Tips to keep your dog calm at the vet
Like humans who do not like to go to the dentist, rare are the dogs who appreciate going to the vet! So that your dog's next visit goes without stress, here are some simple tips!
But first, why are dogs so fearful when they have to walk through the door of a veterinary practice? The fault, in part, of smells , which are absolutely unfamiliar to them.
If your 4-legged companion is scared, it's also because the places are totally unknown to him . If he has already come to the place, it does not mean that he will feel more comfortable. He had to undergo painful care or vaccines during his previous visit? He can therefore assimilate it to bad times.
Being in the hands of the veterinarian is also not synonymous with pleasure. He will touch him some sensitive places of his body, like his paws, his ears, or his tail.
Some tips
Be relaxed: if you are stressed, your ball of hair will feel it and become it in turn. You must not display any signs of panic , so as not to communicate. Talk to him as usual, and do not caress him excessively as this may increase his anxiety.
As explained earlier in this article, dogs do not like touching certain parts of their body . To avoid this, you must get used to touching these areas. If you adopt him when he is already an adult, you can get used to him during sessions mixing games and cuddles. During these, you will be careful to spend your hands on these sensitive places. If he shows no resistance, and lets himself be palpated in all directions, reward him with a treat!
When visiting the veterinary clinic, do not get too far in advance . At most the time spent in the waiting room will be long, the more stress will rise. If the wait was still long, consider bringing with you a small toy with which you can occupy your faithful friend. He will be entertained during these (long) minutes.
Before any visit, have him take a walk, let him run, play with him, ... The goal is that he spends a maximum so that he can reach the doctor tired, and therefore calmer.
A visit to the veterinary clinic must also be equated with something normal . For this, you must bring your dog regularly. Of course, you are not going to give him treatments or vaccinations every 15 days. On the other hand, you can go there regularly, without any particular reason. So take advantage of this passage to ask for it to be weighed, or simply to buy some medical treatments or food . In this way, he will be used to going there, and will no longer associate his passage in the premises with a traumatic event.
A natural method , such as Bach flowers (composed of more than thirty species of flowers), can also be considered. Before using, however, contact your veterinarian to see if this treatment is indicated for your dog.
>> Do you have a cat? Discover also our tips to facilitate its transport to the vet!