Lectures From The Vet

[Rhona W]

I took Casper to be castrated today. I had warned the vets on three occassions that he was very anxious and didn't like strangers, but was assured he would be fine and just to bring him in. He hasn't been to the vets since his 10 week vaccination. 

So I dropped him off this morning and he barked at the vet and wouldn't let him check to see if he had two testicals or not. Although I assured him he had. The vet then decided that they wouldn't bother doing pre-op blood tests as Casper would not let them do it. I then had my first lecture of the day. Was I aware that there is a condition in solid cockers called rage? And whereas the vet wasn't suggesting Casper suffered from 'rage' as he hadn't actually bitten anyone, I should still be aware of it.   

I went to pick him up at tea time and got the second lecture of the day. This time I was told I needed to take Casper to training classes as he is a dominant dog who thinks he is above me and barks to protect me. I told him I used to go to classes and he was so stressed by it all that I was advised to stop taking him. And that we actually see an APDT. But why do people still think a dog that barks is a dominant dog protecting his owner?  At the first sign of any real trouble my dominant dog is hiding behind my legs.   

By the way, Casper is fine and has pretty much slept all evening. I guess the anaesthetic hasn't totally worn off yet. He's sporting a lovely pair of pants as I refused the lamp shade. (Another thing disapproved of by the vet.  ) But from past experience, if Casper has a cut, it is Reuben that licks it all the time. I couldn't see the lampshade stopping that.   

[spanielcrazy]

Sounds like an easy one to me--time to find a new vet! 

[Helen]

find a new vet - if he mistakes caspar barking in fear as aggression and dominance than i wouldn't trust him with my dog.  Poor caspar will be petrified of going in there in the future...

what a day he's had (and you!).... gentle squidges to your beautiful boy (they recover very quickly from that op, i'm sure caspar will be bouncing around in no time)

[Jan/Billy]

find a new vet - if he mistakes caspar barking in fear as aggression and dominance than i wouldn't trust him with my dog.  Poor caspar will be petrified of going in there in the future...

I agree. Nothing worse than a vet thinking they are superior in knowledge than a behaviourist, & asuming us dog owners know zilch about our own dogs 

[Penel]

Yup wot they said !  don't stress about it.

[spanielcrazy]

Not only would I find his misinformed lectures offensive,I would have a big problem with a vet who didn't do the pre-op blood screen because his dog handling skills were so bad!!! (and then have the nerve to lecture me!) I don't think we're talking about a 150lb Mastiff here!

I used to work at an Emergency vet clinic, we saw thousands of cats and dogs, I don't ever remember one that we couldn't get the job done with somehow.  

[Penel]

My vets wouldn't even suggest pre op blood screening for a dog under the age of 8 yrs old anyway. 

[Nicola]

Poor Casper, I hope he's feeling better    Alfie sends sympathetic nudges   

I agree with the others though - I'd be finding myself a new vet after that episode I think!

[Michele]

Yep, I agree too, find another practice.


Hope you're not too sore and feeling better soon Casper

[Rhona W]

My vets wouldn't even suggest pre op blood screening for a dog under the age of 8 yrs old anyway. 

That is what the vet said; as he was under 8 they didn't think it was important.

I just politely disagreed with everything he said.    Whilst secretly thinking, "What a prat!"

He was a young man as well so I was just surprised that his ideas could be so old fashioned.  I used to have a lovely vet but unfortunately he left. This was the first time I had really used this vets so I didn't know what they were like. Seems to me the only good point is that it only cost me £46.50. So whereas the vet obviously doesn't know his @rse from his elbow, hopefully he knows what dog's testicals look like.   

[debbie321]

A vet at my practice (I have since come to quite like him  ) mentioned rage when Ben growled at him when he was a young pup (it didn't help that Ben was gold but vet said he was a solid red) .  The vet was holding him and shoving his hand in his mouth to check his throat - I would have growled too    He also said that he was a dominant dog and should be castrated at 6 months. 

The vet seems to have fallen in love with Ben and his extovert ways now and has forgotten all thoughts of rage - he just appreciates him as a challanging character who stands up for himself - he even got him to show his 'tricks' in the waiting room to show how good dogs can be when trained !!  (Ben performed well but no-one saw the treats hidden in my hand  )

Only you know your dog - it amazes me how professionals feel able to make such quick judgements without getting to know the dog or listening to the owners 

[Tasha]

See now I'm going to play devils advocate here because if the vet hadn't said anything and we'd seen someone elses dog unable to be handled we'd be moaning at the owners and not the vet... they have to take their own safety into consideration even if we know our dogs are a softie.

Its all well and good changing vets but the problem is if you go to another vet and don't do any prework with your dog and the vets practise, your going to get the same lecture.  Maybe rather than the classes that he's suggesting you can ask if you can book some socialising appointments so that your dog can get used to the staff handling him and the practise so that next time its not so scary and so that they have a bit of confidence handling him... in an emergency you'll need them so its worth putting in the training. 

You don't have to go when its busy just pop in at the end of day or start and go with a pot of treats that people can hand out.

My vet recommends this to new owners and organises puppy parties at the surgery so that they get used to the vets being fun and not just horrid, bonnie and Ayla love my vets they go in all waggy tailed

Glad he's ok after his op though always a bit worrying when they have a GA.

[Cob-Web]

I had a similar experience when Molo needed an operation......."snappy and controlling" were the words used to describe Molo to me - I was devastated 

I had huge problem after this negative experience frightened him (and angered me  ), and so I increased the number of visits for minor examinations and procedures - it took over a year to get him to tolerate being examined, and even now, only certain vets will accept he is not a risk 

I do think you might need to do some work to to familiarise Casper with the surroundings of a veterinary practice - if I have understood you correctly, he hasn't been for over a year ?   

[Rhona W]

I would have had no problem with the vet suggesting socialising him with the vets more or commenting on him being difficult to handle - after all, I told them that before I took him and asked about taking him for visits before the big day. They said he'd be fine and they would deal with him on the day.
However, I did have a problem with him telling me a) he might have rage and b) he barked because he was a dominant dog and I needed to take him to classes so that I could teach him that I was the boss.

I have been working with an APDT for about 6 months and Casper is a whole lot better than he used to be. At one point he was too frightened/anxious to even go into our own back garden.   

[Sheryl]

I am not sure whether you should change vets or not, I am no expert but I do know that once when another vet in my surgery tried to tell me something about Chloe, my own vet stepped in and told him that nobody knew the dog better than me!  I love my vet to pieces because he knows and respects the fact that I know my dogs, inside out, back to front and upside down.  I would be angry if they tried to tell me something about them that wasn't true  Would changing be an option?  Would the APDT know a vet more likely to be helpful?

Either way, I hope Casper is feeling a bit better today