When the visit to the vet is an ordeal… Let’s talk about frightened patients and pleasant visits to the vet's office.
A dog that is already stressed in the waiting room or on the way to the practice and that barks or shows extremely agitated behavior is not uncommon in the veterinary practice. Medical Training conducted by specialists in behavior therapy can help prevent such anxieties. How does it work? We spoke to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Astrid Schubert about what owners can do to prevent their four-legged friends from becoming anxiety-prone.
Dr. med. vet. Astrid Schubert
Humans are usually less aggressive. They get nervous and jittery, antsy or something like that. But you don't bolt out of the waiting room or try to bite the dentist (laughs).
Dogs, and animals in general, have no civility filter. They have no idea why they are where they are. The animal will instinctively attempt to distance itself when it feels uncomfortable or stressed. The first stress signals are often not recognized because owners and staff are not able to detect them. Then, when the stress becomes overwhelming, the animal resorts to plan b: flight or attack. Both can be very unpleasant for everyone during a visit to the vet.
Yes, it can become difficult. On the one hand, you have to assess what you can do, what is necessary, and what you can do to make it easier for the dog. On the other hand, there are also things that are not a "must". These can then be omitted or postponed to make the appointments more accommodating for the dog.
There are actually several possibilities on the owner’s and on the veterinarian’s part. Owners can, for example, already shave a spot at home before they go to the clinic to have blood drawn. And before injections, a local anaesthetic cream can help to make the procedure more comfortable. A good Medical Training with a young or vet-inexperienced dog can help to avoid fear in the first place. On the veterinarian’s side, it might make sense to postpone a treatment – not everything always has to be done right away. This can help to prevent the fear of going to the vet from increasing and you can avoid "creating" a problem animal.
Medical Training is a way of learning and practicing medical procedures and helping to prevent anxiety. Of course, it is also used for patients who have already developed a fear – but it is better and easier if we prevent it. A first warning sign that Medical Training would be useful is, for example, if the owner is having a hard time applying eye or ear drops. If the dog is reluctant to allow this, it is advisable to take precautions to prevent them from becoming a fear-patient. This requires adequate training. It is best done by the practice staff as they have what’s required – both medical knowledge and the right surroundings.
In older dogs, but also in younger ones, we often see that aggressive, stressed behavior is caused by pain. It is very useful to be able to give an assessment of why the dog is behaving in this way and to be able to say what the cause could be from a medical point of view. Veterinary assistants also know specific procedures from working in the practice: How any given procedure is actually performed by the veterinarian, and not just any old way. They can then show the owners the actual procedure and provide them with the information they need.
There should be a sense of calm and there should be a fixed appointment. It shouldn’t be done alongside the practice, but either before or after office hours, or in a separate room. Different activities are practiced: For example, weighing and lying on the table, palpation and so on. Objects like a stethoscope or even the otoscope are brought in and explained. We often also present practice exercises to do at home. For example, the administration of eye or ear drops can be practiced at home. Of course, it makes sense to do this training not just once, but often. We are not talking about daily training for life, but rather establishing and positively connoting the practice environment in three to five appointments with an animal that has never been in the practice before.
Some practices offer so-called puppy parties. Here the dogs can simply get to know the environment "practice." Optimally, the event takes place several times, and you practice various things. For example, weighing, being touched while sitting on the table or even just sitting on it, examining the ears or similar exercises. If there are no such puppy parties or offers in the vicinity, you can also start practicing at home. There are also online seminars, for example our Sirius Seminars.
An underestimated approach is to simply arrange an initial check-up. This gives the dog and the owner the opportunity to get to know the situation without added pain and stress. If you go to the vet before your dog is in bad shape, you can avoid having unexpected problems. Of course, a completely unfamiliar environment can intensify these problems.
Fear is a viable protection to keep the body from harm. It is natural for the dog to show fear when faced with unfamiliar procedures at the doctor's office. With proper training and regular examinations, you can carry out medically necessary procedures. This takes pressure off staff, doctors and owners who all ultimately want the best for the animal.
