Airedale vet fear

[AdiVic]

Hello

At wits end with our airedale - he is 7 and has always had a fear of the vets (as a result of a run in with an old school type who decided to show him who was boss). We have had loads of training in the vets previously to try and get him over this fear, but in the long run it made no difference. The past few previous times we have been, if he needs anything done he has to be sedated - this in itself proves a problem as acp does nothing, just makes him dopey, even more scared and he goes pretty nuts - as a result he has to be pretty much pinned down to get a needle into a vein to knock him out.

I have asked my vets if there is something we can give him orally to knock him out, but apparently there isn't. He needs to go to the vets as he won't have his feet groomed, and has a little matting of fur between his pads, which is obviously going to get worse. He's a bugger to groom, and will only tolerate me doing it - he really is a one person dog (although with all of this he's great in every other way).

I just want to be able to get him to the vets for his jabs and feet without it being like dragging a crazed wolf in there.

I have always grown up with dogs, and we have had other dogs, still do, and they have no other issues whatsoever - the airedales brother is also the same attitude wise. We have since found out that the grandmother, if that would make much difference was a loon. The breeder did not breed for temperment:(

any ideas? Wish there was an easy solution to this.

[Floralnomad]

Is he just as bad with a dog groomer as they could probably deal with it although long term it wouldn't solve your problem . The other thing would be to have the vet come to you and see if that makes any odds .

[moosemama]

Two over the counter options are

http://www.dorwest.com/Products/VAL/valerian-compound-organic-for-dogs-and-cats Valerian Compound which worked well for both my old dog's fear of fireworks and my current boy's Separation Anxiety or Zylkene which apparently works for some dogs and not so well for others.

You can also buy Scullcap and Valerian tablets which you could start giving him a few days before the appointment and then top up with the compound about half an hour before the actual appointment time.

We use the valerian compound when we take our boy on the ferry as well, just to make sure he doesn't get stressed, as he has to stay in the vehicle on his own for 4 hours. It seems to do the trick, as when we get back to the car he's always really chilled out and looks relaxed and happy.

I'm surprised the vet hasn't suggested Zylkene to you, as lots of vets recommend and prescribe it themselves.

[moosemama]

I'll try that again shall I?

Valerian Compound or Zylkene.

[Scuttlebutter]

I don't know if it's possible (and it will certainly cost extra if it is) but is your vet willing to do a home visit? That way you could avoid the trauma of the surgery premises?

[AdiVic]

Hello - thank you for that, we've tried valerian, and not sure a home visit would make much difference as he's anxious with other people touching him. I'll talk to them about Zylkene - not heard of that before, fingers crossed it works - thank you for your help:) x

[Floralnomad]

Perhaps that's how you could work on his issues by getting anyone who comes to the house to have a bit of a feel of the dog ! This is one of the things we did at our puppy class passed the dogs on to the next owner and run your hands over them and look at teeth / lift tail etc so they got used to strange people touching them .

[poachedeggs]

ACP shouldn't be used in fearful dogs. Talk to your vet about using diazepam. It's also an unreliable sedative but it has anxiolytic and amnesic effects meaning dogs are less stressed and have less memory of the events that take place.