Vet takes away dog

[ncsugrad54]

All vets I have been to take the dog out of the room for weight, blood draw, etc. However, my vet decided to make an exception with one of my dogs and let her stay in the room. They have me muzzle her, and actually I help hold her to keep her from biting them Unfortunately, we have our annual visit coming up soon. She used to love the vet as a pup and then something happened when we went to an emergency vet once and now she HATES them.

[mum24dog]

Having a vet take your dog or cat "to the back" is practically unheard of in RSA, especially here rural where I now live. We only have one vet, his "assistants" are two black guys who have no qualifications, maybe matric, but that would be the highest. The owners are mostly "assistants". I have personally held my dogs for most things, if he needs to give it a shot I hold the "sharp side" and he gives the injection. If necessary and they're not busy he will get one of his "assistants" to assist, but that's the exception, not the rule. There is no real "back room" anyway, his consultation room is his treatment room, he has a huge built in cupboard that leads off that room where all his equipment is kept. And a table behind him with his "go-to" gear; gauze, most often used injections and the fridge with the other meds is in the corner next to the window. One room down the hall to the right, positioned so you can see it from the treatment room is his OR and across the hall slightly to the left is the kennels the dogs and cats are kept while there. Dogs and cats are not normally kept overnight after speuter procedures, I have dropped all mine off at 8am and picked them up just before lunch. Then I take them home 30km's to the farm, so it's not even as if I live in town.When my Jess was stung by a scorpion, I raced her in, he gave her Ca and pain killers, then when she could walk out there on her own steam, about ten mins after we came in, he gave me some more Ca to take home for follow up treatment.

When we still lived in the city, those vets also did 99% of procedures right there in the examination room tight in front of us, bladder taps, etc.

 

Your vet sounds pretty much like mine.

 

I don't buy the time saving argument with procedures like taking blood. It takes no time at all. Do some vets carry out the simple stuff behind closed doors to increase the mystique so they can justify what they charge?

 

I had to smile at the idea of a dog being taken away to be weighed. The scales at my vets are in the waiting room and we can do it ourselves. If I'm passing with a dog sometimes I will pop in and weigh it without bothering the staff at all.

[painted_ponies]

I will never again allow a vet to take my dog into "the back" without me. It's not an issue with my current vet. But once, years ago, I allowed it with my lhasa apso. A couple of days later, the dog sickened and died. He was in his teens so, although crushed, I thought it was normal.

 

Then, a few weeks later, when I was in with another of my dogs, I read my folder. Turns out a vet tech had accidentally pierced the lhasa's bladder while trying to express urine. I think it's possible my dog died of a systemic infection from that injury.

 

Maybe or maybe not. But nobody works on my dog without me ever again.

 

Or my horses either.

[alligande]

I just went to a new vet to get my paper work sorted out for my dog to fly to Europe, now the practice was great, really annal about the paper work... I was honestly blown away by their care as a first time customer who won't be going back... OK my FIL will and he is a regular but they were still amazing... But I had time to study their facility and for the first time I realized what Liz was talking about, the exams rooms were small and beyond that was a central area full of all the stuff. The room I was in had nothing but an exam table and a chair. My previous vet only had two exam rooms and a back room, she even used her surgery as her office... so everything was to hand. I also realized that she had deliberately made her practice very open, there are windows in every exam room, there are windows into the surgery, and the back room nothing is closed off..... something now makes me think this was deliberate.

[Smalahundur]

Kinda off topic but am I the only one that got a very ominous vibe reading the topic title...?

[KSH]

I agree with a lot of what's been said. Even with small animal vets, I've found that once they know I have a farm and livestock they seem to relax a bit and trust me. However, I have switched vets over this too. I left a very good practice because they would not make any exceptions ever, and eventually my insecure girl would get upset as soon as she saw the parking lot. (My parents' dogs still go there, and 6 years later Jenga still hates that parking lot if I stop in for any reason.) Before taking her to the new vet, I went in alone and asked if I could stay with her. I even told them that I understand that some owners make their dogs worse and if I turned out to be that owner they were welcome to send me out. My boys are outgoing and confident, so although they don't love being taken from me, they're OK.

 

And I so appreciated the emergency vet who said that while she couldn't allow me in the back while they repaired the laceration, she'd give the meds in my presence. When Jenga was asleep, she was carried out, stitched and stapled, and brought back to me to wake up. Yes, that was a long Friday night for all of us, but I'll never forget her taking that bit of extra time and effort to minimize my dog's trauma.

 

When Murdock had CCL surgery at the ortho specialist, they didn't mind at all that I wanted to see where he'd be, and they actually had me bring him into the kennel when I dropped him off. And I felt good knowing he was in a huge kennel with a couple of cushy comforters to lay on.

 

Typically my usual vet now does blood draws in the exam room for all 3 dogs since they have to for Jenga anyway. But they also know me well enough now not to worry. The scale is in the back, but they're never shy about letting me walk back with them. I wish it were in the lobby - I'd love to put the 11-month-old wildman on it more often just to check but I don't want to bother them, so I do my best with my bathroom scale and 40ish pounds of wiggly BC. Actually that might make an entertaining video...

[DeltaBluez Tess]

My vet will let me go back with him but he has been my vet for over 20 years. Most of the time he does whatever he needs in the same room as me. My dogs loves him as he fussed over them and give them treats. He is like James Herriot but modern. Tess loved to visit him and we would drop her off in the morning and pick her up after work many times. Most of the time when I would get there to pick her up, she would be behind the counter, loose or more than likely in a tech's lap. I had to put her on a leash when I would go in, otherwise she would trot down the hall, push the backdoor open and let herself in or push the front gate open and go in.....they thought it was funny. It would be one of the few times she ignored me as she was on a mission to find her vet. I trust my vet and his tech have been with him for years. When he does go in the back, he invites me along. But this is based on years of visits, trust, etc....and I don't baby my dog at the vet or get in the way.

[TEC]

At my current veterinary office the exam table stays folded-up against the wall, and everybody gathers on the floor for exam, procedures and discussion. Doesn't even give me a chance to demonstrate how my BC will eagerly jump floor to table on mere suggestion . All the routine things are done in the exam room, e.g. blood draw and cyst aspiration. I hold and comfort her, and it is over within seconds. The office is staffed by a group of young turk veterinarians who had previously practiced in a well-known nationwide franchise. Josie has learned to hop on the scale by herself as we go down the hall to the exam room. The office is small and comfortable. I hope they remain profitable, as they take time to talk and educate, which is appreciated. Last visit the vet gave me a short list of home remedies for various maladies to tide her over until an appointment is available. Always a good experience. -- TEC

[highway61]

...Although I almost always bring my dog(s) into the vets off leash, last time there were 4 clueless dog/owner combos in reception, each owner thinking that maybe my dog might DO SOMETHING so I clipped the lead on. I don't have the right to make my vet's clients afraid even though their fear is irrational.

 

 

Let me get this straight and if I don't, I apologize in advance. But you saunter into your vet's office with your dogs off leash and the four clients already seated with their dogs leashed are the clueless dog/owner combos with irrational fear?

[Andie182]

My ACD of 12 years went off of his food last fall and started deteriorating. I took him to our regular vet who drew blood with me right in the room and from the lab results, the next day, learned that he was in renal failure. I spent a week watching him grow thinner and weaker while I tried every trick in the book to get him to eat including pleading with him and giving sq fluids to keep him hydrated. At the end of that week, I realized that he had become completely blind and then noticed that his gait had gotten slightly unsteady. It was Friday and I called my vet and made an appointment to bring him in on Monday to have him euthanized because I just had not been able to stop the downward spiral. I wanted to have the weekend with him to spoil him, take some last photos and say goodbye. By Friday night, he could not walk on his own. On Saturday morning, he could not get up. My regular vet was closed but I couldn't bear to put him through any more so I called a friend's vet that was open on Saturday, explained what was going on and asked if I could bring him in to have him euthanized. When I arrived, they insisted on taking him in the back to start an IV. I caught a glimpse, at one point, when someone briefly opened the door and they had a muzzle on him!!!! The thought of that haunts me to this day. People were always intimidated by him and I guess the vet was no exception. Little did they know that he had never harmed a fly, that he would lie there and not move a muscle while they placed the IV, that he was a sweet, loving, obedient boy, even when he was sick. So he laid there and let them place that muzzle but it must have been so confusing to him. In the end, I got to hold him and pet him as he passed, his tail wagging until the end but that sight of him lying there, muzzled will stick with me forever and I hope that I never have to put a dog through that ever again.

[Donald McCaig]

Dear Doggers,

Let me get this straight and if I don't, I apologize in advance. But you saunter into your vet's office with your dogs off leash and the four clients already seated with their dogs leashed are the clueless dog/owner combos with irrational fear?

Dog. Yes.

 

Donald McCaig

[simba]

Let me get this straight and if I don't, I apologize in advance. But you saunter into your vet's office with your dogs off leash and the four clients already seated with their dogs leashed are the clueless dog/owner combos with irrational fear?

 

 

I agree with this. Their fear isn't irrational- they don't know you or your dogs. It is perfectly rational and logical.

 

Even if it's an only 1 in 10 chance of the stranger turning out to be someone who can't control their dogs in a stressful crowded situation, that's a 1/10 chance of at least an unwanted interaction while you have a sick stressed dog. It raises everyone's stress levels. That's not clueless, that is just having had experience with average dog owners.

 

And really, of the owners I meet with their dogs off-leash, I would doubt as high as 9/10 would be able to prevent their dog fighting with mine off-leash in the vet's, let alone an unwanted interaction. Never mind that I don't know why their dogs are there or if they're contagious.

 

You know your dog is going to be fine. I have no way of distinguishing that from the guy whose dog killed my neighbour's hens while he was walking it, because he 'knew' it wouldn't hurt a fly. Or the girl whose dog harasses every other dog it meets because she 'knows' it's friendly (as it growls and pins others).

 

I have little doubt, having read your stuff on the forums, that your dogs probably are under control.

 

But if I didn't know who you were, as Joe Bloggs who I do not know off the street there is a good chance that your dogs will not be as well trained as you say they are, because that is the norm.

[Shetlander]

I caught a glimpse, at one point, when someone briefly opened the door and they had a muzzle on him!!!! The thought of that haunts me to this day. People were always intimidated by him and I guess the vet was no exception. Little did they know that he had never harmed a fly, that he would lie there and not move a muscle while they placed the IV, that he was a sweet, loving, obedient boy, even when he was sick. So he laid there and let them place that muzzle but it must have been so confusing to him. In the end, I got to hold him and pet him as he passed, his tail wagging until the end but that sight of him lying there, muzzled will stick with me forever and I hope that I never have to put a dog through that ever again.

I can understand how this is such a painful memory! But my guess by that point, the muzzle was much more upsetting for you than your sweet boy. The important thing is he was held and comfortex by his favorite person in the world as he passed after enjoying what I am sure was a life filled with great love and happiness.

[GentleLake]

I'm in complete agreement with Simba.

 

Sometimes we do the things we do not for our own comfort and safety but for the benefit of others.

 

Kinda like the time when I told my dad to turn on his headlights at dusk. He objected because he could still see the road just fine. But at dusk his silver/grey car wasn't so visible to other drivers. Having his lights on didn't benefit him, but it surely could have benefited other drivers for whom he was now more visible.

 

Similarly, your having your dog on a leash in the vet's waiting room may be of no advantage to you, but it can be useful in making others feel more comfortable. Simple courtesy.

[highway61]

Similarly, your having your dog on a leash in the vet's waiting room may be of no advantage to you, but it can be useful in making others feel more comfortable. Simple courtesy.

 

Donald seems to recognize this when he said "...so I clipped the lead on. I don't have the right to make my vet's clients afraid even though their fear is irrational." (and he was thoughtful enough to leave those cookies)

 

What I don't get is why he presumes the other dog owners who are following the rules with their dogs on leads are the "clueless dog/owner combos"? Geez, self absorbed much?

[Donald McCaig]

Dear Doggers,

 

Ms. Simba writes: "Their fear isn't irrational- they don't know you or your dogs. It is perfectly rational and logical."

 

They are dog owners, concerned enough about their dog to seek veterinary care. If they haven't learned to distinguish between "Dog under control" and "Uncontrolled dog" they're not doing their job.

 

I dislike leads but have no interest in making a statement. In thirty years with the same practice, my offlead dogs have never caused a ruckus. I rarely have more than three at a time and if unreliable the dog is on a lead. (Unreliable is a fairly strict standard: they down stay or walk behind. They are not to interact with other dogs or humans. Period.) I don't know if I've ever seen another off-lead dog at that practice and value my privilege.

 

I am inclined to cut civilians and children more slack because some are utterly terrified of dogs. I caught the parking shuttle from Dulles with wee Gael beside me. I waited until all the other passengers had boarded before getting in front beside the driver with Gael on the floorboards at my feet. When one well dressed professional woman realized there was a small dog on the front floorboards she abandoned all dignity to crawl over the seats, mewling, from the third row to the last one. I felt bad for her but nothing I could do to assuage her irrational fears. Dog owners fearing what they can see with their own eyes is no danger are irrational.

 

As I wrote, sensing others' discomfort I leashed my mannerly dog and as Roxanne notes that is simple courtesy.

 

Donald McCaig

[simba]

"If they haven't learned to distinguish between "Dog under control" and "Uncontrolled dog" they're not doing their job."

 

It's not a dichotomy. There are a wide number of variations on the theme of 'uncontrolled dog'. It might be a dog who is fine around all dogs but is used to killing rats- which a dog may resemble, or which may be present as pets. It might be a dog who is perfectly under control at the beginning but will get more stressed as the waiting goes on.

 

Dogs are not robots, things can go wrong even with the best behaved ones, especially in that kind of environment. A dog owner 'doing their job' would be reasonable to recognize that and take precautions accordingly when they see someone with off-leash dogs.

 

If your vet knows you and knows they won't cause a ruckus, I can definitely see the vet allowing it. It still wouldn't mean that someone was clueless, not having known you for thirty years, for exercising caution.

[Bogwoppit]

I can understand taking the pet away for some procedures like taking blood at the neck. I am fairly serene at the vet, and have a firm hand when moving animals (not uncaring but no allowance for wiggling free).

My OH however... You'd think he was having the procedures himself. When they take the cat out, he paces, he twitches and he asks me if she'll be okay. His anxiety undoubtedly would wind up any pet with him and make a vets job harder.