Stress-Free Veterinary Visits - Tips for Dog Owners

Many dogs get stressed when they have to go to the vet; some resist entering the practice with all their might, and some can only be examined with a muzzle because they refuse to be touched out of sheer panic. We have a few tips on how to prepare your furry friends for a vet visit from the very beginning, and what you can do if your dog has already had bad experiences.

Puppy Training

Already as a puppy – ideally with the breeder – a dog should learn that it's normal to be touched all over its body and paws, and that a quick look into its mouth and ears is nothing to be afraid of. So, start practicing these manipulations at home with your very young puppy. In a good puppy playgroup, you'll be shown how to do this training yourself, and your puppy will also have the opportunity to practice being touched by a stranger.

The First Vet Visit

Soon after your puppy has moved in with you, it's time for their vaccination at the vet. Try to make this visit a great experience for your puppy! Be punctual at the practice so you're not stressed yourself, but also not too early so you don't have to wait too long. Bring a toy and a few treats to make the waiting time fun and pleasant. The examination and vaccination are usually not a problem for a small dog, and both the vet and the entire practice staff will gladly reward the puppy with kind words and treats.

Not every puppy behaves the same way – if you have a cautious puppy who is anxious in unfamiliar situations and reserved with strangers, it might be helpful to arrange a 'practice appointment' even before the actual vaccination date. During this, the puppy gets to explore everything, might be briefly lifted onto the table, but should only have positive experiences. Perhaps there will even be a treat or two from the vet, and suddenly the practice and waiting room won't seem half as bad. This way, a positive association with the vet can be built early on for puppies.

Medical Training for Dogs

If your dog has already had bad experiences or reacts with fear or aggression to vet examinations, a so-called 'Medical Training' can provide a solution. In this training, the dog is taught behaviors in small steps and short training sessions, but with a lot of positive reinforcement, which are helpful during medical examinations or daily care. They learn to tolerate these situations calmly and stress-free, and can even associate them positively over time. Especially at the beginning of the training, it's advisable to seek the help of a professional dog trainer to practice the timing of reward signals and create an individual training plan.

The following situations should primarily be practiced:

• Being touched all over the body
• Having ears examined
• Having eyes examined
• Opening mouth and lifting lips
• Having paws held and examined
• Lying calmly on their side
• Getting used to a muzzle
• Being lifted onto the table

This training not only makes the dog more relaxed, but it also helps the owner stay calm and thus give their dog additional security. Once the exercises are solid, this training can also be conducted in the vet practice by arrangement, without the dog having an actual examination appointment with the vet.

Further Tips for Relaxation at the Vet Practice:

• Bring your own blanket! In both the waiting room and on the examination table, the familiar scent helps your dog to calm down.
• Additional comfort can be provided with various pheromones or natural complementary food.
• If your dog might bite out of fear, practice putting on and wearing a muzzle, and put it on before arriving at the practice.

Further Reading:
“Medical Training for Dogs”, Anna Oblasser-Mirtl, Barbara Glatz, Cadmos Verlag

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