.. to expect my vet not to make sarcastic comments?

[anonymousbird]

Just back from typically horrendous visit to the vets. I wish I could change surgery, but there just isn't anything else particularly local. Every time I go, my dog freaks - unfortunately the first two times she went to the vet (other than initial innoculations) was to have something cut/sewn/chopped etc.

Anyway, she flippin hates it and goes a bit bonkers. And every bloody time the vet (could be any one of about four, new guy today included who has been given the same script as the rest of them) has to make some rather pointed comment about her state and the very clear undertone is "CONTROL YOUR DOG". She is seriously obedient and good natured everywhere except at the vets. He merely gave me "the look" (once again, same script as the rest) when I said this. She is trained working dog and fabulous family pet, so I do not let my dog run amok under any circumstances.

Surely I am not the only person whose dog has a fit at the vets, they must see it ten times a day, so why in god's name do they have the right to make these comments??

Today's visit wasn't helped by the fact that DD thought it would be REALLY FUNNY just as the vet and I are (literally) wrestling the dog to the floor, to turn off the sodding lights in a room that has absolutely no natural light whatsoever.

Clearly the last bit didn't help, but the rest happens every time, and it seriously pisses me off!

Why can't you find a new vet? Sorry, that sounded harsh, but when I lived in the UK in the dim and distant past, there was more than one vet in our remote corner of Essex.

Sincere sympathy from me - my two hate it too.

I'm a big fan of rescue remedy before we go - and it probably only makes me feel better but it does seem to help.

Have you tried a bit of positive reinforcement? Take the dog to the vet (but not for an appt - obv!) and then give lots of treats/fuss. It might help to break the cycle.

Maybe.

i would change vets, even if it meant a longer journey

meh, he's making some comments about his working life etc. which you have decided to interpret and assign specific negative subtexts to.
It sounds lie you are being over-sensitive

A change of vet is a 20 mile trip in the opposite direction to anywhere I ever go, so quite hard to coordinate with school runs. As proved today, not having a DC with me would at least take one set of potential trouble out of the occasion, so it makes that aspect much easier to be able to go to the vet just after drop off or just before pick up. Though, haven't ruled it out completely to move vet it would be pretty difficult. I think the care they give is good, I just hate the "you are a crap dog owner" high and mightiness of it all.

I always take some treats with me these days, after previous bad experiences and had wondered about doing a false run actually, interesting GroovyGretel, that you mention it!!!

Change vets, even if you have to travel a bit further.
I'd ask for recommendations from other dog walkers you encounter.

I had a dog who would sit down outside the door to the vets and shake. Only way to get her in was to carry her - she was heavy, then she had a tendency to pee. Not very pleasant.

My vets couldn't have been more helpful and understood that my dog had had a bad experience as a puppy.

Change vets - but ask first about how they would handle your dog.

Sounds like a stroppy vet to me!

Bottom line is that they are not the NHS and therefore they should be polite as well as competent to win your custom. Clearly you're a good owner and your poor dog is usually a sweetie - surely the stupid vet should be aware that dogs are sentient beings who are more than capable of associating that building/smell/person with bad things!

Is it possible to register with another vet for mundane things such as jabs and so on and merely use the local one for emergency treatment (though pray to goodness you never need it)?

At least that way you could rely upon a civilised response 99% of the time whilst still having a local vet you can get to fast should you need to.

can you take the dog there to visit - have her on the lead and just sit / watch the world go by in the waiting room without anything happening? it may, after time, help her

You should say to existing vet, well with an attitude like yours it's no wonder my dog doesn't like it here.

Hey hun, Is it possible to visit the vets and see a nuse for none urgent app's?

Im a vet nurse(or was untill i ended up in a wheelchair!)and if a vet ever spoke to a client like that he would get an ear bending from me(and many other nurses) I tell you that now.

Many, almost all animals are nervous about going to the vets. They are like a child being dragged for imms! Only problem is you can explain things to them!

The 'dry' run we advise all the time. It might also be worth asking for some sort of therapy to help, maybe a tranq will help, but a very mild one! You don't want to have to recruit five workers/strangers to haule the dog into the surgery!!!

I swear by Bach remedy also so again might be worth giving it a go.

If you need any more advice just message me

ps, no, your not being unreasonable...your vet is an arsehole :P

I ment to say...visiting vet nurse's is always better where poss, as we have more 'interaction' with the animals then the vets do, and we are more compassionate!

'some rather pointed comment about her state and the very clear undertone is "CONTROL YOUR DOG".'

What did the vet actually say?

'every bloody time the vet (could be any one of about four...'

It sounds as if you might be hearing criticism when there isn't any, just a general observation about your dog,because you are embarrassed and bothered about the dog's behaviour.

Our dog will not even walk past the vets surgery without digging her heels in and being very anxious and nervous.

Sorry but lol at your ddd turning the light out mid struggle with dog!

Dogs know, don't they. My pointer as a child would know somehow when it was vet day - would dig her heels in and refuse to go in.

Get another vet. Most of them are lovely.

My vet loves my dog. He looks forward to seeing him. At his last appointment he told me he had specifically requested to see him, when he noticed our name on the appointments list

However my dog is as mad as box of frogs and loves the vet possibly as much as the vet loves him (I did say the dog is mad didn't I? ) Which means lots of over excited bouncing and somersaulting.

If your dog is that bad perhaps a mild sedative before appointments would make things easier?

My dog would hide. Behind people, bookcases, other dogs.... On one memorable occassion, she got up on to the windowsill and sat behind the venetian blind, shivering. T'was obvious where she was

My dog hates the vets too, and I have to lift him up to get him in the door or he'll slip his collar and run off up the high street. Thankfully, once he's in the room he goes very subdued and stands stock still til it's over, with a look of great anxiety on his face. Probably down to his breed (whippet). Some vets have mistakenly assumed he was 'good' or 'brave'. I think terrified to the point of paralysis is more accurate.

I don't think you need to change your vet though. I'd be more inclined to have a frank discussion with them, explaining that your dog WILL go bonkers, and be very difficult to handle, and is there any tips they have on handling this (muzzle, or extra pair of hands in the room, for example?).

Also, try to put yourself in the vet's shoes. Imagine having an animal try to attack you/smash your place up. They must get bitten quite regularly. It can't be pleasant, and I'm guessing a lot of owners say things along the lines of "Oh, this is totally out of character". It's a bit like the parents who say, "My child couldn't possibly be the instigator" when trouble brews at school or the playground, while said darling child is swinging off the rafters with a fistful of your child's hair in his hand.

'while said darling child is swinging off the rafters with a fistful of your child's hair in his hand.'

And then some bugger turns out the lights.

I would get a new vet :their vastly over-inflated fees make me even less tolerant of attitude when I go, to be honest.