Lectures From The Vet

[Penel]

The fact that your vet thinks you need to be aware of rage, because your dog was fearfully barking - just shows how little he knows about dog behaviour.
Btw why does anyone think that vets should know about behaviour - they are vets, not behaviourists.
If I have a sick dog, I take it to the vets.
If I had a dog with behavioural problems, then I would seek advice from a behaviourist.

Personally - I discuss every single minute detail with my vets if they are doing anything to my animals - they know me well enough to know why I am asking them.  But, I wouldn't trust their opinions an inch about behavioural issues - in fact, there are very very few people I would ask about that sort of thing !!!!!

[Joelf]

I'm afraid,Rhona, I would be looking for another vet if mine made such idiotic comments as yours ( I can't imagine any circumstances when he would!!!)

Both Domino & Spike hate going to the vet's surgery; but they are quite happy to see him if we meet up socially so I'm sure it's just the smell of the surgery they hate.

It's never been a problem with the handling of them by my vet or any others of the practice.

[Rhona W]

The fact that your vet thinks you need to be aware of rage, because your dog was fearfully barking - just shows how little he knows about dog behaviour.
Btw why does anyone think that vets should know about behaviour - they are vets, not behaviourists.

I don't expect my vet to know about behaviour. But if he is going to comment on it, then I do expect him to know what he is talking about. 


Just out of interest (and slightly off topic) what would be the best way to 'handle' Casper in this situation? The vet wanted to check that Casper had two testicals. He asked me to hold him like a baby, tipped over on his back. Then asked me to hold his tail out of the way too as it was tucked up between his legs blocking the view.  Now I only have two hands and that needed three. He is quite a big dog and weighs 15.3kg. (And I'm only little.) Casper doesn't like being tipped over, as I'm sure other dogs don't, and began to struggle.
Wouldn't it have been better for him to be standing up with me holding him and for the vet to cop a feel from behind. (If you'll pardon the expression.  ) 

[*Jay*]

I check my boys bits when they are standing on a table - surely much easier than tipping them over 

[Penel]

I check my boys bits when they are standing on a table - surely much easier than tipping them over 

absolutely - then their bits'll hang down too !

[Rhona W]

I check my boys bits when they are standing on a table - surely much easier than tipping them over 

absolutely - then their bits'll hang down too !

Well that's what I thought.     It's certainly how I check OH's anyway. 

[Helen]

I check my boys bits when they are standing on a table - surely much easier than tipping them over 

absolutely - then their bits'll hang down too !

Well that's what I thought.     It's certainly how I check OH's anyway. 

 

[Michele]

If that isn't evidence enough of a vet not knowing what he's doing, I don't know what is.

Imagine if every judge in the show world had to check a male dog in this way  Ridiculous!!


Rhona, you're rude   

[Max X 2]

I check my boys bits when they are standing on a table - surely much easier than tipping them over 

absolutely - then their bits'll hang down too !

Well that's what I thought.     It's certainly how I check OH's anyway. 

Does he have to be on all fours on the table Rhona? 

[Jan/Billy]

The fact that your vet thinks you need to be aware of rage, because your dog was fearfully barking - just shows how little he knows about dog behaviour.
Btw why does anyone think that vets should know about behaviour - they are vets, not behaviourists.

I don't expect my vet to know about behaviour. But if he is going to comment on it, then I do expect him to know what he is talking about. 

Ditto!

 

Just out of interest (and slightly off topic) what would be the best way to 'handle' Casper in this situation? The vet wanted to check that Casper had two testicals. He asked me to hold him like a baby, tipped over on his back. Then asked me to hold his tail out of the way too as it was tucked up between his legs blocking the view.  Now I only have two hands and that needed three. He is quite a big dog and weighs 15.3kg. (And I'm only little.) Casper doesn't like being tipped over, as I'm sure other dogs don't, and began to struggle.
Wouldn't it have been better for him to be standing up with me holding him and for the vet to cop a feel from behind. (If you'll pardon the expression.  ) 

It does seam a very difficult way of doing it, no wonder Casper wasn't happy, poor thing, what a vulnerable position for a dog to be in, I think all dogs would have struggled.

[CraftySam]

I started this reply last night Rhona and guess what happened?     (I'm sure it won't take you long to guess!   )

Personally I think your vet is out of order.  Its vets like him that start up histeria about rage. According to the rage site Golden Retrievers have been documented as having rage, funny no one has ever asked me if Max has it Yet I have been asked if Barney has it, while he was across a field playing with the other dogs and showing no signs of rage at all.  

Leading on from the comment that if your vet should say to someone less informed about rage than you, it could really freak them out. Well it could. The dog could be showing behavioural issues but not rage signs yet having been told be the vet that solid cockers get rage when the dog was exhibiting this behaviour could lead the owners to believe it has rage. So would said vet pts that dog when the owners go to him and say we think you're right?
Unfortunately there are alot of owners who take everything their vet says as gospel and don't go off and research things for themselves, so this scenario could very easily occur.

Having already said to your vet that you expected there to be a few problems, and they declined the chance for him to go in for some socialisation trips then what did they expect?

Almost as shockingly as the rage comment, is the way he examined Casper.    Hasn't he examined a dogs testicles before?? Flipping heck, even when Morgan was 10 weeks old, and of a size to be able to do it that way, the vet didn't do that.  And even Max, the most laid back placid dog in the world would of objected to that method of examination. How stressful would that have been for Casper?  

I'm sorry but I really think you need to look for a new vets as I don't see any of this as acceptable.

I check my boys bits when they are standing on a table - surely much easier than tipping them over 

absolutely - then their bits'll hang down too !

Well that's what I thought.     It's certainly how I check OH's anyway. 

Does he have to be on all fours on the table Rhona? 

  TOO much information!!    

[Cob-Web]

The vet wanted to check that Casper had two testicals. He asked me to hold him like a baby, tipped over on his back. Then asked me to hold his tail out of the way too as it was tucked up between his legs blocking the view.  .........

Are you SURE he was a qualified vet?  

The last time I heard anything so ridiculous was when a medical student asked my 9 month old daughter to open wide when he needed a mouth swab 

I have to say that ALL my bad experiences at the vets have been with the more recently (UK) qualified surgeons,  - their expectations are ridiculously high, but the older vets are far more realistic - maybe the juniors watch Caesar Milan in their spare time ? 

[Jan/Billy]

The last time I heard anything so ridiculous was when a medical student asked my 9 month old daughter to open wide when he needed a mouth swab 

  plonker!!! 

[Nicola]

I can't believe your vet told you to tip Casper over to check his bits    If my vet told me to do that to Alfie he'd get short shrift from me! Alfie is so laid back I do actually carry him around like that sometimes and he loves it but when he's at the vet he gets so excited he'd go nuts if I suddenly scooped him up and flipped him over. That vet sounds like a right eejit tbh 

[Jan/Billy]

My dad phoned me the other night to say he had some info on "billys condition" ie his fear agression. One of his customers works at Manchester dogs home dealing with the welfare of the animals that they bring in. Dad had been discussing Billy with her, she said that she's "almost certain" that Billy sounds like he has COCKER RAGE !!!!! and that i need to google the condition as it's extremely common in solids. The cheeky mare!!! I was livid, she's not even seen Billy!!!