Whether it's a routine check or an emergency dash, here's how to take the trauma out of a trip to the vet

Cats and dogs hate going to the vet, but try to walk in their paws for a minute and consider what it might be like for them at a vet clinic. How would you feel at a doctor's surgery in a foreign country where you didn't speak the language? What would you do to communicate pain or anxiety? How would you react if those who were poking and prodding you were 10 times bigger than yourself?

 

Your pet probably feels as though it has no control of the situation. In desperation, some animals use aggression to regain some control, and if they find it works they'll usually be worse the next time.

 

Animal senses are different from ours. Their hearing is four times better and anxiety often leads to noise sensitivity, so they can get jumpy at sounds we can't hear.

 

Also, a dog or cat's sense of smell is many times better than our own. Couple this with the fact they're more easily startled by moving objects and find it hard to walk on slippery surfaces, and you can imagine what the vet's office must be like for them.

 

Say ahhhhhhhh!

There are many things you can do to make a visit to the vet easier for both of you.

 

First, stay calm yourself. If you're in control, your pet is more likely to respond better.

 

Always take a cat in a well-secured cat cage so they feel safer and calmer. Never take them from the cage while in the waiting room. Most cats don't feel any more happy in the path of a German shepherd than we do sitting a metre from a crocodile.

 

If you know your pet has a difficult time coping with the slippery exam table, ask
the vet to put a towel on it.

 

Come prepared. If your dog bites, bring a muzzle or ask the receptionist for one.

 

Never shout or physically reprimand a pet while it's in this anxious situation. The more calm and quiet everyone is, the better things will go. Vets are usually well stocked with treats in the consultation room that you can give to your pet when it's done a good job.

 

Just make sure they're not rewarded for bad behaviour - I've been in a situation where an upset dog was trying to bite me and its owner was trying to ram treats down its throat at the same time. The owner thought she was distracting the dog, but the dog interpreted the treats as a reward for biting.

 

Finally, some animals won't be calmed by any environmental control or training. For those who don't handle public situations well and can be aggressive, consider the help of a veterinary behavioural specialist who can combine training with environmental control and medications as needed.

 

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