With a Dog in the Clinic
Visiting the clinic with a pet is always very stressful, both for the owner and the dog. The owner worries because they don’t know what is happening to their beloved four-legged friend. The patient, on the other hand, not only feels discomfort due to illness but is also exposed to a huge number of new smells and close encounters with strangers or other dogs in an unfamiliar place.
We can and should do everything to make visits to the clinic as stress-free as possible for the animals. Many clinics are already positively inclined towards adaptation visits, which are introductory meetings. It’s worth having a few meetings with a new veterinarian in a new clinic when the dog is healthy.
I am a veterinarian. I am constantly driven by the mission to help and treat animals. I understand the anxiety that accompanies visits to the clinic. I am convinced that good cooperation will help in the diagnostic process and later in treating the animal.
Below I present some tips on how to prepare for a visit with your pet to minimize stress and help the veterinarian in their work.
How to Reduce Stress During a Visit to the Veterinary Clinic?
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First: don’t panic! I am a dog owner myself and know how stressful it is when something is wrong with your pet. Unfortunately, panic in the veterinary clinic is not helpful because it can complicate the visit. Try to stay calm. Your stress will affect both the animal and the veterinarian. Raising your voice will not help. Remember that all procedures the doctor performs are aimed at making the right diagnosis and better helping your pet. Answer questions clearly and as precisely as you can. Remember, the animal cannot tell what is wrong, and even a small clue can be helpful to the doctor. Try not to rush your words like a machine gun; otherwise, the doctor might confuse important details. It’s best to write down the main symptoms on a piece of paper before the visit and discuss them one by one with the doctor. If any tests were recently done, bring the results with you.
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Wait until the doctor calls you. The waiting room in a veterinary clinic works like a human doctor’s waiting room. Try not to peek into the office when the door is closed. There may be a very frightened or stressed animal inside. An important examination might be in progress. After finishing, the doctor will definitely invite you in.
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Keep your distance from other clients and their animals in the waiting room.
Always ask other owners if your dog can greet another patient. Stressed animals often show unexpected behaviors that even their own owners might not predict. Remember that dogs in the waiting room are usually sick, weak, and may not want contact with other members of their species. -
Remember to clean up after your dog. It’s obvious that a sick or young dog might have an accident. No one will blame you for that. If your dog makes a mess in the waiting room, ask for paper towels and clean up after your dog.
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You can arrange the appointment time in advance.
If you know your pet is more fearful or gets very stressed at the vet, you can always call the clinic beforehand and book a specific time or simply ask when the clinic is less busy. This way, you will save your dog unnecessary stress related to waiting in the waiting room. -
Inform the doctor if you are afraid of blood, needles, or injections. The sight of blood or various procedures can be unpleasant for someone who is not used to it. Don’t be afraid to admit if you feel uncomfortable. The doctor will ask the technician to hold the animal, and you can step out to the waiting room or take a short walk. Some dogs cooperate better with the clinic staff if they don’t see their owner.
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If possible, leave children at home.
Taking children to the veterinary clinic is not the best idea. Some procedures performed in the clinic can be very traumatic for children. If possible, leave children at home or ask them to stay in the waiting room. Remember that in the era of Covid, the rule “less is better” also applies in veterinary clinics. There is no need for the whole family to come for deworming or nail trimming.
Summary
These are probably the most important rules I wanted to share with pet owners. Remember that good cooperation with the veterinarian is the key to curing your pet. Owners know the most about their pets and can observe them most of the time. The veterinarian’s task is to connect the dots into a logical whole and help the animal. By cooperating, we can achieve more.
Of course, we wish that dogs get sick as little as possible and that visits to the clinic are mostly for prevention. Good luck!
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