Combatting vet anxiety

[BrookGreen54]

Any tips or is this just something that we’re going to have to cope with?

DDog (golden retriever) is now 2 years old - vet trips used to be no problem minus a bit of excitement. They’re now a nightmare necessitating us to give her pre-prescribed sedation at home before each appointment. She starts out fine but as soon as the vet goes to examine her the anxiety turns to aggression and she will often growl + try to bite them. She never displays this behaviour anywhere else so it is very out of character. Have tried different vets in hope of finding one that she is happier with all to no avail..

Muzzle.. No fussing her when inside the vet..
Treats back at the car.

Ddog had major surgery and now fears even the waiting room. The solution that's works for her is to sit on my knee.. No fussing her as this reinforces her ridiculous behaviour..
She is a husky. A heavy one...
Now I hate going to the vet...

I would muzzle train her for everyone's safety, and then once she can't bite anyone, work on desensitisation visits and getting her used to being touched and handled by strangers.

Many vets will let you pay for a nurse appointment where they're handled and checked all over to get them used to it.

Muzzle. Then lots of treats.

There’s various medication that can be injected into the muscle. It’s faster acting and usually more potent. My DP uses it on several dogs he treats. Acts within five minutes.

Is your dogs terror starting when it’s inside the vet practice or from a stranger touching her? If the first, ask the vet to see her in the car park - absolutely fine to do this for routine check ups and annual boosters etc.

Absolutely muzzle train her but the combination of being seen outside a sedation on arrival may also help. Tablet sedation is really nowhere near potent enough for terrified dogs - just exacerbates their terror in most cases

My dog is the same, after her spay operation. I think as soon as she smells the vet surgery she is majorly anxious. The last time we went though the vet came out to the boot of the car which was great as she was just getting her ear checked. I might ask for the same next week for her booster! I don't know if it would help but if she needs to be in the surgery then I ask for the vet and vet nurse to take her as I think she's worse when I'm there possibly...

You cant reinforce fear so there is no problem at all in giving reasurrance and treats whilst at the vets. However if OP's dog is very fearful they may not eat the food.

I prefer to use cooperative care and build the trust with the dog. Bucket Game with Chirag Patel is good place to start.

Not an instant solution but a long lasting solution

Agree with muzzle training again Chirag has the answer for this too