Simple Ways To Prepare Your Dog For An In-Home Veterinary Appointment

Many veterinarians will visit your home to help your pets, which can be a valuable service for people whose animals experience anxiety when in new places. If your dog needs its regular check-up appointment and the vet will be arriving shortly, there are several things that you can do to help the pet be relaxed during the visit. The more relaxed that you can get your pet, the easier it will be for the vet to look at it and help it. Here are some simple ways that you and your animal can prepare for the vet's arrival to your home.

Take A Walk

A walk is one of the best ways to help a dog reduce its anxiety. When a dog is exercised, it will often be able to relax more easily. Take your dog on a lengthy walk sometime before the veterinarian is scheduled to arrive. If there's a particular area that you know the dog enjoys visiting — a trail around a local park, for example — this can be a good place to visit. The goal is to tire the animal out to some degree so that it's considerably less anxious when the vet arrives.

Avoid Excitement At Home

If your dog is in an excited state, it will be difficult for the vet to do his or her work. For example, the pet may constantly be trying to get up to play. After you get home from work, try to keep the dog from getting excited. If your children often excite the dog, perhaps by playing with it or talking in fast, excited voices, ask them to let the dog rest and to play quietly elsewhere. A post-walk rest is often something that dogs enjoy, so this can be a good time for the dog to relax further.

Choose The Right Space

Some dogs enjoy being in different rooms of the house more than others. For example, if the dog has its bed in a specific area, it might consider this space to be a place to rest. It's a good idea to encourage the dog to go to this area to rest and wait for the vet's arrival. If the dog often gets excited when the doorbell rings, you can also watch for the vet to pull into your driveway so that you can open the door without the vet ringing the bell. By taking each of these steps, your pet should be in a relaxed state for the appointment.

For more information on your options, contact a veterinarian.


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