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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Dog had to be muzzled at the vet

31 replies

fruitstick · 06/03/2023 14:04

Took our cocker spaniel for his annual vaccinations today. He was incredibly anxious, shaking as soon as we walked in. He growled at the vet when she checked his heart and eventually she decided to muzzle him for his vaccination. He was very unhappy with the jab and would have bitten her I think.

As background, he had a horrible time last year at the vet. He was castrated by then his stitches got infected so there were a couple of trips that were painful for him while they poked about.

He now is reluctant to be groomed or poked about with and doesn't like to be restrained (in terms of held in a full embrace kind of thing). He growls a little if I touch his feet or tail in a way he doesn't like.

Other than that, he's a very gentle, friendly and affectionate dog. However the vet has suggested we nip it in the bud.

He's got to go back for jab 2 in 4 weeks. She's suggested bringing him in the meantime just to sit in reception and go again without anything happening.

She's also suggested muzzle training him with some treats/peanut butter so it's not a negative association, and working on grooming.

Has anyone else suffered with this and managed to improve things?

He's 2 next month.

OP posts:
Original poster
fruitstick · 06/03/2023 14:06

Also should add, we got him from a reputable breeder at 11 weeks and he has no other issues.

OP posts:
RunningFromInsanity · 06/03/2023 14:16

Yes this happened to my dog.
We did lots of desensitisation training at home teaching him commands to let me hold his paw for 10seconds (for a treat), letting me scruff his neck, letting me loosely hold his muzzle closed, letting me pick up his lips for a teeth check etc.
Then at the vets I would run though some basic command, sit, paw etc and then incorporate these ‘vet’ commands in, so it’s like a training session rather than a vet visit.

Start small with touching parts of his body etc.

We also took regular trips to the vets and just sat in the waiting room, giving him lots of praise and treats. The receptionists and staff were great and if passing they would give him a treat too, to build a positive relationship.

It does all help, although what I’ve found is my dog will let them do a check up/vaccinations when he is in the boot of my car, instead of taking him into the vets so that’s what we do now.

Clymene · 06/03/2023 14:18

Chirag Patel is really good on muzzle training. He's on YouTube.

Desensitisation would be good too as he's so young. Look up CARE protocol

ProbablyDogNappersHunX · 06/03/2023 14:41

We've had to muzzle train DDog exclusively for the purpose of vet visits too. You're far from the only one! Last visit resulted in DDog clinging to me, wearing a muzzle, and swinging for the vet when she attempted to use a stethoscope... but not when he was jabbed 🙄

Muzzle training and cooperative care are good things to go off and Google.

I swear to god however that my dog knows the difference between me looking at his paws and visually examining his paws. We did not get far with cooperative care.

MedievalNun · 06/03/2023 14:47

I feel for you as our (nearly 4) border collie nipped at the vet at the last visit, when he was given the nasal spray. He has been fine every other time, and was ok with the jab. We're working on holds with treats, holdimg the scruff of his neck etc over the next few months. And he's the most affectionate dog I have ever known, who will letme brush his teeth, take his food bowl etc and play games with the family cats.

I would do as the vet suggests and pop into the surgery when you can so he gets used to it; if you think muzzle training would help all around then do that. Good luck

RunningFromInsanity · 06/03/2023 16:38

MedievalNun · 06/03/2023 14:47

I feel for you as our (nearly 4) border collie nipped at the vet at the last visit, when he was given the nasal spray. He has been fine every other time, and was ok with the jab. We're working on holds with treats, holdimg the scruff of his neck etc over the next few months. And he's the most affectionate dog I have ever known, who will letme brush his teeth, take his food bowl etc and play games with the family cats.

I would do as the vet suggests and pop into the surgery when you can so he gets used to it; if you think muzzle training would help all around then do that. Good luck

If the nasal spray was the kennel cough vaccine it can be given via injection now thankfully!

IngGenius · 06/03/2023 16:49

Totally agree with teaching

BiteyShark · 06/03/2023 17:02

If the nasal spray was the kennel cough vaccine it can be given via injection now thankfully!

Or oral so the vet just has to squirt it in the mouth which my dog tolerates unlike the nasal spray.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 06/03/2023 17:10

IMO all dogs should be muzzle trained - it's an excellent "skill" and you never know when it might be necessary.

Much better to use a muzzle than to risk someone getting bitten.

Have a look at "Muzzle Up Pup! The Pro Muzzle Community" on Facebook - they're really helpful and you'll find lots of people in the same boat as you.

I think the vet also has the right idea about desensitising him too - walk him past the vet without going in, then to the door, then inside etc. Good luck!

BiteyShark · 06/03/2023 17:28

Mine unfortunately has to use a muzzle now when walking after another emergency surgery for eating stuff. We did our own training and to be fair he has taken it in his stride much better than we had expected but we did spend a week getting him used to eating from treats inside.

The hardest part was trying to work out the sizing without freaking him out as we didn't want to fasten it before he was happy and the vet nurse has given us the wrong size so when we did eventually fasten it we realised he needed the next size up but I think you can use different muzzles for vet visits whereas we needed a basket one for running about in.

Wolfiefan · 06/03/2023 17:33

I’ve muzzle trained. I think I used advice from kikopup but might be wrong. We already have “touch” as a word they know. We did chin. Meaning lay your chin on my hand for a treat. Then chin. Me holding muzzle and she put her nose up. Then straps behind head. Then finally doing up. Took a little while but we didn’t rush and she’s happy wearing one.
First dog was a neurotic nightmare about her feet. We started with touching her foot and treat. You could even start with hand near foot.
Dog training advice and support on FB have loads of advice. And a book too!! Good luck.

SpamhappyTootsie · 06/03/2023 17:48

This happened with our dog after she had to go into the vet’s alone during Covid and have her eye examined. The vet runs a Confidence Clinic and although I was dubious at first (they wanted sedation for the first few sessions which I declined and she was fine without it) it has proved incredibly effective. I started a thread about it on here.
It’s all about taking it at the dog’s own pace and cooperative care. They don’t require her to be muzzled now as she’s so happy to be at the vet but we muzzle trained anyway, because you don’t know when it might be needed in future. She’ll happily stick her head in with the command “Muzzle!” and as far as she’s concerned, if you can still eat through it, there’s no problem Grin
Familiarising your dog with just chilling in the waiting room is a really good idea, so he doesn’t see it as a place where Bad Things Happen. We used the vet nurse behaviourist techniques but they sound the same as Chirag Patel / Kiko Pup so you could use those if they don’t offer the training themselves.

gogohmm · 06/03/2023 17:54

Ddog never forgave the vet for neutering him, the stethoscope is the issue not the needle. No words of wisdom I'm afraid, ddog is muzzled in the waiting room now

henchhen · 06/03/2023 17:54

Our super friendly lab is muzzled at the vets after he air snapped at them once. Honestly, it's not a big deal. We've worked on him being happy wearing a muzzle and that's just how it is now. It's safer for the vets and it's the best thing for our DDOG

Leonberger · 06/03/2023 18:04

We’ve also muzzle trained since puppies.

I muzzle all of my dogs for exams, despite them being fine. Better safe than sorry and it’s not an issue if the dog doesn’t see it as a bad thing.

SpamhappyTootsie · 06/03/2023 18:54

Other commands we taught are “Listen” for the stethoscope and “Touch” for the scruff hold for injections. “Middle” for holding still and “Roll over” for stomach presenting are still works in progress . It’s really interesting to see examinations by consent in action. Previous dogs just went to the vet, put up with it and had a biscuit on their way out at the Reception desk!
A year ago we couldn’t get through the door without her barking at everyone in scrubs.

Original poster
fruitstick · 06/03/2023 21:24

Thank you everyone, I'm off to watch those videos.

This has all made me feel a lot better, I was feeling a bit of a failure.

OP posts:
userxx · 06/03/2023 21:33

During covid the dog needed a trip to the vet, we had to wait outside, he was in there 60 seconds before they brought him out again. He wasn't keen on the vet.

tabulahrasa · 07/03/2023 08:15

fruitstick · 06/03/2023 21:24

Thank you everyone, I'm off to watch those videos.

This has all made me feel a lot better, I was feeling a bit of a failure.

Going and just sitting for a minute with a load of treats every so often will definitely help a bit as he’ll be less anxious about being there to start with.

Not liking being examined is not as easy - because he’s not wrong, bad stuff happened 😂 I mean, think about how many people are scared of the dentist and they know exactly what’s going on and why.

Gf1999 · 07/03/2023 23:14

Had a German shepherd that use to go nut at the vets, I had to ask the vet to take his white coat off dog immediately turned placid. You need to find out what his trigger is. I also had another dog that was fine until the door was opened and we stepped into the waiting room and she would become a quivering wreck.

FatCatt · 07/03/2023 23:34

Legally vets are responsible for ensuring no one is bitten. If you were nipped by your own dog you could complain. It just protects everyone that way, including your dog.

You’re not a failure at all! So many gorgeous dogs need to be muzzled at the vet as it’s an unfamiliar and scary place for them. Just start small and build it up as your vet suggested

LaviniasBigBloomers · 08/03/2023 00:01

So many more dogs have had to be muzzled at the vets due to having to go in without their people, that I think vets are now a bit more 'yeah, let's muzzle'. I don't think this is a bad thing at all, and you shouldn't feel bad about it. Much better to protect your dog from being in a situation where they feel they have to bite.

Original poster
fruitstick · 08/03/2023 13:29

Took him into the vets this morning.

He was absolutely fine in the waiting room but started shaking as soon as a member of staff came out of the one of the consulting rooms.

She made a fuss and him, the receptionist made a fuss of him.

We'll try again in a few days.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 08/03/2023 14:03

That sounds positive. Good luck.

Astrabees · 08/03/2023 14:34

I think the character of the vet makes a difference. My elderly Staffie bitch was very aggressive towards a male vet who talked only to me and tried to check heart and ears without talking to the dog. Our new female vet greets the dog with great enthusiasm, gets down to her level and gives her treats and then talks to her all through the examination. The dog is now so much better and when she sees the new vet drags me into the consulting room. Just smiling, getting on the floor and saying to Astrapet that she is a beautiful and lovely girl gets us off to a good start. I think this relaxes me too. Which is a help.