Posted by Do you have the the feeling, your dog is traumatized after Vet? Fear of going to the vet is a common form of trauma in dogs (dog trauma symptoms). Even the most social and happy dog will become uneasy and tuck his tail on the sight of the vet’s office.
While your beloved Fido won’t be very fond of his visits to the vet, although necessary. There are a few steps you can take to ease his nerves after this vet.
But first, let us look at why dogs fear the vet and a few ways to stop this fear.
Why do Dogs get Traumatized after Vet Visit?
Some of the most common reasons, why dogs are terrorized of going to the vet are
- Just think for a moment, the second your dog walks in through the doors, he is overwhelmed by strange smells and sounds.
- Second is he will see other strange pets and people around that will elevate his anxiety level
- Next comes the checkup part, your vet and his technician will restrain your Fido so that they can give a thorough examination. Possibly for drawing blood or administering a vaccine.
If the dog is already sick or injured all these things are extremely unpleasant. So it is fair to say that this will make for a very traumatic experience for your dog.
Ways to Prevent the Trauma
The good news is that with some training your dog can overcome his fear of the vet. But it needs time and effort on your end.
Even if this fear isn’t completely overcome, it is possible to reduce a lot of your dog’s anxiety.
Here I have listed a few of these approaches, but remember that it depends upon how severe the dog’s anxiety is. As you might need professional help as well
- Simutalte Vet Checkups at Home
- Visit the Vet’s Office Socially
- Medications for Anxiety
- Use a Muzzle if necessary
- Find a Vet Who Makes House Calls
How to Help a Dog Traumatized after Vet Visit?
If your beloved Fido has a history of trauma, then here are some guidelines that might ease his nerves.
1. Let The Dog Decide What is Traumatizing
While most dog owners might not consider a simple nail trim that traumatizing. Your dog may have a different opinion.
You should observe your dog’s body language for any signs of stress once he returns from the vet. Signs to watch out for are excessive yawning, freezing, abrupt change in movement, licking of his lips, etc. All these show that Fido might be traumatized and need your help.
These issues can’t just be pushed under the rug and hoping everything is fine. As they will create new triggers in a dog making them highly unstable.
2. Create safe zones for your Dog
Mat training is so crucial in helping to create a safe zone for your dog. Mats are usually associated with positive reinforcement, as it is used to give treats, massages, and relaxations.
This is a very basic training tool but to a traumatized puppy it is associated with positive emotional responses.
So once you make the Mat a safe place, make sure that nothing bad happens on it as far as your dog is concerned.
Similar to mats, you can create other safe zones as well where there is no pressure on the dog and only happy thoughts.
3. Give your dog options
A dog that has no choices or options will get traumatized quicker. Create some opportunities for your dog so that he can choose about his environment, routine, and other needs as much as possible.
It could as simple as letting your dog decide where to turn when going for a walk or which paw to put forward while getting a trim. Also, give your dog options on sleeping on several beds
Choices are critical when you are trying to take care of a traumatized pup.
4. Make an effort to end on a good note
This is the most important point as research suggests that dogs have the same cognitive recall abilities as us humans. So if we have a bad experience and end that experience on a good note, we have some positive recollection of it.
So try to make the last few minutes of your dogs visit the vet as pleasant as possible. Try by giving your dog a choice of which paw he wants to trim and end it by giving him a lot of praise and positive reinforcement.
Conclusion on “Dog Traumatized After Vet”
You need to realize that your dog won’t instantly get over being fearful of the vet no matter what steps you take, so practice patience.
Consult your vet for help with this situation. The vet and her staff sincerely want to help you and your beloved Fido, but communication is essential.