Struggling to give dogs injections. Any ideas please?

swingaloo

I have to give my dog an insulin injection morning and night.

Problem is that my dog is fighting against me doing it. He was not happy when the vet gave him the first one whilst showing me how to do it. That was 3 weeks ago and its getting worse every day. He is a big dog and struggles so much as soon as he knows the injection is coming. He is usually a very placid dog but he snarls and tries to bite so now he has to be muzzled for the injection. He is happy enough to have the muzzle put on but as soon as I try to gather the fur at the back of his neck to inject him he wriggles and twists and tries to go for me.

Ive read loads of tips and ideas about giving him a favourite food treat and hope he associates it with having the injection, distraction techniques and all kind of things to do or not do.

Ive tried to keep it as calm and stress free for him and reassure him as best as I can. Nothing is working and its harder to do it now than it was 2 weeks ago. I was hoping he would gradually realise that its not that terrible, he sometimes does not even realise its done because he is wriggling and snarling so much. But obviously I cant explain to him that if he kept still it would be over quickly and not hurt.

Despite trying not to stress him and keep calm myself its a losing battle. Because of his size it is now taking both my son and husband together to control him whilst I inject. They are having to hold him so tight which stresses him out even more but there is no way he will let me near him with the needle without being held tight.

Ive been back to see the vet today for advice but he aid it is just a matter of hoping that he will get used to it in time. He also said that if it was so stressful for our dog and us that we decided not to do the injections we could consider the option of having him put down. He did the injection this morning but had to call a nurse in to help and put a muzzle on the dog as he was snarling and growling. He has never been a vicious dog at all.

That is a definite no, he is a happy dog apart from at injection time and he still enjoys life. He is way, way from being at the stage of putting to sleep.

However, I know I am losing the control. I cant hold him while my husband or son inject as Im simply not strong enough and I hate what it is doing to our dog. Tonight it was such a struggle getting the injection done that as soon as I had done it I went upstairs and just cried.

I I know he has to have the injections but I dont feel able to continue to put him through what is obviously an upsetting situation twice a day unless I can find a better way to keep him calm and still. Ive watched the Youtube videos where the dog just sits there patiently waiting for the injection but I clearly dont have that kind of dog!

Any ideas please? I would be interested to know if anyone else has had similar problems and if they became easier with time.

MayDogsandCoffee

I am not going to suggest how to, but would advise if you could book an appoint with a vet nurse / canine behaviourist (vet recommendation - or properly qualified) to come to your home and watch the process of the family injecting - they can then offer solutions that are more tailored to your situation. While everyone can have an opinion it is only when someone has eyes on they can see the issues. Also use the same method for a while rather than mixing it up every time you see a you tube clip(remember they only ever show the good behaviour, never the bad) or tips. I think the humans are stressing so the dog stresses even more and the negativity and stress increases every time. My dog hates her yearly injections and the vet now uses a 'kitten needle' which are thinner and much better for sighthounds. Both Dogs Trust and Blue Cross have advice helplines and information on their websites that may be helpful too.

teaselMay

I'd suggest you do as above too. It shouldn't need him to be restrained more than just a hand to stop wandering off at the critical moment. A veterinary behaviourist, ie a vet who is also a trained and accredited behaviourist, will likely be able to help. One thing I would do to help the behaviourist help you and also so that you can see yourself is to set up your phone or another camera and video what your doing a few times.

He's probably responding to stress as much as the actual injection. Calm relaxed matter of fact and then slick injection. Massage might help in getting him and you relaxed, but do it at other times too so that he doesn't immediately associate it with something he's already afraid of.

GrubbyGirl_2

It becomes a vicious circle, the more you restrain him the more he will fight. Get a lick mat and put some peanut butter on it (must be 100% peanut butter to be safe for dogs) and give it to him for a week so he see's it as a positive thing then simply inject him quickly without grabbing him and hopefully he will hardly notice

elsien

look up Chirag Patel - the bucket game on YouTube. I used it to get mine used to having the kennel cough injection up the nose when that was still a thing.

it’s a slow process, and I’m not sure it will work because ideally you would do the training with him before he needed the injections and it’s too late for that now, but it’s worth a try.

sheramber

Many dogs panic if restrained look if it is not something they are used to.
It is just their instinct not to be restricted.

My current dog is a rescue I have had 2 years. He is 10. He resists me if I if I try to physically move him or restrict him , such as walking close to me to cross a busy road.

Unfortunately, your dog now has a bad association of being restrained. It is not your fault and do not feel guilty.

Some vets can be less than sympathetic to owners.

Do you restrain the same way as the vet nurse did? A vet nurse showed me how to restrain a terrier who was not a wiling participant in getting his nails clipped.

I held him and she clipped his nails.
It happened without a struggle.

It was like giving him a cuddle. I have used it with my bigger dogs at the vets when they needed to be held.

A. Beviourist should be able to help you get him become comfortable with being restrained.