A Trip To The Vet's Office


We'll be traveling over Labor Day Weekend, so the puppies will be staying at the day spa for a few days. Doesn't that sound so much nicer than "they'll be boarding at the vet's office"? I think so.

Before their spa treatments, they had to be up-to-date on all of their shots and records, which meant the yearly exam. When they were babies it was no big deal because we could push them around a little, but 60-pound dogs tend to throw their weight around.

This photo was taken in the five seconds that my girls weren't hiding underneath my chair. They are very outgoing girls - any other time except in the vet's office. They'll be the first ones to greet you at the door, unless you're wearing a white lab coat. They'd be happy to roll over and show you their belly, unless they're on a table three feet in the air when you ask.

No, these two dogs are very happy squeezed together underneath a foot-square plastic chair. There's apparently no need for shots or swabs or anything that removes dignity. Silly me, wanting to keep my girls healthy and happy.

So, the lessons learned from the day are:
* Wear your pets out completely before taking them to the vet's office. They'll be much more calm and possibly fall asleep underneath their hiding chair.

* Keep them on the leash until you get into the exam room. They don't need to interact with any other pets while in the waiting room. Don't forget that this is a doctor's office for animals - you have no idea why those other pets are there.

* And you might even want to keep the leash on in the exam room. That makes it easier to pull them out from under the chair, guide them onto the scales and even keep them from ripping the vet's leg off. You just never know.

* Be there in a support capacity only. The vet and his support staff work with many different animals every day and they can handle yours too. Unless they specifically ask for help, let them do their job without interference. Ask all the questions you want, but stay in the background.

* Have post-treatment treats on hand. Our vet is amazingly wonderful and pampers them himself before we leave. What a terrific idea to give them a happy experience after all the poking and prodding. If we could just skip over those parts and get to the treat, I doubt I'd have two black dogs hiding under my chair at all.

Comments

  1. Dana RongioneSeptember 1, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    My dogs are exactly the same way. My shepherd recently had to deal with several vet trips while tending to his injured paw. The first few times were difficult. The last few were nearly impossible. He dreaded each trip so much that I couldn't even bear to take him the last few times. My husband had to do it. I guess I can't blame him for not wanting to be poked and prodded.

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  2. LauraSeptember 1, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    Isn't it funny how we want to humanize every other aspect of their lives, but don't think they understand the vet's office? We took them back to the vet for boarding Wednesday and Bailey refused to leave the waiting room, to the point of sitting down and planting her feet. They're not stupid - they know exactly what's happening.

    Hope all is well with your dog now - I understand how traumatic it can be. Our dread builds up to their level very quickly.

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