A visit to the vet may not be your dog’s favorite activity, but it’s an important one. If your dog dislikes vet visits, there are some things you can do to make the experience less stressful for both of you. Here’s how to help your dog prepare for a trip to the vet.
Socialize your dog early on
If the thought of leaving your home and meeting new people makes your pet tremble, you need to help him overcome this by socialization. Take your pet with you when you run errands, or even take him for a friendly visit to your local vet’s office just to say “hi.” If your dog seems to enjoy the dog park, take him there, or better yet allow him to have play dates with dogs known to you. This will help your dog feel more relaxed when you have to go for a checkup or medical visit. It will also help your dog associate the vet’s office with happy memories instead of scary ones.
Burn off your pet’s energy
Before a trip to the vet, take a trip outside and play with your pet. A rousing game of fetch, a nice long walk, or a rousing game of ‘find the treat’ will help your pet burn off excess energy and produce a calmer dog when it’s time to head to the vet’s office.
Keep calm
Try to avoid stressful situations for your dog before a trip to the vet. If you’re calm, he’ll sense that and stay calm, too. As pack leader, your dog will look to you to decide if a situation is worth stressing over. Keep a calm, cool outlook before and during the vet visit and your dog will know there’s nothing to worry about.
Leave early
Rushing to make it to your vet visit on time will put you and your pet on edge. Give yourself plenty of time to get your pet into the car, properly restrained, and to get to the vet’s office before your appointment time. Once you’re there, keep your pet away from the other animals (unless he’s happy around other pets) to avoid stress or confrontations.
Let the friendly staff at Bark Busters help you with your dog training or pet care needs.