How do you keep the canine doctor happy when it comes time to assess the veterinary health of your best friend (your dog!)? Dogs, of course, just like humans, should have regular checkups at the vet’s office. And in addition to checkups, there will, for most dog owners, be the occasional accident or illness that also requires a visit to the local canine doctor. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can keep your canine doctor happy when evaluating Fido’s veterinary health.
There are three parties who share the responsibility of keeping your Dog Doctor happy during your dog’s visit to the vet: you, the owner; the canine doctor and his staff; and, of course, your dog. In this article we will focus primarily on what you, as the owner, can do to ensure a positive experience for everyone during your dog’s veterinary health visit.
The owner, in fact, bears most of the responsibility. You (should) know your dog better than anyone, including the Dog Doctor. After the first or second veterinary health visit you will know how your dog usually behaves in the veterinary consultation. Once you know how your dog is likely to behave, you can take whatever precautions are necessary to keep everyone in the best possible mood.
I know that some dogs are very well behaved, even during a visit to the canine doctor. I’ve never had one, but I’ve heard they exist! For the lucky owner of such a love, there is very little to do in the way of preparation. By all means, give your dog plenty of praise and affection during the visit to reinforce his stellar behavior. However, continue to be present with your dog when he is with the Dog Doctor, always on the lookout for an unexpected reaction. Even well-mannered dogs can react to unexpected pain or pricks in ways that are, how to say, unpleasant.
So what can we do about dogs that are more nervous, less compliant, and more likely to rebel and misbehave during their veterinary health episodes? Fortunately for you, your dog, and the Dog Doctor, there are some common sense steps you can take.
The first rule, of course, is to always keep your dog on a (short) leash during veterinary health visits. Most vets require this, but whether or not it’s a vet requirement, you should do it. For one thing, you never know what other little beasts might be visiting the Dog Doctor at the same time. Even the best behaved dog may react unexpectedly to some of the other animals you may encounter!
Second, you must stay with your dog during your exam. Most vets will allow and even encourage it. They know that you, the owner, are likely to have the most calming effect on your dog simply by being in the room. Keep in contact with your pet as much as possible. Gentle petting, scratching behind the ears, speaking to your dog in a soothing voice – all of these behaviors on your part can help your dog remain calm during this potentially stressful experience.
Talking with your vet can also help, especially when you change vets or during your pet’s first veterinary health visit. Let him know your dog’s likely reactions and any other information that might help him have a happy visit. After all, especially during the first visit to the canine doctor, you should be responsible for alerting the vet to potential problems that could occur.
Depending on your dog’s size and personality, a muzzle may be appropriate. Muzzles may be required if there is a chance your canine will be startled by other pets or other people (including curious toddlers!). If there is any chance that your dog will overreact and bite someone else’s pet or another person, put a muzzle on it. An ounce of cure can save a pound of ugly litigation!
How you prepare your dog for the veterinary health visit, and how vigilant and responsible you personally behave, will go a long way toward keeping the canine doctor happy! Do everything you can to ensure safety and keep the peace, and you and your dog will have the best possible experience at the vet’s office.