Preventing Your Dog From Becoming Aggressive At The Vet Clinic
The last time you took your dog to the veterinarian, it became aggressive and tried to bite. That was shocking because your pet had never shown signs of aggression before. What can you do to prevent another episode like this in the future?
Why Dogs Become Aggressive at the Vet Clinic
Many—perhaps most—dogs are afraid of going to the vet. They associate the clinic with painful shots, intrusive actions by strangers, and suspicious odors.
Even if your dog has been going to the same clinic for years, something may set the animal off unexpectedly. Perhaps the dog doesn’t see quite as well as it used to, perhaps another dog in the clinic has made it feel anxious, or maybe something had happened at home earlier in the day that made your pet feel anxious or scared.
Bring the Dog for Visits
One way to calm your dog’s anxiety is to bring it to the clinic for visits that don’t involve poking and prodding. Instead, the dog is greeted and petted by staff members and has a pleasant time.
Animal doctors are generally favorable toward bringing pets in without a medical appointment, although they may want you to set this up on a schedule. You might even see if you can lift your dog up on an exam table and pretend to do a physical checkup so it becomes more accustomed to this occurrence.
Ask whether the vet or the technicians are willing to give your dog treats during any appointments. Also, give your pet some special treats as soon as you get back into the vehicle. The dog learns to associate trips to the clinic with a tasty reward, which keeps it in a better frame of mind.
Other Methods for Taming Aggression
Some pet owners give their dog a mild tranquilizer before the appointment. Ask your vet whether this might be a good option if your dog is still reacting to the clinic with anxiety or fear after several “fun” visits.
You may muzzle your dog when going to the clinic, although that doesn’t address the underlying behavior. It may be unavoidable, however, if the dog continues to react by snapping at people.
Concluding Thoughts
It’s important to get your pet’s aggression under control before a more unfortunate incident occurs at the clinic. As the dog ages, it may need more frequent veterinary attention, and you don’t want to deal with growling, snapping, and biting every time you go to the facility. Try bringing your dog to the clinic, such as 1st Pet Veterinary Centers – Chandler, several times over this upcoming year and see whether this calms the anxiety.
