Vet muzzled my puppy?

[Galathiel]

I've had 4 GSDs, none of them ever had to be muzzled at the vet's office. I guess they were 'atypical'.

Of course my vet was kinda old school-pretty unflappable ... I think he was more cautious of my cat than any dog I ever brought in! (with good reason .. she was a Siamese who did not appreciate anything the vet did and frequently swiped at him).

[Liesje]

I take my dogs to a large animal hospital that has many vets on staff. For routine stuff I never request a specific vet, so my dogs have seen probably a dozen different vets. Some seem to love GSDs, others not so much. One always prefers to muzzle my dogs. Honestly I don't care. It won't kill the dog to be muzzled for 30 seconds during a vaccine or blood draw. They should probably have that experience anyway, in case they ever get hurt and require a muzzle to be treated or carried to safety. I don't think any of my dogs *need* to be muzzled, and I always offer to hold my dog's head and make a muzzle with my leash. I've also had a vet make really uninformed comments about GSDs but it's never been enough for me to leave the animal hospital and go somewhere else. If I don't want to deal with her I just ask for someone else. I don't really care what she thinks of GSDs or what her past experience has been, she just has to draw blood and give some shots.

[Lilie]

Any time I am at the clinic with any of my animals, I do not stand back and allow the vet tech to handle my dog. I am the one assisting the vet. If the vet needs an experianced hand to do a specific procedure, then I'll stand with my animal, but out of their way.

If any of my dogs growled at the vet (or tech), I would be the one suggesting a muzzle. I don't want anybody hurt due to my dog's behavior.

I know it's hard, but try to only concern yourself with their medical opinions on your dog. That is what you're paying for. If you trust your vet's medical advice, then stay. If you don't, then find another vet.

The clinic I use love my GSD. He is aloof and always looks as though he is ready to eat their face. But he has never made a sound when being treated. They allow me to handle him while the vet treats him. It works for us.

I do get an ear full when the vet is treating my Lacy - who much like your pup - is (was) very mouthy. I even got training advice. I just smiled and nodded. I trust his medical advice - that is what I am paying for. His training advice? Not so much. But I'm not paying for that.

[Tulip]

I would understand the vet muzzling the pup to get a better look at the ear without fear of getting bit (since you said he can be sensitive about the left ear, the vet probably wanted to check it more carefully to see if there was infection or something... should have told you first though), but just because he growled (if it was a puppy play growl) and is a GSD? Um... yeah. I would avoid that vet.

My vets always talked to me about neutering my dogs as well. Just listen to them and politely decline whenever they bring it up. No reason to argue or stop seeing them because of this.

[mycobraracr]

I only skimmed through the responses.

I have no problem with muzzling. I actually said to muzzle my dog at our visit last week. No reason not to. It's not going to hurt the dog. I think everyone should train their dog to accept the muzzle and move on. I don't know what the big deal is.

[TommyB681]

bashing a vet for being safe..

[sit,stay]

Originally Posted by Liesje

I take my dogs to a large animal hospital that has many vets on staff. For routine stuff I never request a specific vet, so my dogs have seen probably a dozen different vets. Some seem to love GSDs, others not so much. One always prefers to muzzle my dogs. Honestly I don't care. It won't kill the dog to be muzzled for 30 seconds during a vaccine or blood draw. They should probably have that experience anyway, in case they ever get hurt and require a muzzle to be treated or carried to safety. I don't think any of my dogs *need* to be muzzled, and I always offer to hold my dog's head and make a muzzle with my leash. I've also had a vet make really uninformed comments about GSDs but it's never been enough for me to leave the animal hospital and go somewhere else. If I don't want to deal with her I just ask for someone else. I don't really care what she thinks of GSDs or what her past experience has been, she just has to draw blood and give some shots.

This! Exactly this.
Sheilah

[trcy]

On Riley's last shot visit he growled when the vet walked in. A very quiet short growl. The vet started petting him and all was well. Riley wagged his tail and was fine, but I still got the "your dog is showing agression and it will only get worse" lecture. He didn't muzzle him though.

My last vet was convinced my small shepherd/chow/poodle mix was part Rottweiler and he muzzled him every time we went in. The dog was 25 pounds and only gave kisses. We did change vets.

[gsdsar]

I am luck that I work for my vet. And they always trust me with my dogs. Also, if there is worry about a clients GSD, I get called in.

I have no problem muzzling if its safer, but they know I can read a GSD and most if the time I take a less is more approach and the dog is fine.

I hate to say this, but I prefer to muzzle Rotts. I know this, so I usually have another tech handle them. She can read and handle them waaaay better than me.

I do think that as owners it's up to us to prepare our dogs for anything. That may mean getting them used to a muzzle. If they are used to it, it is a non issue and you don't have to worry about it when someone asks to muzzle them.

We should also be preparing our dogs for the things that happen at the Vets. Looking in ears, staring in the eyes, picking up feet, laying in side, trimming nails, standing still with someone reaching over them. All these things happen at a Vets and we should make sure our pets learn to be comfortable with them.


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[llombardo]

Originally Posted by gsdsar

I hate to say this, but I prefer to muzzle Rotts.




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Back in the day almost every cocker spaniel that came in should have been muzzled. They were just mean. They had to shoot a sedative into one of the dogs mouth to get it to calm down..It was crazy