Vet. Does Our Pet Understand?

Padstow

Cocker hanging his head to one side last night.

Not the usual roll of glory this morning as to another brand new day.

Third Cocker so knew the signs. Seed in his ear.

Hour wait past appointment in the Vet due to emergency ops, nurse in tears.

Boy was getting so wound up, whimper, whimper. I soothed him by rubbing the muscles on his neck.

When the probe was put down his ears, he was having none of it and it took two of us to restrain this little Alligator, that's how it felt.

I wonder, how much do they understand? Do they trust us so, that when two of us are restraining him and a third is poking something down in their ear do they know we are helping them?

I feel for my boy as he is so tired after the wrestling today. Will he ever forgive me?:D

Going back tomorrow for yet another seed removal under anaesthetic.

Fire_Fox

They can sense both human and animal tension IMO.

Wellyboots6

They can definitely sense tension.

It was test day at Tyson's class yesterday and because the humans were nervous the dogs were playing up big time.

The minute the test was over and humans calmed down, the dogs did too!

Tyson now assumes when he goes to the vets he is going to have his skin looked at and so drops to the floor with his legs spread so they can see his 'itchy bits'. Only he does this to anyone who goes to stroke him!

pulliptears

One of the funniest things I ever saw was in my vets. A lady had gone in with a large white German Shepherd, he was a gorgeous dog. Some moments later she came out alone and a bit nervous and I overheard her tell the receptionist the dog had been taken in the back for a quick blood test.

Ten minutes later the door opened and the dog came out (dragging vet with him). He ran to the woman, buried his head in her lap and actually cried. It was hilarious, the dog howled with misery and it was only when the owner said it was ok and it was all over did he stop.
The entire waiting room was laughing at the sight.

So yes, that one certainly understood, and made sure his owner felt bloody guilty to boot

xcarlyx

My dog Sally (who sadly had to be put to sleep last month) she could always tell when I was upset and I could always cry when I saw her looking at me.

Wellyboots6

Padstow wrote: »

Will he ever forgive me?:D

Going back tomorrow for yet another seed removal under anaesthetic.

I'm sure he will forgive you. We always go for a walk round the park after the vets to make it all OK again

Fire_Fox

I get more stressed than my cats I think, so I am probably a liability. Both Noah and Lulu are biters tho neither ever drew blood, but I worry they will bite, have to be restrained and get upset .... My stress was made worse when Lulu first went with her ear mites and she DID NOT want them looked in AT ALL, then the vet handled her really badly.

POPPYOSCAR

No I do not think they understand we are trying to help them much like a young child really.

It is funny how they know though.

Our two cannot wait to jump into the car as a rule but not on the day we go to the vet, we have to pick them up and put them in!

pawsies

I would say as dogs learn by association that he probably has associated ear pain = vet.

Hope he feels better soon

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

No I do not think they understand we are trying to help them much like a young child really.

It is funny how they know though.

Our two cannot wait to jump into the car as a rule but not on the day we go to the vet, we have to pick them up and put them in!

I imagine you let off subtle cues that you may not even realise. Dogs are excellent visual learners. For example you might wear the same coat every time you go to the vets or you take the muzzle.

POPPYOSCAR

pawsies wrote: »

I would say as dogs learn by association that he probably has associated ear pain = vet.

Hope he feels better soon



I imagine you let off subtle cues that you may not even realise. Dogs are excellent visual learners. For example you might wear the same coat every time you go to the vets or you take the muzzle.

Possibly, but I only have one coat and no muzzle so nothing different that I can think of.

wondercollie

WonderCollie loves his trips to the vet! He holds court in the waiting room, plays with the smaller dogs, sniffs the cats and just flirts.

He treats his doctor with an air of we're all equals here, so get on with it. No whimpers, whining, or snapping.