My 6-year-old lab was aggressive at the vet for the first time today, which surprised me. He’s always been good with people, except for barking at strangers near our house.
It was a drop-off appointment, so I didn’t see what happened. The vet and staff told me he was reactive, especially when they tried to touch his feet for a nail trim. He even slipped out of his muzzle, which he’s used to wearing. They also couldn’t check his teeth, so now he’ll need a separate dental visit.
The vet thinks it might be anxiety or fear aggression and suggested trying trazodone and scheduling visits just to get him comfortable with the staff. We’ve also done tests to rule out medical issues.
Would it help if I’m there for his next appointment? Or could that make things worse? Also, does anyone have tips for getting a dog used to having his feet and face handled by others?
Some vets allow you to stay with your dog during everything. I’ve always found it much easier for them when I’m there. Maybe look for a vet that does most things in the exam room while you’re with your dog.
We even have an ER vet here where you can stay with your dog the whole time. It makes a big difference for nervous dogs.
Tsu said:
What kind of appointment was this? I’ve only heard of drop-offs for surgeries or similar.
It does sound fear-based, and not having you there could’ve been part of it.
It was his yearly exam. They checked his weight, did vaccines, blood work, checked for parasites, and tried to do a nail trim and dental check. The nail trim and dental didn’t happen because of how he reacted.
He’s done these exams before without any issues, so this behavior is new.
Tsu said: @Mathew
Do you usually go with him to appointments, or is he used to drop-offs?
We’ve done both. I went with him for all his puppy visits, but during COVID, drop-offs were the only option. We stuck with that since it worked fine before.
If being there would help him, I’ll definitely start going again, even if it’s less convenient.
@Tsu
Yes, this was his first time with a new vet. His usual vet moved, and I’m not sure if this one had worked with him before. I also noticed some new techs around.
The more I think about it, the more I feel like I need to be there next time, even just to see how he acts.
You should stop doing drop-offs and find a new vet. Stay with your dog for all future visits. Just because the vet says something doesn’t mean it’s always true.
Some vet staff handle dogs well, and some don’t. My dog hates being restrained; it stresses him out. There’s actually a program called Low Stress Handling by Dr. Sophia Yin that teaches vets how to work with anxious dogs.
I’ve seen bad handling before. One vet tech got bit because they were looming over a scared dog. It’s not always the dog’s fault when things go wrong.
I’m sorry your dog went through this. It can be tough.
@Iris
I did notice different reactions from the techs I talked to. One said, “He’s too much, hates everything, and snaps,” but another just said, “He was fine, just didn’t like his feet being touched.”
The vet said it looked like anxiety, especially around his feet. That seems more likely than my dog suddenly becoming aggressive.
Our vet doesn’t allow drop-offs, so when we’ve had to go to an emergency vet that does, it feels wrong.
Maybe you need a vet who works better with nervous dogs. Some vets even do house calls, which can be much easier for anxious pets. Ours comes to our house and can do pretty much everything, including x-rays and surgery, in her mobile clinic.
@Asher
We’re moving soon, so we’ll need a new vet anyway. I’m just worried that this experience has made him nervous about all future visits. After the appointment, he was restless, marked everywhere in the yard, and didn’t eat his food.