It has been brought to my attention that many new dog owners are unsure of what happens during their dog’s visit to the veterinarian, so I decided to cover a few basics of what to expect at your dog’s examination, rather than begin our discussion of heartworm…
The first thing that you need to know is that there may be several other animals at the vet’s office when you go for your appointment so it’s very important that you arrive with your dog on a leash so as not to cause any disruption.
Just like when you visit your own doctor, they will ask to weigh your dog. This is sometimes tricky as most dogs do not want to sit in one place long enough to get an accurate weight. Coax your dog onto the scale and command it to sit and stay, while the scale calculates the weight.
Next, you will be taken into an examination room where your dog will be placed on a table for their examination. The table is then typically raised up so that your dog is at the level of the vet.
Your dog may try to jump off the table during the examination, so try to distract them by simple scratching behind the ears, or whatever makes them most comfortable. This way, the dog’s attention is somewhat diverted from the examination procedures that will be carried out in a systematic manner.
Many dogs are uneasy about the procedure, but there are also obedient dogs which will remain calm during an examination. In either case, your dog should be given some patting and praises.
Many owners (or vets for that matter) provide some treats to distract their dogs. However, it all depends on the trainings and the effective follow up procedures by the owner for the maintenance of such reflexes during the examination.
Many of the examination procedures require frequent movements of the dog’s body, therefore, muzzles may be required for some dogs if they have a tendency to object by biting the veterinarian doing the examination of the dog.
As a pet owner, you will need to observe your dog closely during the examination to rule out any abnormal activity by the dog.
Restraining your dog in a proper manner during the clinical examination will be highly appreciated. Such control will be of extremely helpful for the effective examination of the patient by the concerned veterinarian in the pet clinic.
If your dog gets distracted or restless during the examination, then one may even use one of the various electronic equipments on the market, which will make a sound that is audible to the dogs’ ears. Such devices may prove be helpful in the proper distraction of the animal during the examination.
Your vet may also have an assistant accompany them in the examination room, in which case, you will have help in restraining your dog if needed.
The final thing to remember is that pet clinics deal with all kinds of dogs day in and day out. Therefore, do not feel embarrassed if your dog acts out of character during an examination. The vets have seen it all and are used to handling all different personalities and situations.
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