29/06/2021
I saw the lovely Charlie a few days ago in the vet clinic as he was off his food - not even interested in taking treats, and a lot quieter in himself. Those of you who recently attended my Stress in Dogs 2 day online presentation will remember we talked about Charlie - a West Highland White terrier with a long history of fear aggression at the vets.
Charlie has suffered from ear infections in the past, and a combination of factors which will include pain at time of examinations, but also perhaps escalating fear and stress levels on arrival at the vets associated with proximity to unfamilar people, unfamilar dogs, scary, wobbly surfaces like the scales, pheromone exposure of other fearful, stressed owners and pets, sounds of stressed, painful dogs coming from the hospital area, being touched, restrained, examined by unfamiliar people etc means he can be really hard to even get near, let alone examine effectively.
A couple of years ago, when I first met Charlie and his owner, getting near him in the vets was extremely stressful and dangerous for all of us. I ended up doing some house visits to treat his ear infection at that time because getting near him in the clinic wasnt possible (even to get a muzzle on) and I wanted to see if we could make the process better for him. The house visits and treatment for his ear infection back then worked.
When he came in last week his owner was really concerned that because he wasnt eating, he was irritable and reactive, and that this would mean he might be super hard to examine with any meaningful findings.
HE WAS A SUPERSTAR. By giving him time, examining him on the floor unrestrained, listening AND responding to his body language so he felt listened to in his communications, I gave him a full examination (in the same time frame as all my other patients) and discovered a painful infected upper molar tooth. He has gone home with a treatment plan, and may need to return for a dental in which case we will plan ahead again to make this as stress free as possible.
Want to know more on how we've achieved this? And how as both owners and professionals we can use current knowledge about stress in dogs, to help us in situations such as these to achieve better outcomes and maintain good welfare?
My next stress related presentations are with the Complete Pet Company in August. You will have access to 3 x 3 hour recordings (with short break) played at set times (August 22nd, August 29th and September 5th), a 1 hour break and then a live Q AND A session to discuss any additional practicalities. If you are in Europe CET then the presentations will begin at 7am with the Q and A at 11am. Earlier start if you in the UK (BST) with a start at 6am and Q and A beginning 10am. If you are in Australia in AEST then the presentations commence at 3pm and Q and A at 7pm.
you can find out more by following the link below.
I love working with dogs like Charlie - he is one of my favourite patients. Listening to an animal's communications, responding and actually having that "conversation" with them so that we can understand one another better is a privilege. And there is so much we can do to help dogs (and other animals) become excellent "speakers", it does all start with a bit more knowledge and a willingness to listen though :))
https://www.completepet.com.au/event/stress-in-dogs-why-worry/
