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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Hi there,
I’m not sure if this is the ultimate fix, but it might be worth ‘playing vet’ with him (well... playing doctor, but for dogs! 😁). This means occasionally putting him in similar situations, like getting him up on a table, having ‘strangers’ handle him, pretending to give him a jab with a pen... and rewarding him if he behaves (though maybe he’s already fine when he’s away from the surgery? 🤷).
Alongside that, as others have suggested, it's a good idea to do plenty of ‘social visits’ to the vets. The stress and the lingering smells of other dogs (who are usually stressed out themselves) can really have an impact—it’s like how some people can’t stand the smell of hospitals. So, try just popping in. Go inside, and if he isn’t aggressive, give him a reward. Or just sit in the waiting room until he settles down; once he’s relaxed, reward him and then leave to get him out of that stressful situation. It’s also worth seeing if the vets and vet nurses can give him a bit of a fuss or a treat while you’re there. If he reacts well, reward him. If he learns to accept the vet over time, it’ll be a great foundation for ‘real-life’ situations.
If he gets agitated before you even get inside, don’t go in. Just stay outside until he calms down, then leave. Once he can stay calm as you approach the practice, try going inside and follow the same process.
I don’t know if this is the perfect solution, but my advice for now would be to try and create as many positive experiences as you can.
Thanks everyone for your replies.
Yes, ever since the incident where I was bitten, I’ve been muzzling my dog. But as my family and the vets have noticed, without a muzzle, the vet would’ve had their head taken off.
I’ve seen two other vets since that traumatic experience with a rough injection; one tried to force him onto the table and the other didn't, but the dog tried to bite anyway.
I’m not sure how I should be acting. Should I tell my pooch in a confident and "firm" voice that it's going to be okay and there's nothing to be scared of, or should I stroke him? I’ve heard that might just reinforce his fears...
I’m going to try to find a good vet... but it seems difficult. I know others that my cat has seen, but they all think it’s a problem and that I should see a dog behaviourist. The problem is, a behaviourist won't actually be dealing with him in that specific situation. I’m completely at my wit’s end.
It’s such a shame that things turned out that way.
I’d suggest switching to a different vet practice. Try word of mouth to get some recommendations for other vets in your area. See if any of your friends or acquaintances know a vet or a vet nurse personally. Once you've found someone, give them a ring and explain the situation. They might let you do some "happy visits"—just popping in for a second for no reason, or maybe just to use the scales, or even just walking into the waiting room and turning right back around. Give your dog a treat and head off calmly without him being handled at all. After a few visits like this and some gentle interaction from the vet nurse, he should start to build up his confidence again.
Finally, as mentioned before, stop doing examinations up on the table; they’re often stainless steel, which makes them really slippery and uncomfortable for a dog’s paws.
Unfortunately, it’s a bit of a tricky situation and the problem might be quite hard to sort out. All pets get stressed at the vet, and your dog’s bad experience certainly hasn’t helped matters. This is especially true since visits can be few and far between if he’s healthy, usually just consisting of his annual vaccinations.
Firstly, I’d suggest muzzling your dog during the appointment at the vet's. This will prevent him from nipping you or the vet, which would only make his stress levels even worse. I agree it’s not a permanent solution, but if the consultation goes off without a hitch with a muzzle on, it’s definitely preferable.
Have you spoken to the vet in detail about the specific issue your pet had? It’s important to try and build his confidence back up. The vet needs to be sympathetic to how your dog is feeling, which they can’t be if they aren't aware of his past experiences.
You could also try rewarding him whenever a visit has gone well.
Getting help from a dog trainer or behaviourist could be beneficial, but the problem remains that he won't be facing that stressful situation very often.
I think you need to ensure that the appointments are as calm as possible; let the receptionist know as soon as you arrive that your dog is very stressed. That way, the vet can take steps to ensure everything stays quiet and happens quickly.
Yes, exactly! You really need to find a vet who's top-notch. I had the same issue with Genesys, my Czechoslovakian Wolfdog: we used to see the male vet, who would give her a fuss and talk to her... then one day, uh-oh, we had the female vet, who didn't have the same approach at all... so it became a right nightmare just for a jab, with three people pinned down on my poor girl! After that, it was game over, even with the man!
Then we found a vet through word of mouth, in town but very "old-school"; she didn't know the breed, but there haven't been any issues, everything goes really well.
Hi there, I have a female White Swiss Shepherd that I bought from a "bad" breeder when she was 8 months old. She was underweight and lacked exercise, and she’s never accepted being restrained or even just having her paw held.
At the vet's, she doesn’t really let herself be handled and will grab the vet's arm—not biting, just to show them she's not happy about it.
What you need to do with your pooch is first of all find a good vet who actually listens when you explain the situation and doesn't just label them as aggressive, but understands they're traumatised. Then, during your appointments, try to take the time to have a proper chat with your vet before they start the exam. You shouldn't spend the whole time fussing over and reassuring them, as they'll think their fear is justified. Finally, I think it’s a sensible idea to have vaccinations and other handling done on the floor rather than up on the table.
