k9Logan at the vets..advise plz

[K9karen]

Hi guys.. This isn't critical, but it was so frustrating and upsetting to both K9L and me..K9K Whereas Cody was insane in the waiting room and had to taken directly into a room where he was great with my vet, Dr Fox, who could do anything to him,,,,Logan was a perfect angel in the waiting room, sat and looked around..Oh YAY! I thought,,,this is great! That was short lived...she was so upset in the room, tail between legs, growled at my Dr Mark. I had taken her there the 2nd day I got her, just to introduce her and weigh her and he just petted her and loved her, and there was no problem. Anyway, their trainer (who evaluated Logan and gave me some good advised I'd forgotten) as well as a tech. We all tried muzzling her so Dr Mark could look at her ears (scabs inside the flaps) and taken a routine blood test. She wans't born yesterday..and altho the SPCA warned me that she'd have to be muzzled cause she hated needles, nobidy could get a muzzle close to her, despite tempting her with liver pate paste, on the muzzle, in the muzzle, on ME, on fingers. I was a bit upset but kept quiet as I thought this was rewarding inacceptable behavior. Then we sat back in the waiting room for 45 mins to calm her, tried again, to no avail. So Dr. Mark gave me a script for a tranquilizer and a new appt for next week. Damn! I hate to give her pills ...does anyone else have this experience and/or have to give downers before a vet visit. Does it help???

[micki76]

Oh, that's no fun for anyone. Perhaps they could send someone outside to muzzle her? Maybe then she wouldn't already be expecting the worse? Just a thought, maybe worth a try. Sorry you guys all had such a bad vet visit.

[KYS]

Karen,

When I take Rocky to the vets,
I either muzzle him, in the waiting room,
or when we get to our room.
Even a muzzle can make a dog more nervouse,
so I tend to put it on in the room before the
vet comes in. (unless the waiting room is crowded.)

Poor Logan must have had some bad experience and
is very scared. Rocky is scared of the vet since
the day he got neutered their. In my opinion
a small dose of tranqulizer might make her a bit
more relaxed but she still might have to be muzzled.

I think they need to be very gentle with Logan so
she can learn to trust them.
JMHO

[lv4dogs]

I would do as suggested. Sometimes the dog behaves better with out the owner, maybe try that?
Also to help in the future I would bring her there often, as often as possible just to get weighed & petted & walk into the exam rooms. Check w/ your vet & see what times of day they are not using the exam rooms or what is their slowest part of the day. I am sure they will agree to it. Maybe if it just the syringe than have the Dr. give you a couple (without needles or oral syringes that look the same) & bring them home w/ you. Show them to your dog & touch them to your dog. get her used to them. Ignore or give a stern "NO" everytime she mis-behaves then PRAISE with everything youve got when she behaves properly.
Good luck. I worked as a vet tech for years & those techniques seem to help most dogs the owner has to be very patient & has to work constantly on it. I wish the best of luck!

[lv4dogs]

Maybe fill the oral syringe w/ a yummy paste or meet broth?

[Cataholic]

Try finding a vet that makes house calls.....my friend swears by this....it is much easier in their own enviroment.

[K9karen]

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions...Dr Mark did advise me to take Logan there a few times and I will do that today. Yes, I may have to muzzle her in the car, poor dear. The syringe suggestion is awesome! What a clever idea!!!! Thanks ever so.....

[Sudilar]

Oh Karen, I just saw this now!! My parents' Great Pyr Bear was impossible to take to the vet. We're talking 160 lbs. of pure strength!! The vet used to come out to the car and everyone would try to get him in through the back door. That finally worked.

My dogs love my lady vet sooo much that there is never a problem with them. Your poor Logan must have had a horrible experience. Maybe it reminds her of the shelter?

Happy visits to the office might make her less nervous. Just go weigh her and let them give her treats. Just go visit and sit in the waiting room, then ask them to let her in an exam room for a few minutes, then leave, all happy the whole time. Good luck. Let us know what happens!

[lizbud]

Hello Karen,

I've never had to muzzle a dog so I'm no help there. I think
people are giving some good advice already.Taking Logan to
the office more often, just for short visits as mentioned, sounds
like a very good idea. I believe just the smells & sounds of most
vet offices are enough to unnerve most dogs. Their sense of
smell & hearing are so fantastic. Best of luck to you with calming
Logan. [[[HUGS]]] Liz & Smokey.

[MaxandSpike'sMom]

Karen,

My friends Rottie did this everytime he went to the vet. The Vet couldn't even get in the exam room without him growling and stuff. (he is really a teddy bear any other time)!

Anyway, the vet suggested that my friend stay in the waiting room and a tech brought him to the room. The vet suggested to my friend that he thinks he was "protecting his mommy" and without her in the room everything went very well.

I'm not sure if Logan is feeling that way or maybe he had a bad experience one too many time.

[Sevens]

I can kind of relate to the problems that you are having. Well, not me personally, but my parents.

Their dog Jake is an angel at the vets, he loves going, even if he is being examined or having shots or when he was neutered. He's a greyhound GSD mix.

But he is absolute freaky about toenail trims, he has tried to bite my parents before. They tried to muzzle him and do it at home, still didn't work.

Now, once a month, they have to give him two tranquilizers an hour before they go to the vet, muzzle him, and have the vet trim his nails. Then they take him home and let him sleep off the tranquilizers. Not that they want to do all this mind you, but this is the best way they've been able to handle it so far. And it's only been the past 4 months, and he's 3 years old. I guess one day he just decided to hate nail trims.

I hope you find a solution to your problems. Hugs to you and Logan!

[jackiesdaisy1935]

Hi Karen, no advice here, but lots of hugs going to K9Logan, she just needs some confidence that everything will be O.K. at the Vets. Taking her in for visits I think will help a lot.
Jackie, Perry and Miss Daisy

[lizbud]

Hi Karen,

Just checking in to see how it's going with k9logan.

Have you been back for trial visits to the vet's office? Hope it's
not to much of a drive for you if you do. I just thought of a trick
I used with Buddy for the nipping/herding behavior. Does logan
do this only outside, inside or both? I did different things for the
outside nipping then I did for the inside behavior, but it worked
very well. So, how's it going? Liz & Smokey.

[K9karen]

Yep.. I've been taking Klo to the vet's..walking around the waiting room, in a room with treats, getting weighed, She's a little skiddish but OK until the actual day. Two tranquilizers didn't help. Dr. Mark is awesome with her. He just thinks she had a wicked experience. I know Cody associated it with nail clipping and had to be muzzled. The SPCA said Klo hated needles but that's all they said. Hopefully, the sweetie won't have to go often.
Klo's ankle biting/feet nipping is only when she's playing. I put a quick stop to it by yelling "ouch". Also, "no bites" in a stern voice is a huge deterent. She's very sensitive. All I have to do is put my hands on my hips if she's nawtee and she immediately sits/downs. It's so cute I try not to laugh.
All is going great..thanks for asking. I even took her to a nursing home twice and she does really well. Seperation anxiety is almost non existent, she has the run of the house, understands a lot. Her obedience class starts Sept 8. I really really lucked out!!!

[micki76]

So glad things are going so good! Yay for Klo (love that! )!!!!! I just noticed your new signature and am weeping again. What a sweet and special boy that Cody musta been.

Pics of Klo would be nice. *Ahem* hint hint!