Hello Just back from the vet re Vespa's upset tummy. She's fine, but the vet said she is 'a nervous, anxious dog' and should wear a pheromone collar. When I explained that she was as happy and bouncy and friendly as any lab I've ever met anywhere except the vet she just repeated it:'she's a nervous anxious dog'. She's only like that there! Even then she's just a bit unsure-not refusing to go in or anything. She tried to sell me a whole supply of collars and said she should wear them for life and didn't say anything else when I kept saying 'but she's totally happy at home and in the park-bounding about, happy with all breeds if dog and types of human. What am I missing? I don't feel comfortable with just taking her word for it. Obviously Vespa's not at her best because she is ill-that's why she's there-but I feel I know her best and everyone always comments on how happy and friendly she is. What should I do? I said I'd go away and think about it aka ask the experts!!! (That's you btw!) Thanks a lot
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars Hi Rosamund , I think we all know our dogs character and temperament better than anyone to be honest , and you are right, even the happiest of dogs can become nervous at the Vets , especially if they aren't feeling at their best . If you are happy with Vespa as she is , don't be swayed to treat her , even if its just a collar .
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars Thanks for the encouragement. I think I wouldn't have minded if the wt had been a bit more prepared to discuss it but you're right-I should go with my own instinct and just make sure she's so healthy she doesn't need the vet for a long time! Thanks a lot. I needed to hear that.
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars That sounds very odd indeed. I would expect a vet to be able to discuss a treatment recommendation. I know some people who use rescue remedy for their anxious dogs but I have no idea how much they give them. It may be worth either doing some BAT for vet visits or using something short term like that if you think Vespa needs it. If you do a search on BAT on the forum you'll find some great advice.
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars BAT? That a sounds intriguing! Great. Thanks a lot-I'll look into it. It really depends who you get at the vet. I've tried to ask for the vet I know Vespa is relaxed with when I ring up (there's a striking difference) but even if the receptionist says you've got an appointment with someone, when you turn up you get someone different every time. I don't think it helps. Thanks for the encouragement and advice.
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars She was probably nervous and aprehensive because she was at the vet, amongst other nervous and aprehensive dogs, strange smells, noises etc. If she is fine and happy at home, then that is her normal character. I have tried those collars and they don't work, well they didn't for my dog!
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars The vet said 'you won't notice your dog improving when you use the collar, you'll just notice them get worse if you take the collar off' Errr...not a ringing endorsement!
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars Does the vet get a cut from each collar she sells!!!! I wouldn't trust what she says.
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars [quote author=Stacia link=topic=7909.msg111190#msg111190 date=1411158789] Does the vet get a cut from each collar she sells!!!! I wouldn't trust what she says. [/quote] Must say that was my thought (sorry vet peeps)
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars [quote author=Rosamund link=topic=7909.msg111154#msg111154 date=1411155452] The vet said 'you won't notice your dog improving when you use the collar, you'll just notice them get worse if you take the collar off' Errr...not a ringing endorsement! [/quote]
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars Sounds like a vet who is out to make as much money as possible from their clients I have 2 anxious dogs, who are at their worse at the vets! They both tremble, hide and even sometimes growl at the vet. I wouldn't worry too much about it as it's not uncommon for dogs to be anxious at the vets! I have tried lots of methods to improve my girls anxiety about the vets, including taking Bella as a puppy on weekly visits to see one of the nurses for special treats! I just think I have to accept that they associate going there with feeling rubbish and pain, pretty much how I feel about going to the dentist really and nothing will change this! Hope this helps. Chloe
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars Thanks guys. Don't feel so guilty about wanting to ignore her advice! I think the vet experience would improve if there was some consistency to it and you could see the vet you knew your dog was comfortable with. All she does is lower head and look a bit shy and her tail is low etc but that's it. When she has the vet who is very cheerful and matter-of-fact with her and just gets on with it she is totally relaxed. I didn't have the heart to point that out!
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars Poor you Our vets are really good and suggest that clients visit with their dogs just to sit in the waiting room for good experiences not when treatment is needed, treats/cuddles from the nurse etc. go a long way then progress into an empty consulting room treating and praising all the time. Ask you vet if this is a possibility as it will help your dog in the long term. We now can sit in our vet waiting room with Charlie with bits of sausage, lots of dogs and all goes really well. Hope you are OK. xx
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars My dogs are definitely nervous and anxious at the vets. There is no denying that. : I now use a muzzle at the vet but at no point has a pheromone collar ever been suggested. My dogs' fear of the vets and strangers in general started at the vets when they were pups. I'd been with that vet for 15 years but the last four or five years it had got like yours. There was a high percentage and turnover of young vets so you never saw the same person twice and numerous mistakes were made in the last three years of my old dog and the first two of Scott and Scout. I was lucky a new vet opened locally who is just one man and a nurse. I'm hoping S&S will get used to him. : I don't know exactly but I don't think there is any concrete proof that the pheromone collars etc actually work. I could be wrong but I've looked into various calming solutions due to S&S nervous disposition and I haven't found the magic formula yet unfortunately. :-\ I give my dogs CSJ calm down herbs. No idea if they work but there is nothing in them that can do harm and when I tried stopping them scout got a lot more nervy. That did coincide with them barking a lot in the night so I think something had spooked them anyway. Go with your instinct. You know your dog the vet doesn't and a lot of dogs are nervy at the vet. You can't blame them just think where they put the thermometer.
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars Go with your instinct. You know your dog the vet doesn't and a lot of dogs are nervy at the vet. You can't blame them just think where they put the thermometer. [/quote] Haha yes-totally. She was fine until a particular vet 'Caesarmilanned' her and she's been funny since. She looks at them as if to say : "you lot are weird; what're you going to think of next?!" Thanks for the support anyway. Her attitude really annoyed me. Maybe I should look around for a new vet practice.
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars I think it would be weird for a dog to actually ENJOY seeing the vet so a little nervous behaviour is understandable. I always get nervous going to the doctor or dentist and I know what's going on! Dogs don't know. I put an adaptil collar on Penny the other day as she went to stay at my mums last night. I'm not sure if it helped but it made me feel better psychologically, knowing that I can do something to even try and help her adjust to a new situation. We used them a lot on the dogs in kennels, again I didn't see much of an effect but I think that might be because stress levels in kennels are waaaaay too high for something like that to deal with. I do know people who have used them and think they're fantastic.
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars That's good to know-well if I do ever think she's anxious other than at the vet I'd certainly try anything that's been tried and tested on here! Thanks for all the suggestions.
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars Thinking back to my first dog....on our second vet visit the vet asked me if I used harsh training methods with my dog. Shocked, I said no, only positive methods with treats. The vet said "Your dog is quite anxious". I said "Well, last time he was here you cut his balls off". The vet said "Oh. That could be it".
Re: Anxiety...or not?/pheromone collars [quote author=Oberon link=topic=7909.msg111547#msg111547 date=1411266013] The vet said "Your dog is quite anxious". I said "Well, last time he was here you cut his balls off". The vet said "Oh. That could be it". [/quote] Splash marks of the iPad where I've spat my tea out! X
