Sedatives for your dog for Vet visit

Well, it has finally happened. The Vet has recommended that Misha take a sedative before she comes for her next visit. I'm not crazy about doing it, because she is so tired afterward. Sometimes into the next day. But, it is the only way that she will be calm enough to go through her exam. Otherwise, she will bite someone.

So, Monday, she goes to have her gland checked to make sure everything has healed correctly. She'll have a sedative and be very relaxed. She will be unintentionally funny for awhile. Maybe if we do it this way, she'll learn that the veterinary staff are nice people and only want to help her. They really are quite gentle with the animals.

Does anyone else have to give their dog a sedative for veterinary visits?

 

No... We usually end up exercising them before reaching the vet. And since we walk a short distance before commuting, they end up having some of their energy spent. At the vets, the staff are nice too. They also know the proper protocol of how to introduce themselves to a dog.

 

We don't have to, but he does have to be muzzled sometimes, which is also very stressful for him (and us). If it came down to it, I think I would be okay with using a light sedative (not a strong one), just to calm him down enough to not hurt anyone or hurt himself from being over-anxious and upset.

 

I thought I'd let you all know that Misha made it through her appointment. I gave her the sedative about an hour before we left. It took almost the full hour for her to calm enough so I could slip the hood on her. I thought the hood would at least give some barrier to the veterinarian staff. We've tried a muzzle before and there is just no way to get it on her.

She only snapped once when the veterinarian checked her glands. I think I might have, too. It's not a comfortable procedure to go through. I was able to keep her calm the rest of the way. They took her in back to do her nails. Less than 5 minutes later, the veterinarian brought her out and she was done. She did really well and we decided this is the best approach for everyone concerned.

Poor girl was wasted when I brought her home. I took her out to do her businesses when we got home. She came back in and collapsed in front of the couch. I threw her blanket on her and she slept on the floor for next 2 hours.She was pretty much out of it the rest of the night, though she did get up for dinner.

Haopee, Misha used to be very good at the vets. I took her for all her series of shots and her spaying. She was nervous, but she loved the staff. And, they loved carrying around a 2 lb. puppy. Then, she had an emergency and had to go to the emergency animal hospital. There the staff was friendly, but not as gentle. They need to move animals in and out and make room for the next emergency. Misha was scared and combative. It did not go well. She had to go there again about 6 months later and that didn't go well either.

Since then, she has been leery about the vets. I have faith in this one veterinarian though. She was on maternity leave when Misha had her problems, but has seen her 3 times now. She is gentle, patient, and will take whatever time the dog needs. I hope eventually Misha will trust her and maybe the sedative (or at least, a lower dose) won't be necessary. The fact that she let the veterinarian carry her around is a start.

 

I hope she eventually trusts her, too, so you don't have to go to drastic measures to sedate and cover her. I've never had to use a full hood like that before.

 

Poor Misha. At least this visit went through okay. Wow, it must have been a traumatic experience for Misha when she went to the hospital.

By the way, speaking of spaying, how old was Misha when you had her spayed? I was hoping to have my pups neutered but I can't risk doing them along with the vaccination.

Our vets here are really nice too. And they talk to the animals in a cooing way. I was surprised that Buchi did not snap at them when they inserted a thermometer in his butt.

Perhaps someday Misha won't have to take the sedatives anymore when she gets accustomed to vet.

By the way, I never knew how you got Misha. Care to share?

 

I've never given Homer any sedatives. He doesn't like going to the vet but he isn't very scared of it. He is more scared of the groomer to be honest. But I think sedatives can be a good idea in some cases. It's better to give them than to let your dog be terrified.

 

I've been to this emergency hospital many times before and have had no problems with them treating my animals. They took her in their work area to give her a shot for her allergic reaction. She resisted. So, they attempted to put a hood on her and couldn't. Then, they tried a muzzle. All these things were the wrong move. Up to that point, she would easily take a shot with our veterinarian using only a towel as a barrier. But, it was enough for her to associate the vets with terror and she hasn't gotten over it.

Funny thing is I had to sedate her just to get the plastic hood/cone thing on her. She doesn't mind it once it is on her head, but she does not like putting it on at all.

Claudine, Misha is a fear biter. This is the reason the veterinarian asked me to give her the sedative. I've been told that for some dogs the sedative can have a reverse reaction. They become more aggressive and more likely to bite because their reactions are slower. But, it worked well for Misha.

And, by the way, Sierra liked the groomer (gave her a bath) but hated having her nails clipped. I sedated her so the groomer could do her nails the first time and the groomer told me not to do it again. She preferred to work with the dog "as is". So, it depends on the dog. Eventually, Sierra trusted her enough that she only gave her a little growl to let her know she wasn't thrilled, but she tolerated the procedure.

Haopee, I had Misha spayed at 7 months. I was told that it is best to do it around 6 months and before they have their first cycle (for females). I would have done it at 6 months. However, Misha was sensitive with her first vaccinations, so the veterinarian decided to spread them out longer. I waited for those to be done before inflicting anything else on her. She was only 2 lbs. when she got her first shot and was quite sore afterwards.

Misha actually tolerates the butt thermometer. I hold her while they do it. She gives me a look like "how could you let them do this to me?" LOL