Doggy chill pill needed

gettingtheresometime

Can anyone recommend a doggy chill pill that I can give to our 6 yr old beagle before he gives to the vet for his annual vaccinations?


He's OK in the waiting room but as soon as he goes into the examination room he's on his guard - the usual offering of treats that would normal be wolfed down are ignored and he sits in the farthest corner away from the vet. Giving him kennel cough usually involved three members of staff last year!

He won't let the vet do the normal examinations and tbh he won't let us look at his teeth generally so it's not a case of being vet wary.

Any tips would be much appreciated

krlyr

Vet can prescribe something if he's that bad, but do avoid ACP/Acepromazine if offered - it only sedates physically, not mentally, so can be traumatic for the dog, who is fully aware of his surroundings but unable to act on his fears.

There are lots of calming supplements on the market you could try though. Valerian and skullcup, for example, or Calmex (aimed for one-off situations, e.g. a car trip, vet visit, etc.)

Also, not quite the answer to your question, but I would suggest reading up on how necessarily (or not) annual vaccinations are.

ericsson68

We have a beagle and long term beagle experience. You'll know already that they are friendly but wary of strangers or 'incursions' to their personal space. Don't be afraid to muzzle your dog at the vets. It calms them down no end and the vet will be more than happy for you to do this. Kennel cough can be administered through any muzzle that enables access to the nostrils.

Another tip, beagles don't appear to like the examination table. My vet is great and will knell down to fuss ours and examine him on the floor, which he is fine with.

With regards the need to vaccinate. Lots of thought around on this but it remains a fact that no kennel can legally accept dogs without up-to-date shots (particularly kennel cough) and every insurance policy requires it too.

krlyr

ericsson68 wrote: »

With regards the need to vaccinate. Lots of thought around on this but it remains a fact that no kennel can legally accept dogs without up-to-date shots (particularly kennel cough) and every insurance policy requires it too.

Not true. Kennels are now allowed to accept titre testing at their discretion, and even before that, home-boarding is an alternative to kennels if you didn't want to vaccinate. Most insurance policies will only exclude vaccinatable conditions - i.e. you don't vaccinate for kennel cough, they won't cover any claims relating to kennel cough (or complications of it), but it won't void the whole policy (in most cases)

ericsson68

Without testing you DO have to demonstrate vaccination for Kennel cough. With testing yes your point is valid, but to state 'not true' isn't therefore correct.

Please let us have a list of policy providers who don't assert the need for blanket vaccination as this is something often discussed on numerous forums. Of the 11 underwriters I have had, all have stated a need to show annual vaccinations.

krlyr

ericsson68 wrote: »

Without testing you DO have to demonstrate vaccination for Kennel cough. With testing yes your point is valid, but to state 'not true' isn't therefore correct.

Please let us have a list of policy providers who don't assert the need for blanket vaccination as this is something often discussed on numerous forums. Of the 11 underwriters I have had, all have stated a need to show annual vaccinations.

But "not true" is correct. Your statement said "no kennel can legally accept dogs without up-to-date shots". Shots can be out of date but dog can test immune on titre test and therefore kennel can accept them.

NCI Pet Insurance:

You must keep your pet vaccinated against the following:
Dogs - Distemper,hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza and parvovirus. Cats - Feline infectious enteritis, feline leukaemia and cat flu. If you do not keep your pet vaccinated, we will not pay any claims that result from any of the above illnesses.

Pet Plan:

To be afforded coverage for the diseases listed below, you must keep your pet vaccinated at your expense, as recommended by your veterinarian. We will not reimburse you for any claims that result from or are related to any illness that is listed below that a veterinarian-recommended vaccine would have prevented.
Dogs:
i.
Canine distemper.
ii.
Canine adenovirus 2 (canine viral hepatitis).
iii.
Canine parainfluenza.
iv.
Canine parvovirus.
v. Leptospirosis.
vi. Rabies.
Cats:
i.
Feline viral rhinotracheitis.
ii.
Feline calicivirus.
iii.
Feline panleukopenia.
iv.
Feline leukemia virus.

John Lewis:

You must have your dog vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus; have your cat vaccinated against infectious enteritis, cat flu and feline leukaemia. If your pet is not vaccinated, we will not pay any claims that result from any of the above illnesses.

About to board a plane, but many insurers will simply exclude the conditions you could have vaccinated for, not void the whole policy.

gettingtheresometime

Ah thanks for your replies.


He's a really friendly dog but as Ericsson has rightly said he will only be cwtched on his terms. I never knew about the beagle's personal space thing - I just thought he was being a miserable so and so.


He doesn't like the examination table either and the vet is usually down on all fours as well!


Although he has been vaccinated last year, he hasn't had to go into a kennels for a while now due to our son being able to have him but that is going to be coming to an end soon.


I will try the calming tablets you've mentioned krlyr....I'm worried that because of his refusal to let the vet examine him he could be suffering from something that could be giving him pain and yet is easily treatable (not that I do think he is otherwise he'd be straight up the vets !)

sheramber

I have used two different kennels in different parts of the country and neither required kennel cough vaccination.
Both insist if you do vaccinate it is done no later than two weeks before coming into the kennels as dogs can be infectious for a period after being vaccinated.

Neither kennel have had any outbreak of kennel cough since introducing that protocol several years ago.

My dogs do not get routine vaccination for KC.

DigForVictory

My sister plies her one of her Labs with beer. He's usually an affectionate mutt anyway, but has a definite Bad Reaction to white tiles, so when he lapped up a spill after a barbeque, she took notes.
I neither recommend nor condemn, I just observe.

map66

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Giving him kennel cough usually involved three members of staff last year!
Any tips would be much appreciated

Kennel cough vaccina could be administered by yourself , my vet let me to do it, vet observing the treatment.
But she refused me to do injection, so 5 people been involved to give my dog his annual vaccinations. My dog won't let the vet do the normal examinations too.

tiz

You could ask the vet about a home visit rather than him going in.