Some dogs are not just fearful or anxious at the vet but are overtly aggressive. This may be because they are aggressive in other situations or they have learned that this behavior results in removal of the cause of distress.
Dogs might lunge, bark, growl, or snap at the vet for many different reasons, or a combination of those reasons, including: they are ill, injured and/or in pain. they are frightened about what could be about to happen, especially if they've had an unpleasant veterinary experience in the past.
Many dogs are afraid when they come to the veterinary office and may show this fear as submissive urination, panting, drooling, avoidance, growling, snapping or biting. Aggressive behaviors toward strangers in a veterinary situation should not be mislabeled dominance or status related aggression.
Calming collars, pressure wraps, herbal supplements, pheromone sprays, and other anxiety aids can all help make your dog more comfortable at the vet. Medication is also an option, though it's typically considered a last resort. My own anxious dog takes a mild sedative at home a couple hours before each vet visit.
Although it can be difficult seeing your dog in a muzzle it is preferable to either you or the staff getting hurt. We often find that dogs that are muzzled adopt a more relaxed and passive posture. This not only provides protection to the owner and clinic staff, but allows a faster and easier exam to take place.
The combination of gabapentin and acepromazine is often very effective in the aggressive and/or fearful patient, allowing one to safely muzzle, place an E-collar, or administer additional IM sedation without causing large undue stress to the dog or hospital staff.
So, many clients ask, “what will happen if my dog bites my vet?” Luckily, the laws presume that veterinarians know this to be true. For that reason, most courts assume that veterinarians knowingly take the risk of injury as part of their job.
Muzzle your aggressive dog at the vet.
When your dog is muzzled, you know he won't be able to bite. That's peace of mind for you which will make you feel more confident and calmer about his behavior. A simple fabric muzzle may work for your dog, and it's what a lot of vets have on hand.
Every veterinary clinic sees its share of fearful, aggressive patients – these situations are hard for the dogs and their owners, as well as the staff. But in truth, I've always felt that “difficult” dogs are some of the most rewarding cases that I see.
Treatment. It's important to keep in mind that there is no such thing as a cure for aggression. Aggressive behaviors are managed and reduced through proper treatment with a veterinary behavioral professional. It's also essential to understand that aggression is a behavioral problem, not an issue of obedience.
"We have a team of very experienced and behaviorally astute employees, so we do often handle difficult dogs," Immerblum said. One way the clinic handles difficult patients, he said, is by sedating them.
The behavior associated with Rage Syndrome includes outbursts of aggression that are intense and at times unpredictable. These episodes also tend to be large dramatic responses relative to a seemingly benign situation. Affected dogs often freeze, stare, and may rapidly escalate to biting.
While bites are not an uncommon occurrence in the field of veterinary medicine, what is significant are those things that happen around an injury.
If your dog has bitten you, he may be experiencing some type of pain. Dogs are very good at hiding pain. A trip to the vet is necessary if none of the other reasons in this list apply. The vet will be able to tell you about any underlying medical conditions.
The History of Bite Rehabilitation
Most scientific studies indicate that it is very possible to rehabilitate a dog after they bite another dog or person.
One of the common reasons why animals feel anxious when taken to a vet is if they had had a bad experience in that past. Generally, pets tend to feel very insecure when they are sick and when if their past experiences about visiting a vet have been unpleasant, they may feel uncomfortable.
It's about aggression – a dog who could or has caused harm to people or other animals. Simply put, some dogs are euthanized because they are unsafe for life in our society. These dogs aren't necessarily snapping and growling all the time.
If your dog is aggressive and/or has bitten another dog or a person in the past, a muzzle can be used for safety. Even if your dog has no bite history, if you think the risk of a dog bite exists—for example, your dog lunges and barks at other dogs or people—a muzzle can provide additional peace of mind.
On the one hand, people can feel more confident when their dog is wearing a muzzle and this can help your dog stay calmer. However, while wearing a muzzle can prevent bites, it will not improve aggression and can potentially make aggression worse if misused.