A loving and sociable dog... who only ever bites the vet

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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Hello,

So, my White Swiss Shepherd is nearly 5 years old, and we've been having this issue for about 2 years now... My dog becomes aggressive, out of both fear and pain, whenever we take him to the vet.

Since he was a puppy, he’s seen several different vets and they were all fine. However, one day we went to a different vet and it was a total disaster: as soon as he got on the table, without a single kind word or gesture (like stroking him or reassuring him), that idiot just jabbed the vaccination needle straight into his scruff! My dog turned around sharply to snap at him (though he didn’t actually bite). He had never done anything like that before.

Since then, no matter which vet we see (even the ones he knew before), the moment we walk into the room, see the table, or see a needle, my dog bares his teeth. Last time, I tried to grab him by the scruff because he was hiding under a chair in the vet's consulting room, and he bit my hand quite badly...

Now the vet is telling me he’s an aggressive dog and that he’s uncooperative... even though she saw him herself when he was a puppy and he was a total angel (but she’s pretending she doesn't remember)! Not to mention the fact that I can brush his teeth, groom him, and clean his ears without any trouble at all. He’s very sociable; I take him into town regularly and he’s never attacked a human or another dog. All of this because of one incompetent vet.

I'm thinking about seeing a pet behaviourist, but I’m not sure who I can trust... Have any of you had similar experiences? Has your dog ever been aggressive towards one specific person? And how did you manage to resolve it?

Thanks for your replies.

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    That’s true, but realistically you aren't risking anything serious unless you're really heavy-handed and hurt yourself! Lol, the vaccines we buy are ready-to-use so you don't even need to clear the air bubble first. They’re just ready to jab!
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Well, I’m still feeling pretty sceptical. I really hope I can find a decent vet, because I get the feeling that where I live, being a vet is synonymous with being a total idiot... I’ll post an update on this thread if there’s any progress (and if I try giving the jab myself).
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    Sky
    sky Icon representing the flag French
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    I mean, you’d have to be pretty daft to mess up a jab, if you ask me

    Too true, but there’s always someone who manages to make a "silly mistake", even with the simple things...

    😒

    But anyway, Mvc1005, if you’re really hitting a brick wall with the pooch, it’s definitely another lead to look into 🙂

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    The date of the injection, not the extinction. I'm on T9 and don't always pay attention to the words.

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Look, anyone can give a jab to a human – it’s just sub-cut, so under the skin. As long as you can buy the vaccine at a chemist, there’s nothing stopping you from doing it yourself, though obviously you won't have the doctor's stamp. You just stick the label in your health record, write the date of the injection, and that’s that. My sister had to have hormone jabs and I did them for her myself. It’s no more complicated with a dog; you just pinch a bit of skin between the shoulder blades. The tricky part is getting hold of the vaccine, which depends on whether your vet agrees to it. Some might refuse, of course, claiming it’s dangerous even though there’s no real risk. Honestly, you’d have to be pretty thick to mess up a vaccination.
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    Sky
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    Some people, with their vet's agreement, buy the vaccine to give it themselves. It’s just a subcutaneous injection, so you don’t really need any special training or qualifications to do it. Is that true?! Can we actually give the jabs ourselves?! 🤪
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Some owners, with their vet's agreement, buy the vaccine to do it themselves. It’s just a sub-cut injection, so you don't need any special training or qualifications to do it.
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    Sky
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    Thanks Sky, I think the idea of us practising together is a really good one. I did actually wonder if it was possible for me to give the vaccinations myself, but I doubt it.

    Yeah, I doubt it too, but in a way that’s probably for the best: if everyone could vaccinate their dog themselves, not only would vets lose out on a lot of business (:p), but it would also mean well-meaning people (-_-) could potentially put their dog's health—and even their life—at risk. 😐

    +1 for cooperative care. The vet's approach is definitely important, but I think you need to work with the dog first before ‘trying out’ every vet in town.

    Yes, that’s what I think too: try desensitisation work with your regular vet (or the one you feel has the best connection with your dog). If there really isn't any improvement, then think about switching; but if you change too often ‘just to see’, your pup won’t have had time to settle in, and unless you find that rare gem who can work miracles, things will either stay the same or get worse... It’s just my opinion, but I think you really need to explore the training and habituation route before switching too much.

    And keep in mind: even the smallest victory is a win. 😉

    (Without trying to run before you can walk, of course ^^)

    Anyway, keep us posted on how you're getting on. 🙂

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    +1 for medical training.

    The vet's approach can certainly make a difference, but I think some work needs to be done with the dog before you start 'trying out' every vet in the area.

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks Sky, I think the idea of us practising together is actually a really good shout. In fact, I’ve even wondered if it would be possible for me to do the vaccinations myself, but I doubt it.
    Translated from French

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