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sjackson310 · 03-21-2013, 04:30 PM

So Bender went to the vet today for some shots. He is 16 weeks old and 37.5 lbs. He is the goofiest, most loving puppy ever. He is also teething (just lost his first tooth on Monday ^_^) so he has been extra "chewy" with his front teeth.

Anyways, we've been to this vet 3 separate times. Had 3 separate vets and 3 separate techs. I used to work at this vet 3 years ago as well. Bender has been totally fine and happy about this place. He has always been weird about his left ear and hollers when you stick something down into it, but so far he doesn't have any infections. Well, so the vet tech came in and took his temp, he did fine. She checked his ears with q-tips, he did fine (did the little holler once and was fine). She checked his mouth and body, and he was fine. Then gave him some Panacur.

The vet then came in and went to his ears. I said "Be gentle with that left ear, he can be over dramatic." After I said that, she REALLY went to town bending just that one ear and looking deep in it, stuck a q tip in his ear and he freaked out. His other ear, she just poked the q-tip in and he was fine. Then she went to check his mouth and he let out a growl. To me, it sounded just like the sound he makes every single time we play. Anytime we play tug, anytime I am brushing him and he wants to bite the brush, and any time he is wrestling with another puppy. She then says "we need to muzzle him" and she muzzled him and he just sat there looking at me, seeming very confused. She gave him his shots and then proceeded to tell me my dog is aggressive and will most likely have to be muzzled every time he comes in???? She said "German shepherds are weird like that, they typically have to be muzzled."

I understand not wanting to take a chance, but he is seriously just a goofy puppy. I think she freaked him out with the ear thing, and he has been shaking his head on that one side since we've been home and walking lopsided, but I think calling him aggressive is a little much? When I worked there and we had to muzzle dogs, usually after the muzzle was on they were still thrashing around and trying to kill everyone. He just sat there looking at me across the room. I am worried that if he gets muzzled when he is there every time, he will develop a negative association with that place. After that vet left, another one came in (my friend) and proceeded to play with him on the exam table and gently wrestle with his head. He was fine.

Am I being overly sensitive? Or should I try not to have her be our vet? There are like 5 vets in this facility.

03-21-2013, 04:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
sjackson310 Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 94	Vet muzzled my puppy? So Bender went to the vet today for some shots. He is 16 weeks old and 37.5 lbs. He is the goofiest, most loving puppy ever. He is also teething (just lost his first tooth on Monday ^_^) so he has been extra "chewy" with his front teeth. Anyways, we've been to this vet 3 separate times. Had 3 separate vets and 3 separate techs. I used to work at this vet 3 years ago as well. Bender has been totally fine and happy about this place. He has always been weird about his left ear and hollers when you stick something down into it, but so far he doesn't have any infections. Well, so the vet tech came in and took his temp, he did fine. She checked his ears with q-tips, he did fine (did the little holler once and was fine). She checked his mouth and body, and he was fine. Then gave him some Panacur. The vet then came in and went to his ears. I said "Be gentle with that left ear, he can be over dramatic." After I said that, she REALLY went to town bending just that one ear and looking deep in it, stuck a q tip in his ear and he freaked out. His other ear, she just poked the q-tip in and he was fine. Then she went to check his mouth and he let out a growl. To me, it sounded just like the sound he makes every single time we play. Anytime we play tug, anytime I am brushing him and he wants to bite the brush, and any time he is wrestling with another puppy. She then says "we need to muzzle him" and she muzzled him and he just sat there looking at me, seeming very confused. She gave him his shots and then proceeded to tell me my dog is aggressive and will most likely have to be muzzled every time he comes in???? She said "German shepherds are weird like that, they typically have to be muzzled." I understand not wanting to take a chance, but he is seriously just a goofy puppy. I think she freaked him out with the ear thing, and he has been shaking his head on that one side since we've been home and walking lopsided, but I think calling him aggressive is a little much? When I worked there and we had to muzzle dogs, usually after the muzzle was on they were still thrashing around and trying to kill everyone. He just sat there looking at me across the room. I am worried that if he gets muzzled when he is there every time, he will develop a negative association with that place. After that vet left, another one came in (my friend) and proceeded to play with him on the exam table and gently wrestle with his head. He was fine. Am I being overly sensitive? Or should I try not to have her be our vet? There are like 5 vets in this facility.