How to visit the vet without stress and fear

It's no secret that dogs like to visit the vet about as much as we like to visit the dentist. For most dogs, it causes stress that lasts for several hours. Thanks to their instincts, they sense it before you even leave for the vet's clinic. How can you handle it calmly and without unnecessarily stressing the dog?  

Most dogs do not like veterinarians, just like any other stranger who touches them besides their beloved master. It's not pleasant to them, it stresses them, and in some dogs it even creates a strong sense of fear. Yet you can still prepare your beloved pet for a visit to the vet so that it not only manages it calmly and without whimpering, but it can even look forward to it. How can you do this?

Start by selecting the right vet and respect your dog's "opinion". I will now contradict myself a bit. There are also dogs that truly love their veterinarians. Do you know why? Their veterinarian is a good person who can connect with them and who "speaks their language".

Dogs can recognize good people, just like other animals. In most cases, the right vet can quickly get your dog on their side. To them, animals are not just an attractive sum on the check they give you. If your dog is still scared after repeated visits, I would recommend visiting another vet.

Of course, there are also dogs, just like some people, who are extremely afraid and hypersensitive to their environment. In this case, herbal therapy can help reduce stress. You can add a few calming droplets to your dog's water or food the day before you visit the veterinarian. You should also take a supply of your dog's favorite treats so you can properly reward him.

Despite apathy and nervousness, which can control a dog, it is good to keep them occupied. Even if he doesn't want to take a treat or play with a toy, it is good to practice with him in the waiting room or outside the waiting room. You can give him simple commands. He doesn't have to fully perform them, but for a moment it will force him to stop thinking about the suffering he is experiencing :)

"Habit is an iron shirt." This also applies in this case. If you visit the vet regularly, there is a greater chance of him getting used to it gradually, and the amount of stress and fear he experiences may gradually decrease; it may rather be fear of the unknown than the vet itself. The dog will learn that not every visit to the vet means he will get a shot, and that there's really nothing to worry about.

If your dog starts whimpering even before you leave your home or doesn't want to get in the car, you must regularly train him for these situations. For example, you can occasionally take a walk around the veterinarian clinic, or just go for a ride in your car to some other place. It is important that you are calm, too, because if you're not, your dog will know that something is up :).

And how does your dog handle visits to the vet? Does he handle it calmly, or is he sensitive like our dogs? Do you have any proven tricks that help calm your dog down?

 

Related articles

First heat

If you’ve got a little female puppy at home, first heat might catch you off guard, so it’s not a bad idea to make some preparations ahead.

Dogs at work

Domestic dog is the oldest domesticated animal and it has provided accompaniment to humans for 14 thousand years at the minimum. During this time, it underwent numerous changes and a long development. All the dog breeds of today are a result of human...

Dogs and horses

I am not much of a horse person, but from time to time, I like to go horse riding. Usually, I leave my fuzzy friends at home. The presence of horses upsets them. When I was getting my dog fellows, I didn’t think about the fact that not all the breeds...

Why do dogs dig?

If you take pride in your nicely groomed garden and your dog belongs to the category of the so-called diggers, it probably doesn’t make you very happy. However, frantic digging in earth doesn’t please not even us, who wink at a few holes in the grass....

How to train calling with a whistle?

Calling a dog is without any doubt one of the most important commands that the dog should reliably master at any situation. Most often, we call the dog using the command “come”, but we can also emphasise it with a whistle. It pays off mainly in...

Five myths about dogs

I have always thought, that I know my four-legged fellows to their last hair, but there’s always something that manages to surprise me and there’s always a lot to learn from them. Some of the myths are so deep-rooted, that one doesn’t even fall upon...

How do the dogs and cats hear?

Simply put: much better, than us, humans. And cats even hear much better than dogs. But from experience, I can say, that it also depends on what and whom they want to listen to. How is it with dogs?

How to unteach your dog to beg?

Does your dog beg for food at the table? Do they beg even from strangers when you’re at a restaurant? Then you should know, that you are one-hundredth percent guilty of this yourself. If a dog learns to beg for human food, it is an educational mistake....

Dog Puzzles

When the weather is lovely rather for ducks than dogs for a longer period of time and long walks don’t come into question, my fluffy friends are getting get bored at home and start with their shenanigans. I always try to think of a home activity to...