Vet visits

I am just curious to know at other peoples vet visits...do you hold your dog or does someone else? I've read enough to make me wonder about this. I always bring my dog to the exam room put them on the table and hold them. Is this "normal" practice or do many of you have a vet tech help? Even my big dogs never leave my hands.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah C. on February 13, 2010 at 7:58pm

I too left Banfield after it became clear to me that everything went on "in the back".
My first visit with my new vet everything was done in the front, but the second they wanted to take the puppy "in the back". When I asked that they do everything in the exam room, with me, they were fine with it. I wonder if Banfield would have done this too.
At Banfield the explanation I was given was that they wanted to make sure the dog didn't associate the owner with unpleasantness. So.. they want the dog to associate their place of business and the vet with unpleasantness? Hmm...
My current vet makes sure the dog doesn't associate the visit with unpleasantness by giving LOTS of hypoallergenic treats.

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Permalink Reply by Katy on February 13, 2010 at 9:16am

Normally hold my dogs, always have, even for blood draws except at the new vets place. I've schooling for vet tech so even if my dogs decided to become a pain I know how to properly restrain them. Most vets wont have a VT in the room, unless the owner just simply doesn't know how to restrain their animal for regular check up procedures, or (like with cats) they are asked to leave the room for safety reasons during vaccinations/blood draws b/c of the owner not know proper restraint techniques.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on February 13, 2010 at 9:51am

I always put GIbson up on the table and then pet him. When he gets shots, I put my arm around his neck & chest to hold him still. I feel like it makes him feel a little safer...

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Permalink Reply by Lynne Cerny on February 13, 2010 at 7:40pm

Bucher has a bad hip so he hates to go to the vet. He is also very bad with getting his nails trimed! It takes 3 people to do his nails. My husband, son and I have tried but can't (we have to be very careful with his hip)! We alway go to the vet with him and help even with blood draws. Sally our little girl we just got the end of December just went to the vet for a visit. Nothing done, just to say Hi, I hope it goes well when we have to take her in for shots etc.!

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Permalink Reply by Sarah C. on February 13, 2010 at 8:01pm

When I didn't have a vet who took the dog in the back for procedures, I held my dogs, and cats, and I still currently hold my dogs during shots and fecal samples and temperature taking.
I don't know why I feel the need to insist on it. I feel like, more than the sentimental reason of wanting to comfort my dog, that my dog is my responsibility and that I should take on any risk associated with the procedures on personally. I know the techs are professionals, but I would still feel terrible if they were injured. It helps that my dogs are mild. My cats, however, were not mild and I handled them wrapped in a thick blanket. I think the techs were thankful.