German Shepherd fearful at Vets - Page 2

Well that is why I LOVE my vet and his wife.  He has never had a problem with any of my dogs.  Even the ones I thought might not do so well.  He is very patient and makes everything positive.

I've been in your situation......and it sucks!

I have plenty of time......so I could do the following

pick 4 vets
spend 30 minutes with each vet twice a week
give dog treats and positive rewards when relaxing in waiting area
then give the same when relaxing in exam room
then give the same when vet was present
then give the same when tech's touched dog

i spent about 3 months working with my dog and now its good with minor stuff at vet. i still muzzle for vaccinations....just in case.

i have a vet that will come to my home and this dog is completely accepting......but the same vet at the clinic and she's spastic....... gotta wonder what goes thru her pea brain....LOL

 have a vet that will come to my home and this dog is completely accepting......but the same vet at the clinic and she's spastic....... gotta wonder what goes thru her pea brain....LOL

That has to be "dog related" with all of the smells of different dogs and cats that are there throughout the day, every day.  I honestly think it's just overwhelming for some dogs and it makes them somewhat fearful of the surroundings there...... When worked on by a person, they react in a way that they wouldn't if that exact same person was to do the exact same thing.....in a location that did not have much dog scent.  

I would absolutely CHANGE vets.  I would also take your dog to the new vet when he does not have an appointment and just let him look and give him a treat, let them offer a treat (even if he is too nervous to eat it, he will remember thy offered) and leave.  I would do this several times so he associates something positive with the new vet.  Never let anyone else muzzle or manhandle your dog.

Edited as just read Sita's Mom's comment and it is wonderful advice.

FlameT,
where did you go...LOL

All my dogs have no problems at the vets and I just changed vets @ 6 mos. ago. My service dog wears a muzzle, stipulation in our countract. My latest, Arabella stood her ground at the new vets and initially did some barking at the tech just as she was coming towards her. It was a bold bark, catching me off guard. The tech asked "are we going to have to muzzle her?" Bella, being a year old, I said "she's never done that" and then "no." No problems whatsoever from then on. Reiker my @ 10 yr. old, does not like his toenails cut, Maybe the tech got his quick one time, don't know. But I rember one time, and there were a few persons in the lobby with me. They had taken Reiker back and I heard some screaming and what sounded like a grizzly bear. Everyone was looking at each other in the lobby with a little fear. I wasn't paying attention. Then we heard it again louder and meaner. I asked myself "was that my boy?" and got up and opened the door and looked in. Reiker is only @ 75# but his long hair makes him look a little bigger, I don't think he's that big but he does have some big canines. When I looked in, two techs, young girls had a scared look on their faces and I asked "was that my boy?" and they're like "yes." Reiker is not usually like that so I think they just hit his quick. Told them they could continue or stop, didn't matter.

What no one has said here, (but I think it lies within your dog), is maybe he smells death. And it could be something happened before your time? I would ask.  

My GSD loves the vet.  But, then he is very friendly and confident.  He always opens the vets cupboard and gets into the treats.

I find that as often as not the issue with treating dogs at the Vets is that they are not used to being forcibly restrained to the degree that a blood draw would take.   So much depends on the vet working with you.  Ikon went in for his hip x-rays this week. He was politely social with both Vet and assistants, who took the time to say hello before we began anything requiring his trust.  The Vet then palpated both front legs, range of motion in both front and rear legs, checked a small cyst on his ribs... all before any needles were introduced. I then requested that I be allowed to restrain him. The assistant stood behind me in case their help was required (it wasn't) and the anesthesia was given IV.  He calmly drooped as we patted him  and talked in quiet voices.  Nobody put any confrontational situations before him.  With a well socialized dog that's all that is generally required for a pleasant Vet visit.  (BTW, x-rays looked good, just waiting for OFA now)

windwalker I have to slightly disagree.  As others have stated, and as I've even seen, dogs who are normally totally stable and social....Act totally different at certain vets.  I think it is both "dog related" with the literal thousands of smells of dogs that go there each day (Which possibly could come down to nervousness around other dogs....Which could make the dog nervous of any of it's surroundings, people included at that time), and at times a vet you shouldn't trust.  I don't think it always has to do with not being used to being restrained for blood drawing......Considering most who react this way do it before being restrained.  Of course some dogs react when being restrained, but many dogs act this way before this.  I've seen friends dogs who were 100% normal anywhere else, friendly to all, no environmental issues, could be examined in a neutral environment by a stranger (literally) act out barking at the vet when at the vet office itself, when normally....they wouldn't do that.  Could be a sign the person should pick another vet as well.  I personally think I will be picking a new vet soon.  The waiting room is a small cramped, confined area, and if it's busy every dog known to man is right up close and personal.  They even let their cats wander around, one the other day was on the floor walking towards Buck!!  Buck would've killed it if it came up to him. I kept him in a sit/stay on leash, but still.  The new vet tech that was there got really snarky with me and told me to go outside, when they shouldn't have cats roaming on that side anyway.  I found another vet close to here that is nice, much bigger/more open waiting room, nicer staff as well, and they really seem to care about the dogs.  That's where I will probably take the new pup I have coming soon, and also my pack as well from now on.  The vet I go to now has been shady in the past, and not the nicest.  With that said, my dogs don't like the actual "Vet" himself, but they don't react towards him in anyway.  They like some of the techs/assistants, but the new ones that are there now....I don't like.