Dogs
(c) by Carrie Boyko
How does your dog manage visits to the vet? Is he nervous and fearful, or calm and friendly? Often your dog's acceptance of a veterinarian is related to your own body language and communication style with the staff and vet. Your dog is always watching you for cues that a new environment is safe and 'friendly'. If your demeanor says 'I'm comfortable and confident here', then your dog is likely to follow suit, especially if you employ this method from day one.
Here's one other strategy you might employ to assure you dog's vet visits are as smooth as possible. Many vets offer early drop off and late pickup for dogs of owners who work all day. This is, indeed, a convenient service for the owner, but sometimes we forget the dog's part in this equation.
A pup that is confined to a crate in the back of a vet's office for an entire day may become nervous, stressed or even fearful. Of course, this is likely not the veterinarian's fault; let's be clear on that. The problem generally stems from the unfamiliar environment, the dog's inability to explore and become comfortable with it, and the noise factor.
We've all heard the barking dogs in the crates of a vet's office. Hearing a bunch of nervous cats and dogs barking and meowing all day could certainly rev up your dogs nerves. I'd bark too if I knew there were busy people all around whom I hoped would stop and give me some attention. It's just not an ideal situation for the dogs, even though it works great for us and the vets.
If getting your dog to the vet is urgent, and cannot wait until their Saturday hours, then by all means, drop him off for his needed care. If he comes home with an uneasy attitude and takes a while to pull himself together, you'll know why. Whenever possible, consider scheduling non-emergency check ups and tests on a day off from work. Your pup will feel more confident in your presence, and you'll have a happier companion at home.
Related Reading:
Preparing your Puppy for a Lifetime of Happy Vet Visits
Visit Adopt a Dog Park
Follow All Things Dog at Twitter Find me at Facebook
© copyright Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved
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Dogs
Drop Off Vet Visits: Handle with Care!
(c) by Carrie Boyko
Here's one other strategy you might employ to assure you dog's vet visits are as smooth as possible. Many vets offer early drop off and late pickup for dogs of owners who work all day. This is, indeed, a convenient service for the owner, but sometimes we forget the dog's part in this equation.
A pup that is confined to a crate in the back of a vet's office for an entire day may become nervous, stressed or even fearful. Of course, this is likely not the veterinarian's fault; let's be clear on that. The problem generally stems from the unfamiliar environment, the dog's inability to explore and become comfortable with it, and the noise factor.
We've all heard the barking dogs in the crates of a vet's office. Hearing a bunch of nervous cats and dogs barking and meowing all day could certainly rev up your dogs nerves. I'd bark too if I knew there were busy people all around whom I hoped would stop and give me some attention. It's just not an ideal situation for the dogs, even though it works great for us and the vets.
If getting your dog to the vet is urgent, and cannot wait until their Saturday hours, then by all means, drop him off for his needed care. If he comes home with an uneasy attitude and takes a while to pull himself together, you'll know why. Whenever possible, consider scheduling non-emergency check ups and tests on a day off from work. Your pup will feel more confident in your presence, and you'll have a happier companion at home.
Related Reading:
Preparing your Puppy for a Lifetime of Happy Vet Visits
Visit Adopt a Dog Park
Help protect our precious dog parks
© Carrie Boyko, all rights reservedFollow All Things Dog at Twitter Find me at Facebook
© copyright Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved
Bookmark this on Delicious
- Blogpaws, Here I Come!
by Carrie Boyko While you guys are busy reading posts that I have prearranged to pop out magically, I'll be out in Denver for the next few days, hobnobbing with lots of new friends--pet bloggers like me. I'm hoping to come back with...
- What Dogs And Their Handlers Need To Know About Stress
by Carrie Boyko (c) Carrie BoykoCalm Oliver Won the Prize Today We've all heard it. Cesar Millan talks about it on every episode. But do we believe it? An owner's energy transfers to her dog. Boy did I get that lesson slapped in my face last night....
- Preparing Your Puppy For A Life Of Happy Vet Visits
by Carrie Boyko While at the vet with my pack recently, one of the pet nurses commented on how amiable all three of my dogs are when they come in for their regular exams and vaccinations. She went on to explain that many of the dogs who visit...
- Dog Blogging Around The Globe
by Carrie Boyko With my recent appearance in the Technorati Top 100 Pet Sites, I have seen a surge in readers, visitors, subscribers, and surprise--lots of emails. I'm hearing from readers who are not quite sure how to comment on the blog. I'm...
- How To Help Your Dog Enjoy Veterinarian Visits
By Langley Cornwell Veterinarian visits used to be difficult for us. Our dog would revert back to her shy and fearful behavior whenever we had an appointment. In fact, she would start trembling and whining when we pulled into the parking lot. While we...