It's been a happy week for Hachi. He's had many good days, as we were either at Lab Valley or the Runner took the pups there just for an afternoon romp. When they have the chance, they play chase every single day.
One thing happened that is so routine for most pets. We got our notice that it's time for Hachi's annual exam. You may remember how absolutely terrified he is when being examined by anyone but us. He was so afraid last year that we felt that it took him a couple of months to get back to his baseline after his annual exam. Over that time, he was more afraid of us and of everything else. That is despite the fact that we have the most gentle "certified fear-free" vet that you can imagine. All of our other dogs have loved her.
We've been playing the "bucket game" with Hachi as a way to give him agency when being handled. The general idea is that we have a cup of treats (the "bucket") in front of him. If he looks at the "bucket", he is saying that it's okay for us to handle him. As soon as he looks away from the treats, we take our hands off of him. He gets a treat from the bucket after each time we successfully handle him. We've literally been playing it daily for months, and he's just now making serious progress with it. We can look in his ears, handle his paws, and gently pinch his skin as if he's going to get an injection. We have not yet started actually clipping his toenails or brushing his teeth during the game but I predict that we'll be able to do that soon. There are some good videos of it online if you google it.
Despite our hard work, we are not close to the point when anyone but us can handle him. We do have the option of sedating him for an annual exam (and vaccines) which I think will be the solution for this year. But, we also have the issue of Covid, which means that we cannot go into the vet hospital with him unless they take extraordinary measures to protect themselves and us. We'd want to be there for him, especially until the sedation kicks in and after it starts to wear off. So, we will probably delay his annual exam until more of us are vaccinated.
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| Hachi's first silhouette photo |
I had no idea that a simple annual exam could be so anxiety-inducing,
even for us humans. Have any of you had a pet who was as terrified of being handled as Hachi is? Any tips for annual exams?
Hachi may be complicated but we love him. We'll figure this out.
a friend showed me how to play "examination" with my dogs, it works when I do it but not at the vet... we hope till april things are better and we can be with tzem for their annual check up...
ReplyDeleteWe think it's a good idea to delay the exam. Poor Hachi.
ReplyDeleteOh I love the silhouette photo! A fellow blogger has a cat who has issues being handled as well. I can't recall the name of the drug, but she gives it to Katie in pill form ahead of the appointment so she's drowsy before they arrive at the vet. I know she doesn't like it (the cat mom and Katie both actually) but it's the only way to safely have her examined.
ReplyDeleteTake care, stay well!
Hari OM
ReplyDelete...in the big picture, peace it home and within Hachi is far better than putting yourselves through additional stress. The shots can wait. YAM xx
My golden is very fearful of the vet and I have to give her Trazdone before her her appt. It has been terrible with the curbside service and I didn't realize how bad it effected her until I was meeting for a group walk and the organizer came up to us and Ruby started puling back as I think she thought that the lady was coming for her to take her to the vet. When she realized that we were there for fun and a walk she was fine and then the next week she even went up to the lady all excited but then it happened again with my sister, who doesn't live here and we met her in an unfamiliar place and she did the same thing. I think it has scared her for life! I agree that you should wait until you can go in and have him sedated so it won't be stressful for him or you. Poor thing!
ReplyDeleteOf our 12 dogs, we only had one who was dangerous. He hated men, all men, except Errol. Our vet is wonderful, but he is a man. We never had the dog sedated, but he was the only one we muzzled and also used female vet techs to give the shots. His visits were the most stressful for me. Samson is patient and calm. Faith is overly protective of me, so I leave the room and she's then the perfect patient. So we have only used simple solutions that made sense for the dog. This to say, I have no advice for Hachi. What really troubled me, was the after effects. That a vet visit would cause a huge setback for him,lasting so long. That's so sad, something I've never experienced. I wonder what he went through in his early life. He's such a lovely dog, I feel bad for him, but happy too that he's living with you and the Runner And really having the best life any dog could ask for.
ReplyDeleteIs there any other way, can the vet visit you or is that too far to travel? We have had one cat who hated to be picked up , she had been a friend's cat and that friend couldn't keep her. I would wait till life is safer, is there any immediate need for shots or anything else, and if it can wait, \keep Hachi happy where he is for now. Love the leaping fun together.
ReplyDeleteI do remember that visit last year. I'm sure you'll work something out that works for you, them and especially Hachi. He's such a precious pup.
ReplyDeleteI've had kitties that hated the car ride and the vets office, but never a pup.
Have a fabulous day and week. Scritches to the pups. ♥
Elsa gets pretty stressed out for vet visits (we just had one a week ago for her annual blood work for epilepsy). When she's stressed, she is more prone to have a seizure (which in fact she did after a couple of days passed). Luckily the vet will allow us inside with our pet (once we've waited outside in the parking lot and our names get called in order of the queue). I think it's helpful to have the huMoms there. But I have found that an extra dose of CBD helps take some of the edge off too. Good luck whenever you end up getting that exam and good on you with the desensitization training.
ReplyDeleteChance is our dog that doesn't like to be handled. He would scream if a vet came near him. He has to wear a muzzle b/c he's so nippy. We used to hold him for his visits to get shots/blood draws and it made it worse. Now he just lays or stands (with muzzle on) and lets the vet do their thing. He even handled it going in by himself (covid) and did great!
ReplyDeleteHe might do better than you think with the vet and you not being there. I was surprised how protective our dogs were and how they did better without us there. Just some food for thought. Youve been working with him for a year now, he might do better than you think. Good luck whatever you choose.
you might want to find a way to get just the rabies shot, if that is a problem where you live, it is a problem here in florida, as for the annual every dog i had until the last 4 never got anything in their lives but rabies once a year, the vet came out to the car and injected them while we held them... that bucket game sounds good
ReplyDeleteOh dear...wat a mixed bag of worries. I hope you find a suitable solution
ReplyDeleteSending hugs and purrs
Cecilia
Rowan goes in for her annual exam tomorrow. Curbside drop-off. We've been practicing exam games for months (toy otoscope, needle-less syringe, etc), and she's very relaxed at home with us. Not expecting it will go as well at the vet's, but she needs a physical exam before we can move to the behavioral evaluation (for increasing environmental sensitivity). Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteFor Hachi, it sounds wise to wait till you can be with him. Does the planned sedation happen at the vet's office, or do you give meds before you take him in?
Chris from Boise
We will give something ahead of time but we haven't seen that have a huge effect in the past. The main sedation will be given at the vet and will be an amnesiac. The amnesia part is important to help him not to be upset for months afterwards.
DeleteGood idea. Wise vet.
DeletePoor Hachi, Vet trips can be very traumatic. Our kitty Simon isn't the same for weeks after a Vet visit.
ReplyDelete'Hachi's first silhouette photo' that photo is simply adorable!
ReplyDeletehis ears. and the tilt of his head! I would know that little silhouette anywhere! xoxo
My tip is, as usual, against the "norm." No vaccines. Look up vaccinosis. Most dogs are protected for life after their 6 month boosters. Instead, do titers every 3 years. That would give Hachi 2 more years before he gets stuck with a needle again. Your vet, unless of a holisic bent, will fight this. This is their bread and butter, and what they're all taught in school, which is funded by big pharma and the big dog food companie advocate. My vet agrees that titers every 3 years are the way to go.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. We do titers for all of our dogs. The problem is that the titer at 2 years old (Hachi's current age) has always come back saying that their immunity is low. After that, we often can avoid vaccines. So, thinking of Hachi's fears, I am tempted to simply vaccinate this year to avoid the blood test and then having to return again for vaccines. I think that your logic is great aside from that one bit of our experience. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteI have a really good relationship with my vet, and I know he would do the exam and the vaccinations at the car for me if I asked. Maybe you could ask your vet to do something like that for you.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy! I am sure that our vet would do that if we asked. The problem is that Hachi would not cooperate. He doesn't like being approached by non family members, especially if he can tell that they are focused on him. So, although out in the car or next to it would be better than inside the vet hospital, it wouldn't be easy. We have tried the "curbside" exam for him before - and he acts a bit scary toward the vet.
DeleteIt's good to hear Hachi is doing so well. We have our paws crossed that his upcoming trip to the vet goes as well as possible.
ReplyDeleteYou truly understand a dog's soul. I hope they make an exception and let you go in with Hachi
ReplyDeleteWells, you DID see my 'Poodle feets" right? wells, that's because I HATES my feets touched. I jump and growl and even tried to nip Ma! (note to self...DON'T nip the Mama! 😂). Anyhu, when I went under for my dentals, they were finally able to get the mats out from between my paws, and clip my talons. Ma is trying to gets me more comfy and used to my feets being touched. It's not going too well...😁 butts,she is trying, and it does mean lots of treats BOL!
ReplyDeleteGood luck, and I totally agree that sedation is the best way to go for everyone. If anyone can gets Hachi to be betters, it is you! I gots my paws crossed the game works!
Kisses,
Ruby ♥
The whole thing about not being able to have humans go in with pets is hard for everyone. Talking to the vet on the phone during the exam is just not the same at all. We hope they will get back to letting Mom go in with us soon as we are also a bit scared of the vet place, but nothing like poor Hatchi.
ReplyDeleteI hope you find a solution.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a solution that could help you. All I can offer is commiseration since Luke is the exact same way. We can't even make progress with letting US handle him. I actually appreciate that you wrote this though, because it makes me feel better to know that other dogs can be that way. We still struggle with it.
ReplyDelete