Many dogs are afraid of the vet. There are a variety of reasons for this. We have 10 effective tips on how you can take away your dog's fear of a visit to the vet.
Tip no. 1: No stress when vaccinating your puppy
Most puppies receive three vaccinations within their first four months of life. These are usually given in the 8th, 12th and 16th week of life, as recommended by the Standing Veterinary Vaccination Commission. These three visits to the veterinary practice can be decisive for the course of all further visits to the vet. They should be as stress-free as possible from the time you leave home until the vaccination is administered. The experiences your dog has during these visits can last a lifetime.
Tip no. 2: Set a good example
If you are stressed yourself, this will be transferred to your dog. It is therefore important that you are as relaxed as possible before and during a visit to the vet. Leave the house in good time so that you have enough time to spare. During the drive or walk to the doctor, behave as if you were planning a normal walk. Do not pet your dog excessively or feel sorry for him before he is even in the treatment room. For most dogs, it is important that they are present during the examination. However, if you are a nervous wreck, it may be better to stay in the waiting room.
Tip no. 3: Keep the dog busy before the vet visit
If the dog has only just woken up, is put in the car and has to go straight to the vet, these are not good conditions. It is much better if he can relax and stretch his legs beforehand. It also doesn't hurt to plan a longer walk or a game so that he is well exhausted and can endure the vet visit a little tired but more relaxed.
Tip no. 4: Trust the vet
It is important that you have complete trust in your vet. If not, your dog will sense this. Be honest with yourself and if in doubt, it is better to change veterinary practice. You should be convinced of the doctor's competence as well as his manner. Do you feel that you are in good hands at the practice and does the vet treat your dog well? Does he take enough time and answer your questions satisfactorily? Then the basic requirements are good.
Tip no. 5: Choose the first appointment
There can be stress before the dog is even in the treatment room. If the waiting room is full of other animals, this is not a good prerequisite for an anxious dog's vet appointment. It is an advantage if you make the first appointment of the day when the waiting room is still empty and much less filled with smells and noises.
Tip no. 6: Simulate a visit to the vet
If you already know that your dog is afraid of the vet or are worried about this because of his other behavior, ask at the vet's practice if you can come in for a short visit. Just sit down in the waiting room and give your dog the feeling that everything is all right. After a while, get up again, praise him and go outside.
If the vet has a few minutes, go into the treatment room with your dog and simply have a short chat with him. Explain the situation and see how the dog reacts to the vet. Perhaps give him a few treats. Praise him and leave the vet's surgery again. It can also be an advantage if you go for a walk there occasionally so that he gets to know the surroundings and memorizes them.
Tip no. 7: Practice with your dog at home
Some dogs panic as soon as they enter the vet's surgery, others only have problems when they are examined. In this case, you can practise the procedure at home. If your dog is not too big, place a blanket on a table and place your four-legged friend on it. Look into his ears, pull up his lips and touch him from all sides. Although this is not the same as when the vet does it, it can be a good preliminary exercise to make touching more acceptable.
Tip no. 8: Visit a dog training school
Your dog is probably not only anxious at the vet. It could therefore be worth visiting a good dog school and discussing what solutions are available there. Perhaps the dog generally has problems being handled by other people. This can be practiced under controlled conditions so that improvements can be achieved step by step. You may also receive helpful tips yourself, as it is often not just the dog but also the owner who needs help.
Tip no. 9: Chewing calms
Chewing has a calming effect on dogs. At home, this works very well with a chew bone - but this is not suitable for visits to the vet. Equip yourself with your dog's favorite treats so that you can offer him a small snack every now and then. Liver sausage from a tube also goes down very well. However, don't overdo it with your dog's diet, as too much could make him suspicious.
Tip no. 10: Last resort - home visit
There is a lot you can do to ease your dog's fear of a visit to the vet. However, some dogs simply won't calm down. They have to be carried into the waiting room or more or less pulled. Decide for yourself whether this is still acceptable. Sometimes it is unavoidable, but if it is "only" a vaccination, this can also be carried out at home. Ask your vet if he makes home visits, but think about how your dog will react beforehand. If he has a problem with visitors in his kingdom, a home visit could result in the same or even greater difficulties. Also consider the safety of the vet in this regard. If there is a risk of the dog snapping, he should wear a muzzle. However, this cannot be done from one day to the next. You should also start practicing this early on.