"We'll take him now"

[DznyLvr2005]

Am I the only one who refuses to allow their vet to take their pets (alone) into the back for routine treatments?

Vet I've used for 15 years knows I'm coming with them. Every once in a while I have to take one of my dogs when he's (my reg vet) not there and the Vet on duty tells me I can't go back with them. I tell them "I go where my dogs go".

my first vet near my house NEVER took my pets to do anything, they did it all right there in the office. Then my mom has my dog now and the dog needed shots, so I made an apopintment for a place near her house. We took the dog and the same thing happened. "OK, we'll take the dog, do some tests, give her the shots and be right back"
I thought that was so strange!!!!!!

 

[MichelleVW]

For those who dont like the go in back thing, is it because you are afraid they are going to really do what is needed? Or do you think they will harm pets?

I don't think they will harm them and I don't think it's weird for them to take them for procedures, but how in the world could they do a routine exam without the owner there to ask/answer questions?

I am very aware of my animal's health issues and notice very subtle things before they get serious and I think things could get missed if the owner wasn't in the exam room.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

For me, it's because I want to be there for them no matter what has to be done. I know someone said that having the owner there isn't always calming but I know that that is the effect I have on these dogs. They both started out as my roommate's dog and he had had one for 6 years and one for 7 years before I moved in four months ago. Now, they follow me around and one if given the choice (which he is given on a regular basis), chooses to be with me/sleep in my bed at night over being with his actual owner.

 

[Andrea]

my vet never takes my dogs anywhere.... even when we had to go to the "back" to get weighed on a different scale... the normal one wouldnt weigh her for some reason. they even told me to go back there with them.

 

[torinsmom]

I have to disagree as well about animals being more relaxed without the owner present. I had an older cat who had to have blood drawn and they took her in the back to do it. 3 minutes later they came to get me because my 5 pound cat almost took someone's finger off Once I was back there stroking her fur, she was very calm and they were able to get the blood without anyone else's blood being shed.

I guess I feel like pets are similar to babies or young children. You would never think of letting the doctor take your child out of the room to give him a shot, right? IMHO, Pets can sense that you are not trying to hurt them, especially when they have a secure bond with you. They know your touch, your voice, etc.

My vet takes the cats back to get their weight, but they take blood and give shots in the exam room with me there. They ask me to talk to my babies while they do the procedures and it does seem to help.

Marsha

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, my vet for Ted was sort fo a "country" vet with a small office, so everything was pretty much right there. One exam room, xray etc. all right in the same spot! She did have us go int he exam room with him all the time.

The couple of times we had to take him to the emergency vet, they took him from us. I was anxious about it, not because I didn't trust them, but because he was my baby...
He looked none the worse for the wear when he came back, and everyone was fawning all over him.

 

[lisajl]

I would expect them to take the animal for actual procedures because I don't need to be there for those, but just for the routine exam would be weird. It's not like the dog can say, "well, lately I've had some trouble getting up and down the stairs!"

LoL! If your pet could do that it would sure make my boss happy!
Save him a lot of time trying to figure out what's wrong! LOL!

 

[disykat]

My dog has had several procedures lately where she had to go "in back." x-ray, ultrasound, surgery. I trust my vet's office and had no trouble allowing her to go without me. I think it was easier on both of us.

 

[MM27]

I take my dog to the vet for nail clippings and I don't go back for that. Everything else, I go with her for. Once in the exam room, depending on what they are going to do, they will either do it right in the room or take her to another room without me. The last thing they took her out for was when she needed to have an anal gland drained. The vet said she didn't want her to associate me with the procedure and she was sure I could do without the smells involved. I gladly waited in the room for her.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

My dog has had several procedures lately where she had to go "in back." x-ray, ultrasound, surgery. I trust my vet's office and had no trouble allowing her to go without me. I think it was easier on both of us.

Those are not "routine" exam procedures so I would expect them to take my dog in the back without me for those. I think the OP meant more minor routine procedures.

 

[Pomlover2586]

HaHa No you're not alone......I too refuse to let my babies go without me there.
Fortunately I worked with my vet for a while, so He knows it's not even an option.

 

[kacaju]

never really gave it any thought to be honest.
I used to work at a Vet's office. Back then we (the vet techs) were in the room with the Dr. the whole time. We held the animals while the Dr. did the exams and then got any medications for the animal. We also made up the shots before hand. The Vet I go to now he comes in the room by himself. I assume the rest of the staff is in the back doing other things and one will stop what they are doing to help the Dr. when he comes back with my animal. I just figured it was a different way to do things.

 

[torinsmom]

I remember when I took one of my cats to be spayed at a different vet. I used them because they were part of a low cost spay/neuter program. Well, they did take my cat to the back to weigh him while I made all the arrangements. When the tech brought him back out a few minutes later, she claimed she had found flea dust(I think that's what it's called) and had applied flea medication to his neck. I was mad because 1)my cats are all inside and I have never seen a flea on any of them and 2)how did she know I wanted that pestcide put on my cat? They nickeled and dimed me until I should have just done the neuter at my regular vet. Then they tried to tell me he had to spend the night because he wasn't "ready" when I went to pick him up 4 hours after the surgery. I told her she was giving me my cat and I was going to call and let the low cost program know how they treated me. I did, but who knows if anything ever came of it.

I like to have some say-so in what procedure the drs do. I can't always afford everything they would recommend and I don't do all the tests or vaccines. I always question whether something is necessary or suggested. I don't know if they would ask if I wasn't back there. Case in point: One of my cats had a sore mouth, so I took her in. They think she has an infection and wanted to do blood tests and put her on antibiotics, then do blood work again. I agreed to antibiotics and a recheck. I don't feel the blood work is needed if the mouth gets better with antibiotics.

Marsha

 

[tonilea]

It actually makes perfect sense to me. Always remember that pets don't comprehend things like we do. So when a procedure is being done, your animal isn't thinking "gee, I'm glad mommy is here for me." They are thinking "why is mommy DOING this to me?" It may depend on the pet - my doxie gets real skittish at the vet and she takes him away so that he doesn't associate anything that's happening with ME. In otherwords, SHE wants to be the bad guy rather than me.

Plus, like another poster said, your comforting your pet doesn't work that way at all. To the animal, you are reinforcing and praising their fearful response.

IMO, having worked in a vet clinic for 10 years, the dogs also feel like they need to defend their owner.

 

[DianeV]

Where I work if you are in strictly for a nail trim, anal gland expression or just a heartworm test where they draw blood they will take the pet back and do it while you wait in the waiting room. A technician usually does it anyway so no need to be in a room

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

IMO, having worked in a vet clinic for 10 years, the dogs also feel like they need to defend their owner.

I totally agree. While some animals are better with their owners present, most are not. Often, the owner will not allow the staff to properly restrain the pet and insist on doing it themselves. I wish I had a dollar for every time I have heard "No. I have him. He never bites..." only to have teeth come whizzing past my face/hand/arm a minute later.
Sometimes, the safety of me, my co-workers, the owner and the pet makes it necessary for the animal to have a treatment in "the back".

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

There's no way our vet would handle our dog (GSD) without DH there to keep him under control. Simon doesn't like strangers.

 

[Mom21]

I wish my vet would take my dog. She is a German Shepherd that was never trained to go out in public. I got her when she was 5. Now she gets so excited when we go out I usually end up getting dragged all over and hurt for days.

 

[clgwli]

I have never had my pets go back for routine appointments by themselves. There are non-routine procedures done that I haven't been there for, but not for the yearly check ups.

 

[golfgal]

Yeh, your vet called and mentioned your dog has some "issues".

This would be our dog. I NEVER go back with her because she thinks she needs to protect me from the vet and won't let them touch her if I am around. She HATES the vet ever since her surgery.