Not all dogs like visiting a vet. The strange smells, poking, jabs, and unfamiliarity of the veterinary clinic can make the dogs anxious. This also bothers the owners of the dogs as well. Fortunately, you can cure dogs’ anxiety by adopting simple strategies.
In this blog, you will see those highly useful strategies to train your dog to be calm at the vet. So let us get started,
Taking your dogs to the vet from puppyhood helps prevent anxiety a lot. Pay a visit to the vet, even if it’s just to give a quick hello to the staff. Expose them to the clinic’s surroundings and let them get used to it. This will help them build positive associations with the clinic.
Teach your dogs basic commands like sit, come, stay, etc. at home. Then, practise these commands at various locations to make them distract at will. This method tremendously helps the owners calm their pets when they are in the vet’s office.
Handle your dogs at home regularly to desensitise them to being touched. Gently touch their paws, ears, mouth, etc and reward them each time they stay calm. This will help reduce dog anxiety whenever you take them to the vet.
Consider using calming tablets, which can help keep your dogs calm during the visit. However, take the advice from the vet before you feed them the supplements, as they will tell you about the dosage you need to administer.
Visit the Vet Outside Appointment Date
Take your dogs to the vet’s office outside of the appointment date to let them explore the surroundings. Allow them to roam in the exam room and interact with the staff. Reward them with some delicious treats if they keep quiet and follow your commands.
In general, dogs’ emotions are in sync with their owners. Hence, it is important that you, as an owner, be calm and composed during the whole vet visit. Speak to your dog in a soothing manner, keep a relaxed posture, and avoid being harsh to the dog.
During the vet visit, reward your dogs each time they stay calm and cooperative. Use treats and praise, and give them a nice petting when you are in the pet clinic. This will help your dogs link vet visits with positive experiences.
In Short,
Visiting the vet doesn’t have to be a stressful experience for you or your dog. These seven tips can help your dogs stay calm during your next vet visit. Remember to be patient and calm yourself so that you can better manage your dogs. With time and consistency, your pups will associate vet visits with positive experiences and feel more comfortable during their next appointment with the vet.
