My Dog Hates My Vet

. . . well, my first dog hated the visit, anyway, and I wouldn’t be surprised if one or more of your dogs feel the same way. Shadow-Pup loved his veterinarian (but our wonderful doctor recently passed away) so we’ve got a new learning curve in the weeks and months ahead.

Really, any kind of angst can get a dog’s tail in a twist. Read this post on why the vet takes your pet to the back.

We want to provide the best care possible for our beloved dogs, but what do you do when your dog becomes a howling mess at the vet? Fearful dogs visit veterinarians less often because their owners hate to see them upset and afraid of the carrier, car ride, and stranger handling.

Cats are even worse patients than dogs are. That’s why I wrote the Quick Tips Guide for cats and now have released a companion Quick Tips booklet especially for dog lovers.

VETS & FEAR: BAD FOR DOGS & CATS

My first German Shepherd turned into a puddle of trembling fur at mention of a car ride. He’d cry and shiver during the drive to the boarding kennel or the veterinarian, and then slunk around like he’d been beaten and expected worse. He suffered excruciating skin allergies that required a LOT of time at the vets. Those were the days pets had to shut up and put up with less than gentle handling, and it wasn’t a happy time.

Once I started working as a vet tech, things got better for my dog. He still hated the car ride, but started to enjoy spending time at the vet (because DUH! he hung out with me and got treats and sniffs of other pets). Gosh, he loved meeting other pets. My boy was the reason I became a pet writer….but that’s another story. *sniff*

Much later, of course, after he’d gone on to Rainbow Bridge, we adopted Seren-Kitty. In a memorable episode that will live in infamy, Seren was diagnosed with a potentially devastating illness — BECAUSE OF STRESS AT THE VET! Yes, her tests came back as a false-positive and for several days, I was a basket case. I was anguished not only by the diagnosis, but by how Seren was handled that elevated her angst. *shudder* No, you’ll have to read the gruesome details in the cat version of the MY CAT HATES MY VET! quick Tips Guide. I know that experience worsened her expectations of vets.

FEAR FREE PETS RULE!

Anyway, as a result of those experiences with my own fur-kids (and hearing from YOU through the years), imagine my delighted at the advent of veterinarians advocating for Fear Free Veterinary Visits. The cat version really struck a chord, and so now I’m pleased to offer the canine version. It’s a fast read, barely 50 pages, but packed full of how-to tips for helping to overcome doggy dread and get the veterinary care needed. Hey, your veterinarian will appreciate you, too!

Here are the details:

“Amy has been educating and advocating for kinder, gentler dog and cat handling procedures for decades. This powerful booklet is like canine Cliff Notes for pet parents and their dog’s emotional well-being. It contains proven techniques, practical methods, and is filled with passion. I’m going to recommend this book for all my dog owning clients.” —Dr. Marty Becker, America’s Veterinarian and the father of the Fear Free veterinary visit movement

HALT THE HOWLS!

MY DOG HATES MY VET! packs prescriptive advice into a short how-to guide that offers step-by-step instructions to help your dogs learn to LOVE the vet, accept the carrier, and tolerate car rides–and get the medical care they need and deserve. This is your definitive guide for foiling canine fear. From one of America’s best known pet care authorities, you’ll learn:

•7 Reasons Dogs HATE The Vet
•19 Ways to Soothe Fear
•Best Carriers & 8 Crate Training Tips
•7 Calming Car Ride Techniques
•5 Ways to Soothe Car Sickness
•How to Choose the Best Veterinarian
•What are Fear Free Clinics
•Ways to Stop Aggression After Vet Visits

With a fun conversational tone and easy proven techniques, MY DOG HATES MY VET! helps ensure your loving bond remains strong and intact.

YOUR TURN!

So…does YOUR dog hate the vet? Are you ready to continue 2017 off on the right “paw” for your pets? I hope so! I’m doing things sooo much better with Magical-Dawg (and the cats are better, too). Bless the veterinarians making a difference, but us pet parents gotta do our part, too!