Taking the Stress out of Vet Visits

Just as we may sometimes be nervous about visiting the doctor, your pet may feel a little apprehensive about a visit to the vet’s office. In choosing a vet that you are comfortable with, you can feel confident in your pet’s comfort, too. When it comes time to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian, there are additional steps you can take to help make the experience a positive one right from the start.

The first step to an easy vet visit is to make your pet comfortable before going anywhere near the office. Animal Planet’s Pets 101 blog suggests developing a calm pre-vet routine, which includes regular at-home check ups to get them used to being handled, practice trips in the car or carrier and plenty of love and affection.

The journey itself can be stressful especially for cats, who often see the car as an unpredictable and unfamiliar place. Try taking them out for short drives around the block, and work your way up to longer trips or even an unscheduled visit to your vet just to say hello to some staff. As the anxiety of uncertainty lessens, so will your cat’s overall concern for car trips.

For dogs, the car trip may be a piece of cake… that is until you pull into the vet’s parking lot. So why not make the vet a place where your dog can have some fun? Pet Trainer Victoria Stilwell of Animal Planet’s It’s Me or the Dog suggests that you spend some time playing with your pet upon arrival, perhaps outside the building, so they can come to associate the vet’s office as a place where fun things happen, too!

Once you’ve entered the lobby, you and your pet might encounter other pets and their waiting humans. It’s important first for you to remain calm, as your pet will feed off your emotions. Although it is impossible to predict who or what you will encounter in a waiting area, you can request to schedule an appointment at your vet’s least busy times to help minimize exposure. While you’re waiting, talk to your pet in a calm voice to help keep them relaxed and focused on you. For a dog, you might also consider bringing a small towel or yoga mat from home for them to sit on, so they have their own familiar-smelling space in which to wait.

Remember, most vets will take the time to break the ice a bit with your pet once the visit begins. A few minutes of casual interaction will make your pet more at ease, as will the continued presence of a towel or toy that they are familiar with. Don’t be afraid to ask your vet for additional recommendations if you feel concerned for your cat or dog’s comfort. Preparation and open communication can lead to a healthy, happy relationship between you, your vet, and your pet.

HOW TO CURE YOUR DOG'S CAR SICKNESS

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It’s a struggle to get your pooch in the car. When you do, you close the door as quickly as possible. You cross your fingers as you turn the key in the ignition and back out of the driveway. Making sure to take turns at a snail’s pace, you avoid the bumpy potholes as best you can. But then you smell it. Yup, sure enough your precious pooch has vomited all over the upholstery of your backseat. It doesn’t matter if you drive slow enough to make out the eye color of the irritated person tailgating you or if you play soft classical music from the car radio to calm your canine. Every time you get your dog in the car, nausea is sure to follow. Not only do you feel sorry for poor Fido, but your backseat isn’t looking or smelling too great either. Read on for some tips to help you with this unfortunate situation.



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Pinpoint the Issue

When your dog is a puppy, their ear canals are still forming and this can cause their balance to be off. Being off balance can cause motion sickness, so it is not unusual for puppies to get car sick. Unfortunately, some dogs struggle to outgrow their motion sickness. For other canines the problem can be attributed to anxiety. Many dogs have limited experience in the car and only take a ride when going to the vet; thus, it can be scary for them.


Condition

Whatever the root cause of your dog’s car sickness, it is important to try and condition your dog so that they become used to the car and grow more comfortable with it. It is especially important to start this conditioning when your dog is still a puppy. Hang out in the car while it is parked in the driveway. Bring your dog’s favorite toy and spend some time playing and petting your pup in the car. Get him or her accustomed to the smells and feel of the car while it is not moving. The next day, do the same thing but turn the car on for a short while. Progress to short drives down the block and always keep a fun dog toy in the car. Each day, go a little bit farther. Make sure to take your dog to places like the dog park or a hiking trail so they begin to associate the car as a gateway to fun activities.

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Comfort is Key 

Other things to consider when driving with a dog that gets carsick is to make sure the car is well-ventilated and comfortable. The back of the car or the trunk can be the bumpiest section. Your dog might be better off in the backseat, kept firmly in place with the help of a dog seat-belt or in a crate. Limit your dog’s food intake before traveling if they are prone to vomiting.

Don’t Pull Over

When your dog pukes in the car, don’t make a big deal out of it. Resist the urge to pull over and clean it up because your dog will start to realize that vomiting makes the car stop. Instead, protect your car seats with old towels and just throw them in the wash when you get home.

Medication

If your dog’s motion sickness does not seem to improve with time and conditioning, consider medication like a mild sedative. Your vet can help you choose the proper medication to ease your dog’s car-related tummy problems.

Seat Belt Safety - It's a Dog Issue Too!

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Nothing spells carefree better than the image of a dog sticking its head out the window of a car and their ears flapping in the wind.

Safety First!
Though it may seem sad to harness and buckle your dog into the car, thus preventing the sensory overload they so dearly enjoy, the alternative outcomes are not in your fuzzy pal’s best interest or yours. Keep your pup as safe as you would your child!

Shopping for a Seat Belt

Luckily for us, nowadays, not only does every car come equipped with seat belts unlike your Grandpa’s stories of the old wide Lincoln with nary a buckle in sight, but there are a myriad of seat belt options for your canine companion as well. From harnesses to buckles to booster seats for little ones and even crates, there are many selections designed to keep a dog of any size safe and secure. Companies like Doctors Foster and Smith, Petedge, and Dog.com offer quality dog seat belts.

Buckle Up!

Seat belt safety has long been an important issue in regards to children and adults. The second we get into the car, we ask the pivotal question, “Is everyone buckled up?” You would never let your child hang their head out the window of your car, with no constraints to hold them in. That is reckless, neglectful and dangerous. Why should it be any different when it comes to your fur child? Not only can things get in your dog's eyes when they lean out of the window, but if you are forced to stop short, your dog, if small enough, can fall out or jump out. Your dog can also become a projectile if you are forced to slam on the brakes too quickly. Many dogs would love to be the hood ornament on the front of the car and if given free rein of the vehicle, they can easily get in the way and be as distracting, if not more so than talking on the cell phone. Airbags also pose another risk for smaller, more delicate canines sitting in the passenger seat and when inflated, can seriously injure your pooch. We understand you can’t ask Fido to buckle up, so why don’t you strap Fido in yourself?