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Original poster

How common is it for a dog to need to be muzzled at the vets?

35 replies

Halfcharged · 29/02/2020 16:08

Our pup is 8 months old. He’s been to the vets before for check up, worming, that type of thing. Today was the first time he’s been because he was unwell. He’s got conjunctivitis. He really snarled at the vet as he was putting the dye in his eyes. I can understand why that happened as his eyes are so sore. The vet muzzled him.

I’m a first time dog owner and just wondered if that snarling was ‘normal’ and if muzzling a dog was common.

Many thanks.

OP posts:
Toria70 · 29/02/2020 16:11

Dogs will react when they're in pain and scared. The vet was just protecting themselves and your dog.

It's quite common. I've got the most gentle cocker spaniel in the world but when he had a grass seed in his ear, he snapped at the vet.

CornishPorsche · 29/02/2020 16:12

My girl is docile and daft 99% of the time. She put up brilliantly with two staples in her chest area with me holding her. However, it upset her for future visits.

I've taken her in to get weighed on their public scales, and get treats from the nurses / staff (they encourage this) and it helped hugely. I no longer have to carry all 27kg of her into the treatment room!

However, they muzzled her last year when she had to be rechipped as her chip disappeared or migrated or something, as Missy was clearly unhappy with the nurse being behind her. She just yelped, but the nurse was obviously worried about the size of teeth.....

I think it's reasonably common tbh.

Autumnrose9 · 29/02/2020 16:14

Happened to my dog aswell took her in for an injection and the vet hurt her . So she obviously got quite distressed.

Next thing I see is the nurse shoving on a muzzle and now she is terrified of going to the vets and needs muzzled every time she goes near the vet. 😭

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DeborahAnnabelToo · 29/02/2020 16:15

My dog has had a few traumatic experiences at the vets, including in the time we got her as a 6 month old, and as a result is terrified and reactive at the vets. She hasn't been since her boosters last June (she's 2 years old) but needed muzzled then. I anticipate she'll need muzzled every time now which is not ideal but safer for everyone! (She's never bitten/been aggressive in any other situation).

Ilikewinter · 29/02/2020 16:16

Its quite common, especially when looking at any area of the head, a dog can have lightning reactions when in pain, that quick nip can cause a lot of damage even if its not intentional!

Bargebill19 · 29/02/2020 16:30

With my dogs - I used to take a soft muzzle just incase. Routine injections were fine, but I never wanted to take the chance if it was something the dog was already in pain for eg a cut. I felt it was the safest option for the vet and me and kindest for my dog. Not unreasonable or unusual practice.

Original poster
Halfcharged · 29/02/2020 16:37

Thanks everyone, so I haven’t got a rabid wild beast on my hands then?!😄 He does have a lovely temperament so it just came as a shock to see him snarling and needing a muzzle! Pleased to hear it’s relatively common.

OP posts:
bruce43mydog · 29/02/2020 16:40

All 3 of my dogs are muzzled at the vets. And 1 is muzzled on walks cause he bites the 2 others are OK on walks though

mrsbyers · 29/02/2020 16:46

We use a soft muzzle quite often on ours in public situation , he can still breathe , eat and drink but he can’t bite

Defender90 · 29/02/2020 16:49

We used our own soft muzzle with our cocker. He was a lovely dog, but several experiences when he was a puppy and anal gland issues meant he was incredibly anxious the minute we went into the consultation room. He would growl and turn, never snapped but muzzling relaxed us all and meant we were in and out quickly with no dramas. Muzzle on when we into the room, off as soon as the jab / glands / inspection was done. Treat from the vet and away we go.

CornishPorsche · 29/02/2020 18:57

All those of you with dogs who are aggressive at the vets - are you doing anything about it? My girl is quite happy now to potter in for most appointments. I need her to be able to cope, including with her annual jabs etc, hence putting the work in.

She doesn't mind injections, being poked and prodded etc, and every time we just pop in, it becomes easier for her. She still looks all sad and depressed but she soon perks up for "the good treats" 😂

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 29/02/2020 19:03

The vet muzzled my golden retriever to clip his nails. I have no idea why. He’s a big boy but completely docile and has never so much as looked sideways at anyone or anything in his life.

Veterinari · 29/02/2020 19:06

As a vet it's pretty uncommon and I'd be concerned about it in a young dog.

How often do you take him in for 'nice' vet visits where he goes it gets a fuss and a treat and leaves?
If you don't already then you need to speak to the vet about doing it.

If he only ever has unpleasant associations with the vet then any time he needs treatment is going to be stressful and potentially dangerous

Veterinari · 29/02/2020 19:08

Also pretty worrying that so many owners see this as 'normal'
It really isn't and if it's happening you should be doing something about it

Lolalovesmarmite · 29/02/2020 19:44

My terrier has to be muzzled at the vets because he’s fundamentally a little dickhead. He’s very loyal and sweet to people he knows but he resorts to teeth in situations he’s uncomfortable with. We don’t take him out in public unless we have to.

Bargebill19 · 29/02/2020 20:09

I think some people are misconstruing what others are saying. Normal routine injections check ups - yes your dog should be ok with. But we are talking about situations were dogs have either been previously traumatised by a vet visit or are unwell and in pain and distressed before a vet even begins their examination. This is where it’s common to muzzle, safer and kinder. Owners know their dogs best and what’s going to be a potential trigger, it’s not always about taking dogs to the vet to socialise and get used to the place!

EsmeShelby · 29/02/2020 20:12

My cat has to be sedated every time she goes. Quite friendly in other situations

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 29/02/2020 20:18

Mine needs one. She is so sweet and I've rarely heard her snarl but she hates the vets and will snap if scared. She also has an unfortunate habit of taking instruments away from the vet if she feels they are being misused and once confiscated they are not easily retrieved. Grin One set of nail clippers came all the way to the bus stop with us and had to be returned the next day.

Original poster
Halfcharged · 29/02/2020 20:18

He’s been probably 4 times before and he’s been absolutely fine, was actually excited to meet the vet and the nurses. As I said in my op this was the first visit where he’s been because he wasn’t well. He was fine up until the point when the vet pulled his lid back and put dye in his eye, that’s when he snarled. He was fine again afterwards when the vet put the treatment drops in.

I’ll take him in for his working tablet next month so he has another positive experience soon after.

OP posts:
Veterinari · 29/02/2020 20:19

it’s not always about taking dogs to the vet to socialise and get used to the place!
Perhaps not always, but this is something that owners should be doing routinely if they want to reduce stress and make everything safer.

For basic non-painful things like a fluorescent eye exam I would not expect to need to muzzle a dog

Veterinari · 29/02/2020 20:22

My point is that animals shouldn't 'hate the vets' and if they do it would be helpful (and better for them) to try and do something about it.

It's much more difficult to treat frightened or aggressive animals and much more distressing for them to receive routine treatments or hospitalisation

Original poster
Halfcharged · 29/02/2020 20:28

Would the dye not have been painful? His eyes look so sore, the whites of his eyes are red and they’re very gunky.

On the last visit he had a thorough check of teeth, ears, eyes etc and he was absolutely fine. The vet actually said what a wonderful temperament he had.

OP posts:
champagneandfromage50 · 29/02/2020 20:30

my terrier bit the vet a few years ago. I was mortified and I have taken a soft muzzle to every appointment since.

raspberryk · 29/02/2020 21:20

My pup loves the vet, she lets them and us do absolutely anything to her on any part of her. I've never owned a dog who needs a muzzle at the vet.

maneandfeathers · 29/02/2020 22:11

@JuanSheetIsPlenty if I had a pound for every owner who said that and then nearly had my face bitten off I would have mortgage paid by now Grin

I muzzle train all my dogs. A muzzle shouldn’t be a punishment and I would rather muzzle mine than have someone be bitten if my dog does react. Some dogs suddenly snap despite never being aggressive previously and owners are notoriously bad at reading dogs. No dog is 100% trustworthy especially in a stressful environment and I don’t see why we should take the risk for the sake of muzzling for a minute or two. If I am uncomfortable and an owner refuses to muzzle I simply refuse to examine the dog, better that than yet another trip to a&e!