Walking into the waiting room in a veterinary facility can be a bit like walking into an eight or nine-ring circus. You never know what you will see or find waiting for you. All could be quiet or the scene could be utter chaos. You and your dog need to be prepared for the worst.
It only takes one rowdy animal in a veterinarian’s waiting room to turn the world upside down for the rest of the pet owners and their animals. A snarling, barking dog or a yowling cat that clearly does not want to be there can easily upset the rest of the animals, causing them to act up in a manner that makes you want to dig a hole and crawl into it to hide.
If you have a small dog that tends to act up around other canines, consider using a pet carrier to keep him or her from seeing everything that is happening around them. This often calms a dog. Unfortunately, it is not practical with large dogs.
If you know your dog acts up at the vet’s office, schedule appointments for the cooler hours of the day or evening. This will allow you to keep the dog in your vehicle until the veterinarian is ready to see him or her. This is basically a win-win situation. Your dog will not become as stressed out and the other animals that are waiting patiently can remain that way.
If your dog is rowdy and you can’t stay in the car with him or her, try to choose an area in the waiting room that is as far away as possible from the other animals. Keep in mind that everyone in the waiting room wants to keep their pet safe. If your puppy is acting up and can’t calm down, other people will want to steer clear to ensure the safety of their pets.
Placing small dogs on your lap can often be calming to a nervous canine. While this isn’t possible with large breed dogs, you can sit the larger canines between your legs where they will feel some degree of security. Keep them on a short leash so that they cannot interact with other animals that may fear them or attack them.
Even the best-behaved dogs can act up in a veterinarian’s waiting room. The smell alone tells them this is the place where they get poked, prodded and probed. This is where they have to deal with needles. All of this adds up to being a stressful situation. Not all animals handle stress well.
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