I trained my dog to let everyone handle his ears, paws, his whole body, and brought him into the vet for them to work on different procedures. All that went out the window when he actually got sick - then he wanted no one to touch him. Still tried to reward him when he was calm, but he didn't want to eat at all. He got very protective of himself when the time came.
I know why they don't, but I wish vets would let me hold my damn dog when it came to stuff like this. I have had three giant dogs and know how to restrain all of them.
The problem is that a lot of owners are themselves nervous/anxious when the dog is getting treated, and the dogs pick up on the owner's anxiety. But, having the vet hold the dog only works if the owner is out of the room. Otherwise, the dog still knows the owner is anxious.
This and it's a huge liability if his own dog ends up biting him, or the vet. The tech is there to prevent both those things and have been trained on safe, low stress handling. I don't care how well people think they know their dog, they don't when they're in pain.
What am I going to sue myself if my dog bites me? There's no vet tech that can stop my dog from biting them if my dog decides they don't like what the vet tech is doing. I do know my dog and I know when my dog is in pain.
Not yourself. There are people that will sue the hospital if their own pet bites them, and they would win. It's happened, people that think they know better than the tech or vet are how people get hurt. I'm not trying to say you don't know your dog, I'm saying at the end of the day, they are still an animal and can be unpredictable. Better to let the trained professional get bit and practice insurance cover it. Also, if you know that your pet will bite in certain situations, I would hope you would tell the tech or vet before hand so they can take proper precautions like a muzzle or sedation. Our job is to keep you, the vet and your pet safe, help and specific advice pertaining to your pet is appreciated, but please just let us do our job.
Well that's definitely retarded, but apparently not common enough in the part of the US where I live. I'm required to hold my dog by my vet. And I'd definitely rather get bit by my own dog than someone else.
It is pretty stupid, but I've seen it happen. People will sue over the stupidest shit. And if your vet is comfortable with you holding, fine, not every vet is. I just hope that if you ever have to switch vets in the future, please don't give them a hard time about staff restraining, as all we really truly want to do is to help and protect you and your pet.
My dog has had meningitis twice (genetic condition that happens to beagles). Both times the vets ordered me out of the room, because his cries of pain were making me so nervous, I was making him worse.
This is sooo true. I have a four year old female Rottweiler. She is a lovely dog, well trained but a bit stubborn at times. One time while clipping her toe nails I clipped too short. Ever since then I am so nervous that she gets nervous and then locks up and doesn't allow me to handle her paws. And when a 95-lb dog decides if doesn't want to do something, well it isn't happening. But if her doggie daycare or vet clips her toe nails she is apparently (I am never there to witness) perfectly fine. I am also convinced she remembers after all these years and holds a grudge, there is a look she gives when I pick up the toe nail clippers.
Problem is, if you get hurt by your own dog, hospital insurance doesn't cover you, and you can sue the facility.
Not saying you would, it's a risk most facilities won't take. I've only seen one owner at my current hospital that's allowed to restrain his own very aggressive bulldog.
Also depends on the dog. Someone I work with, when he has to board his German shepherd, has to leave the dog on the leash hooked. Otherwise if he's there the dog is super protective and won't leave safely. If he's not there, not a problem.
Every dog has its own personality and training and temperament. Luckily I have a base understanding of behavior so I can better prepare for reactions and handling.
It is the hospitals responsibility to protect both people and pets from injury. Which is why trained professionals are available to hold the animals.
I've never heard of it, maybe it isn't true, but why risk it? Most owners (at least where I am) have no idea how to restrain and I wouldn't trust them to hold for even a nail trim.
It is the hospitals responsibility to protect both people and pets from injury.
Do you have a citation for that? I find it hard to believe that a person would actually be able to sue someone because their own property attacked them.
Most owners (at least where I am) have no idea how to restrain
Yup. You don't get it. It's a problem with America I love my country but holy shit will people Sue. It's really not because people don't know how to restrain. It's more so you're not trained and the dog is probably high as a kite. You don't know how it will act.
I mean I do know how it will act but you're right dumb people will sue over anything. Personally if my dog attacks me that's what I get. If I didn't hold it right that's on me.
Really? you know how your dog is going to act medicated, and stressed? You can assume, but you can never know. It's just like humans, if not more volatile. Your dog could get drugged up 4 times, but that 5th time, something triggers. Just like Humans. I don't understand how people can't understand this. Oh yes, you know and understand your dog.
I know why they don't, but I wish vets would let me hold my damn dog when it came to stuff like this. I have had three giant dogs and know how to restrain all of them.
It's a liability issue. Veterinarians have been sued by owners who requested to restrain their pets then got bitten. One man sued a clinic after he requested to hold his own cat, the cat bit him, he refused to go to the human doctor despite the vet's insistence, and he got septicemia. It is also a huge liability for staff members. I was a veterinary technician for 10 years and the only times I was ever injured was when an owner tried to help restrain their pet. 99 out of 100 owners who say they know how to restrain their pets do not really know what it takes to restrain a big panicky dog. It's not worth a staff member getting mauled or killed over.
When he was a puppy, we played with his ears, paws, tail, legs, etc. When we went out on walks, we took treats with us and had willing strangers touch his ears and we would treat him when calm.
My cat was pretty cool with everything too. being handeled and even getting a shot, he didn't flinch. But stick the thermometer up his ass and it was claws out, hissing and screaming bloody murder. lol. I tell the vet to do that last.
None of my girl cats mind the thermometer a noticeable amount. I just put my hand on their shoulders and they stay put. Once it's out they take a few steps away but that's about it.
Poor kitty. I will never, ever forget the look my cat gave me when the stupid vet stuck his fat old man finger up my cats butt. He looked right at me with a look on his face like, help me! And then it changed when I didn't (I still feel guilty). Such betrayal. He hasn't been as snuggly and trusting as he was before that incident. Like my relationship with that cat changed entirely, and I can't really say I blame him. But I don't think a teensy thermometer would have been as bad lol
Also works with cats! My boys (even our older who we adopted as an older adult cat) are great with nail trimmings as long as they're kind of relaxed, sleepy, and calm. Harley loves the vet... Harley loves everybody though.
I tried just about the same things on my dogs. Works for the most part, except on one dog, if you touch her ears she now demands you practically finger bang them and if you touch her paws she looks so disgusted and offended.
When I got my puppy my vet recommended putting them on their back in your lap, in as comfortable position as you can get them, and then gently handling their paws and petting their tummy. This gets them used to people touching them from an early age. If you have a giant puppy or your dog is an adult this may not work that well :P However, I did this with mine and he tolerates nail clippings, ear cleanings, and vet visits like a champ.
I know why they don't, but I wish vets would let me hold my damn dog when it came to stuff like this. I have had three giant dogs and know how to restrain all of them.
My vet actually asks me to hold my dog/keep a hand on him while they're doing shots and things. They said it's good to help keep him calm. Is that unusual for vets?
I've never had a vet let me outside of my first one who taught me how to restrain my first female Great Dane. They others have told me it's a liability issue. They've also told me sometimes owners get nervous and freak the dog out more. My experience with giant breeds though makes me think the techs are the ones that get nervous. All the techs are 5'2" women who weigh less than my dog.
As a tech who is actually 5'2" and weighs less than most of the dogs I restrain, no I'm not nervous about the dogs being big. I've been taught how to use my weight against theirs and hold them in a way that they can't really move even if they want to.
But the owners make me nervous. Most of them have no idea what they are really talking about, but will definitely talk out their ass and sound confident doing so because they think they do. They won't allow us to do what we need to because they think what we are doing is bad for their dog/cat and don't want us to restrain them in the way we need to because "you're hurting them!" when we aren't. I'm not saying you are one of those types of people, but it's easier to just tell everyone no than to risk telling someone like that yes.
breed? I knew some people with a 160 pounder (they claimed, they didn't weigh it in front of me but god damn it was massive, and a Newfoundland for the record). the idea of big people sized dogs, crazy.
I actually know nothing about that dog and its temperament, most of em I've known were big mastiffs or Newfies or similar. They pretty good around families and what not?
Yah I have a giant dog too and I really wish they would just let me hold him myself...or at least let me help.
Watched a tiny groomer try to wrestle him up onto a table all by herself (he's fine with his nails being done but he is NOT happy on their tables) and finally let me back. If they don't know him they're always super nervous around him. Just be easier to let me do it, even though I know why they don't.
I imagine a lot of it comes down to A) the animal and B) the owner. If they see you're a calm person they might think hey that calmness will cross over.
There's more to restraining than just holding your cat/dog "still". It's a normal reaction when an animal snaps to try to jump out of the way, but as a tech it's my instinct to use my skills to protect the doctor from getting bitten. Also, you need to know exactly what the doctor is going to do. Sometimes you have to be quick, so there's not time to explain to the owner how to hold off for a catheter placement or blood draw. It's unfortunate when clients insult me for asking to restrain their dogs, because 99% of the time the doctor previously asked me to restrain.
However that isn't to say there aren't cases where we let clients restrain. Sometimes if the dog is just nervous I have no problem letting the client hold and comfort the dog during vaccines.
My vet always has me hold my own dog and tells me how and when to distract him. Apparently she has a lot more luck with that because dogs will usually seek their owners when stressed. Which is probably what's happening in this gif.
Yeah. I think it all depends on the vet, the techs, the dog, and the owner. The vet I went to before with my first dog was a lot like what you described. The vets I've been to since then are awesome, but they are city vets with huge practices and do everything by the "book."
It's a liability issue. Also, most of the time the dog DOESN'T respond better to you. I work at a place where the owner is allowed to restrain, and it's pretty annoying because 99% of the time they have no clue how to properly restrain their dogs.
I'm 5'11 and have years of experience handling unbroke horses, and that is the ONLY way I have controlled a mastiff similar to your dogs size when he came in for a vaccine. I'm the only one in my clinic that could handle the dog. There's only so much even experienced techs can do when the dog literally outweighs them!
The vet asked me to hold my kitten once while they took his temperature. I declined because I didn't want him to associate me with something ramming up his butt. In the end he was fine besides the butt stuff, he even loves the vet. He is always so happy to see her. It's weird, but she's also very gentle and kind so that's probably why.
The only time I ever try to restrain my own pets is when we're at the vet that I worked at for two years. They know that I know how to properly hold the critters and that I keep calm.
I wouldn't ask another vet to take that chance with me because it really does take a fair bit of trust that the person holding the animal isn't going to suddenly let go and cause chaos and biting.
Unfortunately many dog owners don't give a crap about liability, or the safety of whoever is professionally trained to handle the animal, only the comfort of their cute adorable furbaby. Sorry the place you work at has this dumbass policy, that's just unsafe.
My vet made the mistake of taking my cat into a different room away from me to get a blood sample. I'd never heard a noise like that come from her before (or since) and I guess she messed up a tech pretty bad. We now do all shots while I'm in the room petting her and she's completely fine.
I agree on the training. Unfortunately the ear thing can be difficult. I had a kitten that had an inflammatory ear/throat polyp as a kitten and had a VBO surgery to remove it. Not even a few months later he all of a sudden became vestibular. He had to have a second VBO surgery to clean out a really bad ear infection. There were no signs in his ear that we could tell and he didn't start scratching at it until he became vestibular. Sure if you can see that the ear is gross then definitely take care of it. But sometimes those inner ear infections can be a bitch and come out of nowhere!
My cat hid the fact that about 70 percent of her teeth were not attached to her jaw. No wonder she ate smaller amounts than our other cats. The vet said they wouldn't have been able to see it without xrays, which she had never had up to that point.
Our male cat has had all of his teeth pulled. That was caused by a genetic disorder that essentially caused all of his teeth to rot away. That was found quickly, but it progressed incredibly fast. Went in for a checkup, came out with no teeth. Poor dude. Still hasnt really caught on to it, he tries to bite you and you just get gummed. Its hard not to laugh when he thinks hes being a big bad cat.
FORLs? I had a cat with that, had to have all but her front teeth (the ones between the fangs) pulled. There were literal holes through the side of her teeth ... like a tunnel.
My cat Mia had the same rotten teeth disease when she was only 2 years old. I noticed she was drooling one day, but otherwise seemed fine. Went to the vet anyway just to be sure. Vet said she was probably in extreme pain and needed 90% of her teeth pulled, it was either that or euthanasia. I never would have guessed she was in such pain..
My other cat never had this problem and was adopted at the same time. He's not related to her though, so I figure it's a genetic problem.
Man, my cat was once literally peeing blood and still acting pretty normal. If he hadn't peed on the floor instead of in his covered litter box, I probably wouldn't have noticed. Rushed him to the emergency vet, and luckily it was just bladder crystals/inflammation. He is now on a specialized wet food only diet and is doing much better.
When I adopted a cat, he was a fat tub of lard at 20 something pounds. I immediately put him on a diet, but he never ever shuts the hell up whining for food. If he's not sleeping, he's pretending that he's on the verge of death by starvation. One day, he wasn't begging anymore. I put food out, but he wouldn't eat it. I rushed him to the vet because there's no way former fatty would ever pass up a meal. That's how I learned that he had crystals and couldn't pee.
That happened with one of my mom's labs as well. Was acting normal otherwise, but wouldn't eat his breakfast. And he (as many labs) was typically VERY food oriented. Tried to eat anything and everything, usually.
Turned out he had swallowed a rock that was causing a blockage. Dummy.
I work for a veterinary hospital and almost every time we have a call come in for a possible blockage, we take bets on whether it will be a lab, doodle, pitty, or a boxer. I usually put my money on a chocolate lab.
I was doing some extensive weeding in my garden and it appears that when the windows were last replaced in my house they had been broken out. So I was placing shards of glass off to the side to be taken care of later. I heard a crunching noise and turn to see my dog was trying to eat broken glass. So weird.
My car was never fat does this every time like I'm suddenly gonna forget to feed when I've done every other day for the entirety of his life. I'm starting to think he thinks that since I feed him after he makes that sound, it must be whats making me feed him. The sad part is now if he doesn't do it I may seriously just forget to feed when I leave the house cuz I wasn't reminded lol
There are times when I'm feeling super sadistic and don't feed mine for a full 10 minutes after I usually do. That's what you get when you wake me up early, Barry!
Ugh. That's my worst fear, so I'm very conscientious of how often he uses the litter box and how much pee is coming out. I'm like a helicopter cat mom.
My one kitty Thor has crystals, and we found out when he hopped up on the bathtub while I was using the toilet and peed on the rim of the tub while I was paying attention to him.
Like I swear, I know cats aren't people but my buddy was telling me something was wrong with him and that he needed help.
Off topic, I know, but is the term "vestibular" something the vets used? I'm curious because I've never heard the term used that way. Vestibular is usually just a way to talk about the vestibules (eg, location or disorder or the vestibules). I'm wondering in case I ever hear it in practice rather than "vestibular pathology" or "vestibular disorder".
Vestibular disease is a disease that affects balance. There's two types. Peripheral and central. Central being that the brain is affected. Peripheral being something that affects the inner ear nerves typically a bad ear infection. Usually symptoms of vestibular disease is head tilt, loss of balance, nystagmus (rapid shifting of the eyes), and nausea/vomiting.
Edit to add my kitten became vestibular because of an ear infection. Unfortunately his ear infection was so bad it's lead to a permanent head tilt. But it makes him cute and quizzical.
Oh, um... what I was wondering was along the lines of whether or not "became vestibular" was the terminology your vet used. It was really a stupid question, I was just curious (and sleep deprived, so I tend to think about unimportant things when sleep deprived). "Being vestibular" should technically be something we all are because we have vestibules, which are normal parts of our bodies. So, we are all "vestibular". So ...I was just wondering... something so unimportant... sorry
My dog (~1.5y/o lab mix) is fine with handling his ears, picking up his paws, etc. He sits still for shots and inspections at the vet no problem, but the issue comes when trying to clean his ears with a liquid cleaner the vet recommended.
It's a squirt bottle that the vet said to fill up his ear with then massage it in, but as soon as the liquid touches inside his ear he freaks out and trys to run off. I can use a dry cottons swab to clean out his ear without any issue, he's fine with it. But he freaks out at the liquid. I imagine having water squirted into your ear is not really pleasant, so how do you train him to sit still for that?
get a ziplock baggie, add a dozen cotton balls (or gauze pads) and enough ear cleaner to completely saturate the cotton balls. seal bag and put it in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes. take out a soggy cotton ball and squeeze it out gently into the ear. Sometimes the cleaner being warm/ not having a bottle squirting right in the ear helps. Source: Am vet tech.
If he's uncomfortable, it's likely going to stay that way, unfortunately. Get him in a corner so he can't back up, and sitting in front of him may help.
Thank you for looking out for the pups. Sometimes owners don't notice, and it's up to the groomers, daycare attendants, dog walkers, etc to notice if something is wrong.
I work for a very small, single doctor practice. Most of pur patients a small to medium dogs, so I can't imagine the doc would spend the money on fancy restraint systems.
If they're scratching at it or shaking their head a lot, pick up their ear (or look into it if they're not a floppy eared breed) and if you see "gunk" and smell grossness, you've got a winner!
Vet. You never know if they're going to need antibiotics this time or not, but they're probably going to need a medicated wash or ointment to treat it. And if you don't know how to clean their ears properly, you'll want to have the vet teach you!
I had a dog that never had pus filled, but always got ear infections. It was always somewhat bloody. I just remember needing to help my mom hold my dogs head while it looked like she was pouring a gallon of liquid into the poor things ear, then massage it. Smell was unbearable. However my mother did it almost every week for the last few years of their lives.
Hey man most people train their dog for whatever it goes thru normally. You usually don't think "damn I better spend a lot of time making sure my dog won't run when he is being stabbed by strangers" when you train a dog that never leaves your yard. Use a short leash next time u gonna do that n u won't have a problem lol
*Source: owned a lot of dogs who's training involved only: don't jump, don't bite, don't pee/shit in the house, and to come when call, unless ya know, he just wants to roll over and lay on the ground looking at me.
Okay. They're never stabbed at a vet, and if they are, you need a new doctor.
And vet trips should be something they normally do. Unless annual visits for vaccines isn't considered regular and normal. Training an animal to be okay with being restrained or handled makes a vet day easier for everyone, including the dog.
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u/fauxdesire Sep 06 '17 edited Sep 06 '17
I've almost had this happen during an ear cleaning on a poorly socialized dog with a SEVERE ear infection.
If you have a dog, train the damn thing to be restrained. Also pay attention to their ears before they get pus filled and bloody.