You must take your dog to the vet. It’s a non-negotiable part of owning a pet as it helps you monitor their health and get any important injections, etc. At the same time, it’s something we always put off, mainly because our dogs hate going. They’re terrified and anxious about visiting the vet – is there anything you can do to reverse this and calm them down?
Yes! There are a couple of things you can do to help your dog get over its fear of the vet. Some of these are short-term fixes while others focus on long-term solutions. You’ll find a few in this guide to help you get started.
Reward their behavior
Give your dog a reason to enjoy going to the vet’s office by rewarding their behavior. The secret is rewarding them during different stages of the visit:
- They get a reward for hopping in the car with you
- They get a reward when you get to the vet’s office
- They get a reward after the visit
This helps them develop positive responses to vet visits as they know they’ll get some sort of reward. Make the final reward a big one – it should be something truly special that gets your dog’s tail wagging like crazy. It’s a reward saved for special occasions, meaning they might start looking forward to seeing the vet!
Give them calming treats before going
You might see this as a short-term fix as it doesn’t do anything to help with your dog’s general fears. Calming them down with dog calming chews means they’ll be more relaxed before the visit. They might not realize they’re going to the vet and can spend the whole time sleeping until they’re there. It’ll be easier for the vet to check them over, but this won’t magically cure their fears.
It’s something to try as the other tips slowly begin working over time. It’s also a smart option if your dog is super anxious or scared one day – or if they’re visiting the vet for the first time.
Desensitize them to the vet
The concept is desensitization is a big one in the dog training world. It’s something pet parents need to be aware of as it helps you train your dog to do or accept many things. Your goal is to desensitize your dog to the vet’s office. In other words, you make it so they’re no longer scared of the place, nor do they associate it with negative feelings.
Most dogs are terrified of the vet because strange things happen to them when they’re there. They’re poked and prodded, often injected with things, etc. If you make frequent trips to the vet – even when your dog doesn’t need a checkup – it gets them used to the place. Pop in to say hello, then go home. You could even arrange a simple checkup with the vet where they don’t do much to your dog. Things like this bring your puppy into the vet’s office and they learn it’s not a bad place at all. When the real appointments come around, they’ll be more willing to go.
Dogs will be scared of vets, but that’s one of the quirks of having an animal as a friend. You can help them overcome this anxiety with a few simple tips and tricks.
