How does a dog know it needs to fear the vet when they have never been before?

Ravenwood

Ravenwood

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 November 2005
Messages
11,196
Location
Devon
Visit site
Poor little Rosie went for her first jab this morning :( Poor little mite!

We put her on the table and she stood there shaking, cowering, head down, tail tucked in and about 6 inches smaller......awwwww.

She was so nervous that we decided not to microchip her today - there is no hurry yet anyway.

But why was she so terrified when she has never been to a vets before? Had Flyn prewarned her when we turned into the car park. Had he been telling her gruesome horror stories to wind her up and frighten her?

When we brought her home that first evening she never showed any such signs of worry - its no wonder dogs hate the vets!! And the girl we had today was so nice aswell!
 
Well I know there's such a thing as the smell of fear so maybe all the dogs who have gone before have left little whiffs of fear, and dogs have such a sensitive sense of smell. Just a thought.
 
Quite possibly true brightmount.

I am very a familiar face at our vets (unfortunately!!) so when we go in we are always happy, chatting and catching up as I know them all so well, so I don't think we conveyed any nervousness over to her.
 
None of the dogs who belong to people who work their mind the main areas at all, but most of them have learned to associate being on the table/in the treatment room as being a bad sign.

I don't know if your vets run puppy parties - OH's practice does and it's basically an opportunity for the puppies to meet other puppies at the vets and play together - socialisation and associating the vets with fun other dogs. The practice dogs don't last long at puppy parties - even the small ones are so much more confident than the others, so maybe get to go to the second one for a short while before they get too boisterous...
 
CC - thats a good idea - it was really upsetting to see her so frightened.

Wishful - no, they don't hold puppy parties but that sounds like a great idea :) Actually I was horrified when a very elderly spaniel came in coughing! I got my son to hold her into him tight! If I had a dog that was coughing I would have left it in the car until it was out turn - luckily we were next though.
 
i agree puppy parties at the vets are great. my collie cross went to them and loves going to the vet, even though she has vaccinations , has been spayed and had TWO staples put in her paw when she had a very deep cut....she was quite happy to go in to the vets to have the staples out. perhaps she's just a bit dim!!!!!!
 
Of course you are a regular at the vets RW, you own a spangle:D

It might be as simple as the unusual smells like disinfectant etc - that could be enough to upset a sensitive type. You could always ask your vet if you can pop in at quiet times with her, just to sit in the waiting room until she relaxes?

Henry ALWAYS gets sweeties off the vet and big cuddles and fuss, he hauls my arm off to get in there. He was very upset the other day when I left him in the car to pop in and get him some wormers :rolleyes:
 
Strange isn't it?

Although the place probably has an odd whiff about it, and Tink never likes being up high anywhere, so dislikes the table. And being in a tiled room in close proximity to other dogs/cats/rabbits, blows her little mind I think.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top