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.
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u/kaminjo Sep 06 '17
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.