Murphy has to have minor surgery tomorrow (and his teeth

[livetohike]

cleaned). He has never been put under and he's scared to death of vets anyway :-(. I've never had a dog so fearful of the vets office and he's 6.5 years old now. Cindy is not a problem with the vet. I'm really worried about how all this is going to turn out .

[MiniMe]

1. My puppy mill dog needed some x-rays last week

He is sooooo scared at the vet, that they had to sedate him to do it. He was passive resistant, didn't want to do what they wanted him to do. I left him there to recover, and he was fine. We also couldn't get a weight on him, so they had to carry him out to the scale while he was sedated to get weighed. Poor boy. The vet said they got some strange looks in the waiting room, as they carried out this unconscious dog and put him on the scale. I went to pick him up, and they had him recovering in an examination room instead of a cage where they could check on him and make sure he was OK. When I went to pick him up, he was recovered and ready to go home. He was fine when we got home, a little tired, but that's it. It's always hard to leave our babies there when they are scared, but they are usually fine. If you like the vet and the vet techs at the office, they know how to handle it. Lots of doggies are scared there, they are used to it.

[livetohike]

2. Thanks for this MiniMe

This is a new vet office for us and everyone seems nice and easy going. We had both dogs there two weeks ago for their annual heartworm check. They couldn't do Murphy. We couldn't even get a muzzle on him. So they will draw blood for the check up while he is under. Murphy has never even had a good exam because he won't sit long enough to have his heart and lungs listened to, etc. He's an ACD, so some of this behavior is his instinctive wariness, but still....

[MiniMe]

3. Well, Eddie usually freezes to have his heart and lungs listened to

So he is OK in that respect, but his heart is usually beating a mile a minute. They had to draw blood from him too, it was difficult, but they did it. Eddie is a lab, and has never tried to bite anybody, but that doesn't mean he won't, but he would rather run away if he can. Hugs and kisses to Murphy, tell him that Eddie said it would be OK. Poor Eddie had an 18 month old little boy chasing him around this weekend, the little boy thought that Eddie was his dog Mo. So he would run after Eddie going Mo, Moooooo, and then cry because "Mo" wouldn't come to him. It was kind of funny, but I kept an eye on Eddie to make sure he wasn't cornered somewhere. I was more worried he would knock the little boy over than Eddie biting him, but you never know. Vets are used to it though, as are vet techs.

[hamsterjill]

4. It will be fine, I'm sure.

Although it's certainly stressful to see your babies having to endure this type of thing, I'm sure you've picked a good vet and he will be in good hands.

Let us know when it's all over - and I'm sure the report will be that all went well! Best of luck to Murphy!

[livetohike]

7. Thanks!

:hi: I'll update when we all get home.

[beac]

5. I would look into acupressure. You can teach yourself the techniques to help calm him in fearful

situations. This site has some basic background:

http://dog-care.suite101.com/article.cfm/acupressure_for_your_dogs_health

I used acupressure combined with acupuncture by a veterinary professional for my dog. It worked wonders.

[livetohike]

8. Thanks for this!

I'm going to do it tomorrow. I think I need some too, :-).

[lukasahero]

6. Aww, poor baby

Sorry livetohike, I don't have any recommendations but wanted to let you know that Bella and I will be thinking of you and Murphy tomorrow. I'm sure it will all be ok. Remember, long slow strokes are calming to dogs. Good luck!

[livetohike]

9. Thank lukasahero

:-) Hug Bella for me too.

[livetohike]

10. Update: Murphy is home and everything went okay but

we found out (after the bloodwork) that he has Lyme disease. We have to give him antibiotics for three weeks. He isn't showing any symptoms of the disease so I guess that's a good thing.

His teeth are nice and white and shiny now :-). The vet removed the nodule from his leg and he has stitches there, so we will have to keep an eye on that.

Thanks for your support everybody from Murphy and me.

[Why Syzygy]

11. Yay for Murphy!

You must be relieved that's over. He looks happy :D Healing vibes for Murphy.

[livetohike]

14. Thanks! Well that pic was taken before the vet visit

He is generally a really happy dog though. Just full of joy when he is outside or playing inside. I know he was a problem patient. I am sending the vet a thank you note today.

[MiniMe]

12. Yea Murphy! Good Boy

Glad everything turned out OK for Murphy.

[livetohike]

15. Thanks! Me too. He has to take antibiotics for three weeks

for the Lyme disease. He has never taken pills in his 6.5 years, but I wrapped them in butter = no problem :-).

[MiniMe]

17. Cheese or peanut butter work well too

My dogs are very happy to get pills because they get the yummy treats. I usually use cheap american cheese, the kind that is really soft. Eddie is on antibiotics now, and as soon as he hears the pill bottle, he comes running and drooling. :rofl:

[lukasahero]

19. Cheese doesn't work for me

Bella can eat the cheese and spit out the pill. :(

Peanut butter works great though. And, if I'm feeling flush, those little pill pockets are the easiest of all!

Hey, MiniMe, I've been wondering if you saw my post about the Lab/Golden mix and had any advice on how to find him a home?

[MiniMe]

20. Any rescues in the area?

I would go the rescue route. There are a lot of all breed rescues who take mixes. A lot of dogs who come into us come in because either a person dies or is too ill to care for the dog. I skimmed the post, what area is it in?

[lukasahero]

22. He's in New Hampshire

I wasn't sure the rescue groups would take him since he already "has" a home (albeit she was looking into sending him to a shelter before I got involved).

I'm reading through NEARR's web page now and it looks like they will both accept a mixed retriever and allow him to be posted on their referrals page. So thanks - you've helped already!

(I also noticed that they need help with their web page so I've just discovered a volunteer opportunity for myself as well - thanks again!)

[MiniMe]

23. Good, I'm glad

And I'm happy that you found a place. We are also getting in lots of dogs who's owners have lost their homes due to foreclosure, or just that people can't take care of them anymore. A rescue is a much better option than the shelter. Rescue's usually don't put dog's down, unlike shelters.

[lukasahero]

13. Yay Murphy!

Was thinking about you yesterday and hoping all went well. Thanks for the update! What a pretty dog.

[livetohike]

16. Thanks lukasahero

He is a pretty dog, therefore; everyone thinks he is friendly and wants to pet him. Then he becomes a Tasmanian devil dog. But once he knows you he will lick you to death. I'm hoping future vet visits to this office will help his scared symptoms subside.

[lukasahero]

18. Lol - OMG I can relate!

Bella never becomes the 'lick you to death' variety of dog your Murphy does - she's stuck at Tasmanian devil or 'scaredy-dog hiding behind my legs' - but she's so cute and happy-looking, everyone wants to pet her. That usually ends badly - she barks at them - they look at me - I tell them they should always ask before petting a strange dog... yadda yadda yadda...

I have to tell you, thuogh, my vet did a wonderful thing for us (and her) and I don't even think she meant to do it. Normally my doc is great at trying to make Bella comfortable and she knows she's fearful so she approaches her gently working to win her confidence.

Well, this one day the doc was running really late with her appts and Bella was just there for a quick vaccine. She came in and Bella started her hide behind my legs routine and the doc just said, "Look Bella, I don't have time for this today" and reached out and pulled her over and stuck her with the shot before Bella even knew what was happening. The look on Bella's face was priceless and I'm sure mine was right there with her! After a moment, we all laughed and Bella has been better and better with people ever since.

She's still a real scaredy-dog but so much braver than she was. We actually bring her to the vet's office even when we don't have appts just to get her acclimated and exposed to other animals and people. It helps.

[livetohike]

24. Great ideas! LOL at the Bella and shot story

We were taking the dogs to a vet a two hour drive away (it was our vet clinic before we moved to CA). We moved back to PA in 2007 and thought the drive to Pgh. would be okay since our Moms are both there anyway. So this time we decided to find a local vet. The dogs are getting older and more problems will arise. If there is an emergency, we may not have time to drive two hours away. Murphy was okay with the vet in Pgh. He had to be muzzled but they were able to give him his shots and draw blood.

I think I will take Murphy into town with me and stop by the vet weekly as you suggested. It should help :-).

[pengillian101]

26. Ha - great story!

;-)

[ginnyinWI]

21. be really careful of what signals you are sending him.

As you know, dogs can pick up their owners' emotions really well. Any trace of anxiety will tell him that there is something to dread. I'd talk to him a lot and give him some treats at the door to the clinic. Make it a happy, happy occasion. Speak with the people there in a relaxed, happy tone and he'll eventually get the idea that it's all okay.

[livetohike]

25. All great ideas! Thanks for this.

I think we were more stressed out over it all than Murphy and I am sure our stress rubbed off.