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News from
The Academy for Puppies & Dogs |
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Administering medical attention to an injured or
sick dog can be a very difficult task for the vet and staff. It is not unusual
to hear about the perfect dog, under ordinary circumstances, becoming aggressive
during a vet examination. There are a number of reasons this problem occurs and
there are a number of ways that it can be avoided.
A sick dog is normally experiencing discomfort or pain. Since discomfort and
pain lead to stress, aggression may be a normal response. Any animal that is
stressed is going to either become very submissive and permit the vet to conduct
the examination or become protective and resist the examination. The dog that
becomes aggressive may possibly associate his discomfort or pain with the vet.
Lashing out at the vet is his way of protecting himself. Every dog has a
survival instinct, which will be triggered when the dog perceives that his life
is being threatened. Pain and discomfort lead to stress and in some cases
trigger the aggressive behavior.
There are any numbers of medical conditions that may lead to aggression. These
would include: chronic pain (especially orthopedic related); Addison’s disease,
Cushing’s, Hypothyroid or Hyperthyroid, deafness, blindness, dental pain (often
overlooked), Lyme disease, or a serious injury resulting in trauma. Although
this is not an exhaustive list of ailments, it may explain a sudden episode of
aggression.
So what can you do to help your vet? First, let your vet do his job. Remove
yourself from the situation. Dogs have an amazing ability to pick up on our
emotions. If you are freaking out in the waiting room, your dog will pick up on
your anxiety and it will actually make the problem worse. If you are calm and
relaxed, your vet may actually ask for your help in restraining or consoling
your dog depending upon the situation.
Dogs often resist wearing a muzzle. It is this trainer’s opinion that every dog
ought to wear a muzzle on occasion at home to get accustomed to the feel. If a
dog has never worn a muzzle and you attempt to put a muzzle on, when the dog is
already stressed because of a medical issue, it will be that much more
stressful. If the dog understands that the muzzle is a training device used at
home, it may help to mitigate the stress at the vet’s office.
The next way you can help your vet is to begin to cultivate an association for
your dog that the vet’s office is a fun place to go. This association begins
when your puppy is 8 to 10 weeks old. Bring your puppy (or dog) to the vet for a
quick friendly visit. Bring your dog into the waiting room to say hello to the
receptionist, get a treat and be on your way. This should be done regularly. If
your dog only goes to the vet every couple of years for a poke with a needle, he
is going to associate the vet’s office with something negative. Have you ever
noticed how excited your dog gets when going to the drive through that dispenses
dog treats?
Be considerate of the vet and their staff. Remember, they are there to provide
medical attention to needy animals. Don’t take up too much time during your
friendly visit. You only need to stop in for a minute or two in order to develop
a positive association for your pet.
Tom Beitz is the owner of the Academy for Puppies and Dogs and is an authorized
dealer for Pet STOP Hidden Dog Fences. Tom can be reached at (716) 628-0651 to
answer your questions or he can be found on the web at
www.smartdogtrainer.com |
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