It’s not unusual for dogs to get spooked by a vet visit. However, putting off vet visits does a disservice to your fur baby, as it gives them fewer opportunities to become familiar with the vet set. In addition, getting used to being handled by a vet makes it less likely that they’ll have a traumatic experience when an emergency or severe illness occurs. So, how do you make challenging trips more manageable? Test our recommendations below for taking the scary out of vet visits! 1. Bring your pup to the vet early in their life with anything new and unfamiliar. The earlier a dog can get used to going to the vet, the more likely they are too happy visitations in later years. Let your pup get used to being handled by a Vet Assistant at least once before bringing them back for an appointment. Speaking of charges: make sure you schedule one for at least three weeks before your pup’s next visit so that they can get used to treatment regularly and begin learning what is expected of them in those settings. If you want extra help getting your dog comfortable during their first appointment, bring them back to your home for a trial before bringing them in. Bringing your dog to the vet is the first step, but remember to consider what they may need at home before heading in. Make sure your pup has comfortable bedding and can access food, water, and a potty area with enough room for them to move around. Having lots of toys nearby that they can explore while you wait will also help give them something else to do while they wait.
Stick to Routines
Whether or not it’s going potty or taking a walk, maintain your usual routines. Routines aren’t just about ticking off boxes on your doggo’s to-do list. They help our canine companions feel safe and secure. Sticking to routines reassures your pup that the vet visit doesn’t get in the way of their needs or creature comforts! Give your dog plenty of exercises. The best way to help a struggling pup is with lots of activities, and it’s also good for your dog! Take them on walks a minimum of two times an afternoon. Let them run, play and explore their yard without a leash when you go for a walk. Take time for games like fetch and frisbee (while the weather allows) or using bubbles as rolling balls. Exercise helps a lot of things, including socialization and weight management. Please keep your dog occupied with lots of practice and fun instead of forcing them into submission. These are just a few ways to help your pup feel more comfortable at the vet! Treats are great for healing, but try to keep them limited to special occasions. Treats are great, especially when stuffed with healing ingredients like probiotics and antioxidants. But a common pitfall many of us fall into is over-feeding our dogs during visits to the vet. It’s easy to give your pup a few extra treats — especially if you know that your dog is struggling–but try to keep them in check! Keep an eye on their weight, so you don’t encourage chronic overeating or obesity. For those extra treats, use them as motivation to play a game or take your pup on a walk.
Utilize a Vet Telehealth Service
Telehealth services like AskVet are ideal for non-urgent problems and dogs who get overly anxious about vet visits. Checking in with a certified vet remotely lets you deal with your concerns without the pressure of dragging your dog to the vet. Not only will your fur baby appreciate it, but you’ll have saved some precious time, too! “I think the first step is to change the narrative that veterinary medicine is only for emergencies because much of what we do can be done remotely, and there are a lot of non-emergency options as well,” says Dr. Amanda Storch, MSN, DACVECC, VMD at Collinwood Animal Hospital in Cleveland. “we try to ensure that human beings take into account that our work hours are not only for emergencies—we want human beings too are available once they need us.” in addition to being stress-relieving for pet parents and less invasive for pets, telehealth also helps extend the life of older pets. According to a recent New York Times article, there is currently a national shortage of veterinary surgeons and other vets, leading to an increase in the number of senior pets seeking care. The report also points out that aging pets are more expensive for veterinarians because they require more medical attention than younger patients. This cost difference can be significant over time. The article also highlights how pet owners are trying to cut costs, such as reducing or eliminating their pets’ regular vet visits or dealing with medical issues independently. Pet owners need to know that if they choose to take care of all of their vet visits, illnesses, and treatments on their own, they should make sure they understand what each procedure entails and perform any necessary follow-up themselves so that complications don’t arise down the line. Pet owners must know that if they choose to take care of their vet visits, illnesses, and treatments on their own, they should make sure they understand what each procedure entails and perform any necessary follow-up themselves so that complications don’t arise on the line.
Use Treats and Praise
If you have to make an in-person trip to the vet, treats and praise help your doggo create positive associations with the dreaded visit. Offer plenty of praise and treats before and after to acknowledge their braveness! A calming treat can provide added benefits when dealing with an incredibly nervous pooch. Check out these posts for tips on making your dog feel more at ease: What are some calming treats? Calming food or drink: Grapes, cucumbers, cantaloupe, boiled chicken, vanilla ice cream, a cold, wet towel, peppermint tea. Check out these posts for tips on making your dog feel more at ease: What are some calming treats? Calming food or drink: Grapes, cucumbers, cantaloupe, boiled chicken, vanilla ice cream, a cold, wet towel, peppermint that you do have to make an in-person trip to the vet, treats and praise assist your doggo in creating advantageous associations with the scary go to. Provide plenty of rewards and treats before and after to know their braveness well! A calming treat can provide added benefits if they’re feeling anxious. For example, if your pet is anxious during vet visits, try offering cucumbers and grapes. Grapes are like a calming stimulant that slows the release of neurotransmitters in the brain and enables them to relax. What are some calming treats? Calming food or drink: Grapes, cucumbers, cantaloupe, boiled chicken, vanilla ice cream, a cold, wet towel, peppermint that you do have to make an in-person trip to the vet, treats and reward assist your doggo to create beautiful associations with the scary go to. Offer plenty of praise and treats as soon as your pet enters the car and every time they sit or lie down, as well as after they’ve been in the exam room.
Enlist Calming Tools
Further to calming treats, pheromone sprays and wraps like ThunderShirts can make vet visits less demanding. Pheromone sprays are a simple and convenient method when a dog is so stressed that they lose its appetite and refuse treats or becomes stubborn about putting on a pressure wrap. Several products on the market today can be used together safely to make stressful situations less anxiety-provoking. While some people are adamant that dogs should never be treated with medications, most holistic vets agree that it is lovely to give your dog a painkiller like ibuprofen or aspirin if they’ve had a stressful situation and the pain is severe enough. Medications like these can help reduce inflammation resulting from high cortisol levels in the blood and can help aid in healing. The typical veterinary visit for your pet shouldn’t be an anxiety-inducing event unless something goes wrong, like a traumatic accident or a sudden illness. Finding ways to make these visits more manageable for your dog, which may be experiencing stress related to their vet visit, is essential. The earlier you start, the better. Here are some things you can do to help prepare your dog for its vet visit:
1. Make the trip with others.
2. Schedule a play date or other outing with one of your pet sitters and bring them along to help distract Fido during their appointment. You could also use this time as bonding time with your dog before they head back into their usual routine.
3. Schedule an hour or two before leaving home so the drive is a smooth experience. If you know that your work schedule will be particularly hectic in the days leading up to the weekend, plan your trip accordingly, and give yourself the best chance of a more relaxed break.
If you’re feeling motivated and have a lot of time to spare, you can always make a day trip out to the country. It could be as short as half an hour or as long as an hour-and-a-half away from home for work. The destination doesn’t need to be anything in particular – there are plenty of beautiful places around!
Go to the Vet Regularly
It’s easier to get used to matters that happen notably frequently. At a minimum, entering for annual take-a-look at-u.s.a.from a younger age can help your puppy get acquainted with the every-year journey. Staying on the pinnacle of appointments is only sometimes proper for your doggo’s well-being. They assist save you from essential illnesses, which minimizes the probability of future challenging or annoying vet visits.
Staying on the pinnacle of your canine’s wellness can feel overwhelming. However, it’s essential for preserving them happy and healthful ultimately. DoggieLawn’s partnership with AskVet offers admission to an invaluable telehealth carrier for the contemporary pet who needs a convenient but dependable opportunity to the conventional vet visit. Asked affords 24/7 get entry to consults with certified vets, and no appointments are essential. To take advantage of this distinctive provides, you must sign on for a DoggieLawn subscription. Check out this web page for excellent information on how to get unfastened months of AskVet. We can’t wait to join you on your pup’s wellness adventure!
