Help with taking dog to vets

Charlie1986

My dog has to go to the vets tommorow as his epilepsy has got worse He had 1 fit 4 weeks ago and 3 in the past 3 days. Now the vet wants to do blood tests and look into putting him on medication.
The only problem is my dog isn't one for going to the vets and 'having things done to him'. I know he is going to play hell with the vet when she tries to take his blood, even giving him his flea treatment is a performance .
Does anyone have any ideas on what i can do to stop him going for the vet. He is not an agressive dog but seem's to really dislike any vet :rolleyes: .

Titch89

Do you put a muzzle (sp) on him?

Charlie1986

He's a pug so has no nose to put one on

Bromley86

Too late for this one, but you could get some friends to play Vets and Pets . Drive her to their houses, have them look "vetty", and then have them spoil him rotten whilst gently invading his space.

Start with people who don't own pets and then graduate to houses where there are animal smells present. Of course, it would help if they were strangers .

Hawthorn

Are YOU anxious about the vets? This can transfer to the dog. You need to be calmly confident about taking him, and hopefully this will transfer to the dog.

Charlie1986

Hawthorn wrote: »

Are YOU anxious about the vets? This can transfer to the dog. You need to be calmly confident about taking him, and hopefully this will transfer to the dog.

Yes I am anxious, not so much for my dog but for myself, I faint at he smell of the vets and at the sight of needles . It will be my mum who is taking the dog into he vets, i'll have to wait in the car.

anyonefortea

If your dog is well enough, take him for a good long walk beforehand and try and reduce some of that energy he will have.
If you are going to stay in the car, don't make any fuss as hes leaving, i wouldn't even speak to him, and ask your mother (or whoever is taking him in) not to talk to him either. Just get him out and into the vets, no fuss, no excitement, no panic.

If you can inform the reception that you are there and then they can call you to come in when the vet is ready rather than him getting worked up in the waiting room.

Just gentle stroking to calm him, but i really wouldnt speak to him. He may associate "its ok" or "ssshhhhh" as a trigger for him to worry bout stuff.
so keep things to a minimum.

Im no expert mind, so this is just past experience

kazwookie

My vet stands no nonsens from any animals and they do a wonderful job! If the dog gets stressed, the main vet gets an assistant in to 'hold' etc and you can wait outside.

Charlie1986

Thanks everyone, he went and was actually quite well behaved. I took him for a short walk before hand and this seemed to help. The vet managed to get one lot of blood but after that he was having none of it :rolleyes: . Now just got to wait for the results