The Petzine

I know from experience that most pet owners could never dream that their dog or cat would bite somebody. But the reality is, when a dog or a cat is battling an extreme fear of a situation, the natural instinct is to protect themselves and protect you by biting or scratching. This is very, very common when pets go to the veterinarian. Handling it responsibly requires you to set aside all personal embarrassment or surprise, in order for the veterinary staff to be able to proceed with the services your pet needs.

For cats and small dogs, the carrier used for transportation may be a source of fear and apprehension. Conditioning your pet to the carrier is important. Placing the carrier in a common area of the house several days prior to actually using it will allow your pet to sniff it out, possibly go inside of it, and get used to the idea. Encourage them to go inside the carrier, and reward with treats. Never FORCE your pet inside — this will just encourage fear and bad behavior. Most plastic carriers come with snaps or screws on the side that allow you to open it from the top and place your pet gently inside. Fabric carriers usually zip open, allowing the same type of access. Treat it as a positive experience. Dogs that are crate-trained will probably have less fear associated with the carrier, but may need extra encouragement when it’s not as recognizable as their crate.

Some dogs have a fear of leashes, but this is usually less common. If you’re dealing with this, it’s best to consult a trainer or behaviorist for the best advice. But as with anything else, positive reinforcement and treat rewards will often go a very long way towards comforting your pet during a scary experience.

Once you arrive at the vet’s office, go ahead and let the staff know up front that this is your pet’s first time, or that he/she is frightened (if this is the case). They will appreciate the heads-up. Once you’re placed in an exam room, let your pet check everything out. You may be waiting for a little while, or the technician may come right in and start taking a history. Either way, your pet should be allowed to walk around the room and sniff things. If your pet is in a carrier, getting them out is often a chore. I used to hear all the time “they didn’t want to go in there, now they don’t want to come out!”. To speed up the process, the technician may reach in and pull your pet out. If it’s a cat, they will likely hold him/her by the scruff of the neck. This is NOT cruel, it is how a “momma cat” would keep her kittens under control, and it usually results in immediate compliancy. However, if this just upsets your cat, or if he/she is already hissing or swatting before the technician reaches in, something different will need to be done.

Different clinics will have different methods of restraint, and it’s important to remain patient while they figure out a way. Some clinics simply refuse to see fractious (meaning resistant or quarrelsome) animals. This is due to liability issues, and while it is frustrating and causes a problem for you, it’s important to understand where it comes from. It’s not personal to you, so try not to feel offended. If they’re willing to see your pet, they may try anything from a restraining net, a muzzle, gloves, a towel, or they may bring in extra helpers. At this point, it’s best to just stay out of the way unless you’re asked to help. They are NOT going to hurt your pet, remember that whole liability thing? They will do everything possible to keep your pet safe. Unfortunately though, dogs and cats can be VERY dramatic, and may scream, hiss, growl, snap, or sometimes even urinate or defecate. It can be upsetting for an owner to watch. Some clinics may ask you to leave the room, for this very reason. Again, it’s very important NOT to be offended. They are just trying to do their job, and a concerned owner can accidentally become a hinderance.

Once the staff is able to regain control over your pet, they will do their best to complete the procedure. With fractious animals, some steps of an exam may be skipped. It’s important to be understanding of this — if your pet is at the vet for her arthritis, but is getting worked up every time he tries to look in her ears, it’s just easier for all involved to trim down the less important parts of the exam and just focus on the issue at hand, in an effort to keep the amount of time your pet is anxious and stressed at a minimum. Asking for a reduced exam fee at this point is a bit insulting. The staff likely used more people and spent more time than they would for an average exam in order to restrain and calm down your pet, so in all honesty, they would be within their rights to even charge an extra fee. However, the more understanding and patient you are, the more they will be willing to work with you on whatever your concerns are. Just be careful not to take your frustration out on the staff — dealing with fractious animals is not a walk in the park, so give them a break.

Understanding fear aggression and where it comes from is so important for pet owners. Your pet may be an angel at home, but when placed in unfamiliar territory, they are completely within their rights to feel anxious and defensive, and often the only way they know how to express that is with aggression. It’s always a good thing when you can condition your pet to situations like this early, and train them out of fear aggression behavior. But if you’re one of the many, many pet owners that discovered this too late, reading this article and understanding your role when dealing with fractious pets will go a long way, and your veterinary staff will definitely appreciate your attitude towards the situation.

Tagged as carrier, fear aggression, fractious, leashes, restraint, scruff, veterinarian + Categorized as Behavioral