The first visit to the veterinarian: what to do so that the puppy is not afraid?
It happens that the first trip to the veterinarian becomes so frightening for a puppy that it instills in him a reluctance to cross the threshold of a veterinary clinic for life. However, this cannot be avoided. Is there anything that can be done so that the first visit to the vet does not become an injury for the puppy?
First Vet Visit with Puppy: 5 Tips
- Stock up on everything you need in advance. Prepare wipes to clean up after the puppy if necessary, take the baby’s favorite toy, delicious treats and drinking water.
- As a rule, the owner is very nervous himself, and his anxiety is transferred to the puppy. The advice “don’t worry” sounds silly, but it’s worth taking care of your own mental comfort in advance (and then you know better what exactly calms you down). Perhaps it would be helpful to ask someone close to accompany you? Either way, don’t forget to breathe.
- Treat the puppy, talk to him affectionately (but not in a trembling voice), play. This will help him get distracted and enjoy waiting for an appointment.
- Let the puppy get comfortable in the office, sniff everything that is there, meet the veterinarian. It’s great if the veterinarian treats the puppy with a treat that you have in store.
- If you have an injection, you should treat the puppy at this moment. Most likely, in this case, the puppy will not notice the injection, or, in any case, will not go in cycles in it.
If the first visits to the veterinarian go smoothly and the dog associates not with pain, but with pleasant sensations, it is likely that in the future he will be more willing to go there.
