat and a game with the nurse and we leave. We have now got to to point that she gets excited when we pull up in the car park and pulls on her lead dragging me into the surgery. It has taken time and a lot of help and understanding from the vet staff to get her to this stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 You can do stacks to help your dog with desensitisation to the Vet Clinic. Just takes a fair amount of work and time (and expert advice). :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Midol Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Ahhh, vets are terrible. My boy is developing a problem with the vet, it didn't help that the vet hit him over the head but I am working like crazy to fix it. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 Ahhh, vets are terrible. My boy is developing a problem with the vet, it didn't help that the vet hit him over the head but I am working like crazy to fix it. Good luck. OMG!!! No wonder he doesn't like vets! I'm hoping that this is something we can resolve because she is really not an aggressive dog, she's a good girl that just wanted to defend herself when she was backed into a corner as she was very very afraid - her skin would jump everytime she felt a new touch. She never made contact with the vet once thankfully, just air snaps, but still it is not appropriate behaviour. Cosmolo, she's a rescue. At the pound then at boarding kennels for a while before we brought her home - but that's all anyone really knows about her I guess. The first time we took her to the vet to have her desexing stitches looked at, she was very wary - but she had room to move away from the vet and the vet did not push her as they could see the stitches from a distance. So there was no snapping or signs of that behaviour, she was just timid and frightened and moved away. That's why I didn't really think she would react this way - that and the fact that she is not an aggressive dog at all. She is very patient and placid. Otherwise I would have prepared the vet in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westielover Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Ahhh, vets are terrible. My boy is developing a problem with the vet, it didn't help that the vet hit him over the head but I am working like crazy to fix it. Good luck. Did you clobber the vet over the head??? Schmuck of a vet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 Ahhh, vets are terrible. My boy is developing a problem with the vet, it didn't help that the vet hit him over the head but I am working like crazy to fix it. Good luck. i'm sorry you and your boy had such a terrible experience with a vet midol, but try not to tar them all with the same brush - not ALL vets are terrible, most are actually extremely compassionate and try hard to help their patients. Unfortunately, as you appear to have found, as with all professions, a small minority can ruin it for the majority in the public eye. i have worked with some really terrible vets that made me ropable (sp?) with anger as to how they treat their patients , but luckily the clinic i am at now is comprised of incredibly compassionate and sympathetic vets and nurses who care for their patients as they would their own furry kids :-) there is hope out there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Midol Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 Oops! I meant vets are terrible in regards to fear issues. It is very easy for a dog to build a fear repsonse with vets if they have to go in multiple times for injuries, like my boy. He is only 9 months and has been in about 5 times, injured all of them and every time he has been caused pain, so it's going to be hard to reverse it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss B Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 Oops!I meant vets are terrible in regards to fear issues. It is very easy for a dog to build a fear repsonse with vets if they have to go in multiple times for injuries, like my boy. He is only 9 months and has been in about 5 times, injured all of them and every time he has been caused pain, so it's going to be hard to reverse it. If you are close enough to the vet, take Montu in every now and again just for a weight check on the scales, and some cuddles and treats from the nurses. Might help him to learn that not all vet visits lead to pain and discomfort Unless the treats/cuddles will go against what you are aiming for with his training... but I guess you could still take him in every now and again, pop him on the scales and give him a few treats yourself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Midol Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 Yeah, my vet said if I try and time it for lunch time he can even do pretend checkups as Montu improves (the vet surgery has 3 vets, the one who hit him wasn't my normal one). It's 25 minutes away so a bit of a drive but I need to go in next week anyway for Gizmo so will take Monts then. He isn't too bad. He just hates injections and stuff. It shouldn't screw up his training as he has already generalised that people don't = fun and an individual being neutral or positive won't ruin that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss B Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 Yeah, my vet said if I try and time it for lunch time he can even do pretend checkups as Montu improves That's nice of him to offer. Can't believe a vet hit your dog though, geez. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now