Veterinary Visits

Whether it's a routine visit or something more urgent, every dog needs to visit the vet at certain times in it's life.  You can make this visit easier on everyone if you follow a few guidelines, and teach your dog what will be expected.

• You'd think this would be a given, but at a clinic where I recently worked, seeming bright people would actually bring their dogs in off-leash.  OK, here's a news flash.  Your dog may love every dog it meets.  Not every dog does.  Luckily, if you're in a vet clinic and your dog is attacked due to your own lack of common sense, emergency help couldn't be closer!  Not only that, but many dogs at a clinic are there because they're sick.  Do you really want your dog sniffing noses or other anatomy with a sick dog?
• Speaking of leashes, leave the flexi-lead at home.  This is not the place for them.  Bring your dog into the clinic on a standard 5' or 6' leash.  If someone other than you needs to restrain your dog, a regular leash is much easier to handle, and you don't need the length a flexi-lead offers in a clinic setting.
• And, of course, your dog will have a collar on.  Make sure it's a flat buckle collar, martingale, or head collar.  Leave the choke collars and, especially, pinch collars, at home.  I have nothing against pinch collars, to be honest I feel they're kinder than choke collars, but they make it very hard and uncomfortable to restrain a dog.  So be kind to your clinic's staff, and put your dog in an appropriate collar.
• If your dog is sick with a possibly communicable disease, leave it in the car (unless it's hot, in which case call from the car to let the clinic know you're there, or leave the car running with the AC on) while you go in and notify them of your arrival.  Many diseases are spread by air or direct contact.  Minimize the danger to other dogs by keeping your dog quarantined until the doctor is ready for it.
• Veterinary staff all appreciate the fact that not all dogs understand that they're there to help them.  If your dog has a tendency to get aggressive during visits, by all means - let the staff know before  they handle your dog.  They aren't going to dislike your dog because she dislikes them, but it makes it safer for all concerned.  If your dog only has issues with one area on its body, such as nails or ears, again, let the clinic staff know ahead of time.
• Unless you absolutely have to bring them, leave the kids at home.  It's not that we don't love them!  Not all dogs, though, are accustomed to kids.  Not all dogs feel very well and want to be greeted by a small, happy human.  Some dogs are in pain.  If you do bring your kids, talk to them ahead of time, give them rules:  stay by me, don't approach the other pets, no yelling.  The goal isn't to scare them, it's to make them understand that they need to respect a pet who may be nervous or ill, and treat it in an appropriate way.
• How to terrify a cat in one easy lesson:  While it's away from home, sitting in a small box at it's owner's feet, possibly not feeling well, let your dog walk up and sniff, or, heaven forbid, nose the crate, while you smile and tell the owner "My dog just loves cats."  Even if you hate cats, never allow this to happen!
• Teach your dog to "stand", and accustom it to having its body examined.  Pick up and play with his feet, look in his ears, hold his muzzle gently and look at his eyes.
• If your dog is out and about, going for walks, visiting the dog park, bring a fecal sample in regularly.  Internal parasites are easy to pick up, not so easy to get rid of.  It's not expensive to have a fecal check done, and is very important in keeping your dog at the peak of health.  And, by the way, only a small sample is needed.  An amount that will fit in a bottle cap is adequate!
• When you're gushing to the doctor about how wonderful he/she is, remember the rest of the staff:  the receptionist who cheerfully handles your calls and questions (and has control over the "hold" button), the kennel staff who keeps the clinic sparkling clean and also helps keep your pet clean and comfy, and the technician and/or assistant, who routinely reach into cages to treat dogs who are frequently less than cooperative, draw the blood and gather other samples, and spend the most "hands-on" time (including dishing out the love and attention your away-from-home pet needs).

Following these simple guidelines will make your vet clinic love having you and your dog as clients, and give them the incentive to go that extra mile when you need it.  It will also make your dog, and the other pets who are there for treatment, safe and comfortable.