vital signs
Fear and Aggression in the
Veterinary Exam Room
by Valerie Barrette
• Work with the owner to LEAVE YOUR EMOTIONS AT THE
S
o here we are ... a dog owner, a
veterinary technician, and one minimize both the owner’s and DOOR
quivering, growling mass of the dog’s tension. If this dog is not interested in getting
dog confined in a small exam room. • Shorten the time the dog must to know you, you are starting at
The game plan calls for you, the vet spend in the exam room. ground zero. Making smoochy
tech, to sidle up right next to this noises or approaching the dog and
dog (why don’t they make stetho- • Use muzzles that fit properly.
extending your hand for a sniff could
scopes just a little bit longer??) and • Let the dog see his owner during very well earn you a bite. This isn’t
listen to his heart rate and breathing. the exam. the time to try to make friends. You
Then you expect this dog to have a job to do, and part of that job
willingly turn his back to you and entails humanely handling the dog
stay still while you insert a lubri- in a manner that won’t make him
cated thermometer into his rectum Part of (your) job more fearful in the future. So leave
and take his temperature. Right. your own emotions at the door.
This dog was not born yesterday. entails humanely
He’s been here before. He’s ready. MUZZLE THE DOG
THE OLD WAY WAS TRAUMATIC handling the dog in a Let the owner know that you will
need to muzzle the dog for the
When I started working in this field exam. Explain that the muzzle will
18 years ago, I would go into the manner that won’t allow the doctor to expedite the
exam room, muzzle the dog, exam and get the dog out of the
struggle with him while I got his make him more clinic sooner.
vital signs, take the muzzle off, and
then re-muzzle him when the doctor fearful in the future. Make sure your clinic or hospital
was ready. A dog who struggled was carries a wide selection of muzzle
treated as if he was simply refusing sizes. A good muzzle fit can make
to obey. We would actually all the difference. Unless I feel the
command the dog to stay, not TALK WITH THE OWNER/WATCH owner is at risk, I will have the
understanding that he was fighting THE DOG
owner muzzle the dog. I estimate
for his safety. The veterinary visit the size of the neck plus a little
Spend some time talking to the extra to make it easy for the owner
was traumatic, especially if the dog owner about why the dog is at the
had also waited a lengthy time in the to put on the muzzle. The moment I
clinic. While you are talking, quietly hear the click of the snap-lock, I
waiting room. observe the dog from the corner of step in, slip on the kennel lead, and
THE NEW WAY IS LESS your eye. Is he sniffing in your tighten the muzzle. (Four Flags
STRESSFUL direction? Wandering around? Does Over Aspen has muzzles for both
Now we know better. We know that he eat the cookies you’ve tossed short, squatty-nosed dogs and long,
reducing a dog’s stress increases her onto the floor? snippy-nosed types.)
tolerance, and we can take specific The stressed dog stays in his corner, If possible, have the same team
steps to make the veterinary visit either staring directly at you or members work with this dog during
less stressful for the dog: trying to hide his head. He makes every visit. It is possible for a dog to
• Set the appointment for early no effort at all to greet you or acclimate to those team members
morning or early afternoon observe the environment. As Sue over time. He may not like what
(before the clinic has a chance to Sternberg would say, he shows no you are doing—and you’ll probably
get behind schedule). overt signs of friendliness. still need to muzzle him—but
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familiarity may eventually diminish the owner doesn’t inadvertently that they sing
that “added panic” component that choke the dog. “Happy Birthday” if
tends to give the struggling dog their dog begins
SUPPORT THE OWNER
super-human strength. to struggle. While
Veterinary visits can be difficult for I’ve never had
LET THE DOG SEE THE OWNER the owner who is an owner
To minimize the dog’s panic trying to equate initiate the
and struggling, I try to her growling song, I have
position the owner so that dog who must had plenty of experiences where an
the dog can see him be muzzled upset, teary-eyed owner starts to
or her. To maintain with the sweet, laugh when I launch into “Happy
control of the loving pet she Birthday.” Is it my imagination, or
dog in this position, I sees at home. has the dog relaxed just a bit
generally use a kennel Coach the because the owner is more relaxed?
lead to ensure that owner on what It’s worth a try.
the dog won’t back you want her to
Valerie Barrette has worked as a
out of his collar, but I do during the
veterinary support member for over 18
also keep a couple of fingers or my exam. Involve her.
years. She currently works part-time at
Tell her that she can’t scold
thumb under the collar to prevent it American River Animal Hospital in
or console the dog, that her
from tightening. If I lose hold of the Orangevale, Calif., as well as running
communication must be in the form
dog with my arms, I can always The Right Steps, a canine behavior
of upbeat stories or funny jokes.
remove my fingers so the collar counseling service specializing in puppy
tightens. I unhook the leash so that I frequently recommend to owners socialization and agility classes.
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