Removing the stress from vet visits
Veterinary visits are unavoidable when you own an animal. Even if you are lucky enough to have a fit and healthy pet, there will be times where you will need to bring them in for routine treatment such as vaccinations, check ups and neutering.
There is no doubt that an increasing number of dogs experience stress when visiting the vets. There are studies which suggest that 58% of cat owners and 38% of dog owners believe their animal ‘hates’ going to the vets (Edwards et al, 2019). In another study, it is suggested that up to 78% of dogs become stressed or fearful when they enter a veterinary clinic (Edwards et al, 2019). Throughout my work at the vets and my behaviour background, it is safe to say that the number is more likely to be around 80-85%. A lot of the studies focus on the owner’s perception of their dog’s stress levels, lets bear in mind that not every dog owner may notice a subtle behaviour change such as a stressed lip lick or a tense tail wag. There is also a number of dogs that will refuse to be handled by the veterinarian and can only be examined under sedation or after an administration of behavioural medication prior the appointment.
Why do dogs get stressed at the vets?
How do you feel when you are sat in a dentist waiting room waiting to be called in? Now imagine that this is how your dog feels but the difference is that they don’t know what they are there for, they don’t know what’s going to happen, last time they were there they felt pain and they are about to be touched and poked by instruments they are not familiar with. When a dog feels threatened, their limbic system in their brain activates. Just as in humans, the limbic system is responsible for the control of emotions, learning and behaviour. The limbic system consist of 3 main parts including the amygdala, hypothalamous and hippocampus which play a large role in fear and memory. The amygdala is responsible for the ‘fight or flight’ response and sends information to the hypothalamus, whereas the hippocampus controls long-term memory function.
If your dog has had a bad experience at the vets (vaccination needle causing pain) it is very likely that it has kept that information in its brain due to the hippocampus activity. He will now associate the veterinary practice with discomfort and/or pain and present fearful behaviours due to the amygdala sensing potential danger. Although the dog may only be in for a check up, his brain has already assumed that there is potential danger and it will go into survival mode. Dogs have four fear responses which include:
Fight – lounging on the lead towards the trigger, barking, growling.
Flights – hiding under chairs/tables, running towards the exit door.
Freeze – keeping completely still
Fool around – a number of displacement behaviours such as jumping up, zoomies, tense tail wags.
It is important to note that one fear response can turn to a different one in a matter of seconds, for example, a dog in a freeze can turn to a fight through a quick snap at the veterinarian handling him.
What can I do to prevent my dog from being stressed at the vets?
Luckily there are plenty of things that can be done to make vet visits enjoyable with your dog.
First visits matter – if you are due to bring your puppy in for his first vaccinations, make sure it is a great experience! Bring along some treats and toys. Let your puppy sniff around the consultation room to get some information before they have the needle stuck in them. Giving them a licki mat with some wet food while they have their vaccination is a great idea!
Not all visits have to be bad – bring your puppy to the vets even if they are not due to have an appointment. Let them walk around the waiting room and car park and give them plenty of praise and treats as they do this. They will soon realise that coming to the vets doesn’t always mean something scary happens.
Get them used to being handled – procedures such as nail clips can be very scary! Get your puppy used to being handled by gently touching their more sensitive areas such as paws, ears, eyes and tail for a second or two followed by a treat. If you are struggling with this and your dog does not allow any touching at all, contact a certified dog trainer or behaviourist for help.
Book your dog in for classes – many veterinary clinics offer confidence or cuddles and biscuits clinics. Some of them even run puppy classes if they work with a local dog trainer. This is a great opportunity for your puppy to learn about new things in a safe and fun space and get them used to the veterinary environment!
Signing your puppy up to well run puppy parties or puppy classes can set them up for successful and positive vet visits in the future.
My dog is already stressed when we go to the vets, what can I do to help him?
If your dog has already created a negative association with the vets, fear not, there is still plenty you can do to reduce his stress levels.
Start off in the car park – dogs are likely to feel a lot more comfortable when they are outside, they are not restricted and will not feel the need for that ‘fight’ response to kick in. Many vets are very understanding and will happily see your dog outside, providing it is safe to do so.
Muzzle training – muzzle training is important for all dogs, not just aggressive ones. Putting a muzzle on a dog can sometimes be unavoidable and for a dog that is already stressed, having a foreign object on their nose can increase their stress levels even more. Getting your dog used to the muzzle not only decreases your dog’s stress levels during a physical examination, it also make the examination a lot easier and quicker for the veterinarian.
Not all visits are bad visits – this was mentioned earlier but even if your dog has already made a bad association with the vets, you can still bring him without an appointment to have a walk around the car park or waiting room with treats, maybe ask reception if there is a quieter time in the day you could bring him in. Some practices offer confidence clinics which are great for dogs that are worried about going to the vets.
Get help – sometimes your dog may have other behavioural disorders that need to be addressed separately before focusing on positive vet visits. You can find certified and qualified trainers and behaviourists who can help you on the ABTC website: ABTC – Animal Behaviour & Training Council
Remember, you shouldn’t dread taking your dog to the vets. There are people out there that are willing to help. Your veterinary practice should want to support you and your dog so ask them about confidence clinics, puppy classes or contact details for a local certified dog trainer or behaviourist.
Good luck!
References:
Edwards, P.T., Smith, B.P., McArthur, M.L. and Hazel, S.J., 2019. Fearful Fido: Investigating dog experience in the veterinary context in an effort to reduce distress. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 213, pp.14-25.
Edwards, P.T., Hazel, S.J., Browne, M., Serpell, J.A., McArthur, M.L. and Smith, B.P., 2019. Investigating risk factors that predict a dog’s fear during veterinary consultations. PLoS One, 14(7), p.e0215416.
Marta Stec
BSc (Hons), PG-Cert, APDT M01587, ABTC
Registered Animal Training Instructor