How to wean a dog from being afraid of going to the vet?

Why are dogs afraid of veterinarians?

Visiting a clinic for a dog is associated with many incomprehensible and unpleasant things. New frightening smells and sounds, other frightened animals in line, a stranger who holds the dog by force and performs some unpleasant manipulations – gives an injection, draws blood, etc. Of course, for a dog this is a very nervous experience that he does not want repeat.

How to rid a dog of this fear?

The good news is that this fear can be overcome with enough time and effort. It may not be possible to completely get rid of it, but you can definitely reduce the level of stress that your dog experiences.

If the methods suggested below do not help your pet, then you should seek the advice of a zoopsychologist who will tell you what is best to do in your particular case.

Home workout

Visits to the veterinarian are part of the scare of your pet because he is not used to how he is treated during the examination. Try to teach him to do this at home: check the dog’s ears and teeth every day, hold him during this process. Simulate an examination at the veterinarian at home, praise your pet for good behavior so that he is not afraid of a real examination in the clinic.

Praise your dog and don’t force it

While visiting the clinic, constantly encourage the dog, give him treats and praise him. Do not scold her if she does not want to go to the office and resists, do not drag her there by force, try to lure her there with cunning, let goodies come into play again, but not your screams and strength.

Soothing medicines

If your pet is so afraid of the veterinarian that his behavior is generally impossible to control, then consult with a doctor – he may prescribe a medicine for your dog that will help relieve stress. But just be sure to talk about it with a specialist, do not self-medicate!

Consult online or call a doctor at home

A face-to-face visit to the clinic is not always required. If you just need a consultation with a specialist and the case is simple, you should not stress the dog and take it to the clinic right away. You can consult with a veterinarian online in the Petstory mobile app, and the doctor will tell you what to do next, whether you need to take your pet to the clinic, etc. You can download the app link. The first consultation costs only 199 rubles!

You can also call a doctor at home – so the dog will definitely be calmer. Of course, not in all cases, the veterinarian will be able to help at home, sometimes equipment is required that is only available in the clinic, but for simple examinations this option may be suitable.

25 September 2020

Updated: September 30, 2020