I will say out loud what most of you are thinking. (1) It was my idea to get a puppy. (2) For the most part, dacshunds are difficult, hard headed, spoiled brats and (3) I should have done a much better job of training and socializing him. We did take him in Home Depot, Atwoods and a few places that allow dogs but . . I could be making excuses . . we don’t go out much. Vince said “How can we socialize the dog when we aren’t socialized?” That was kind of a joke but some truth too.
We took Oscar to the vet this morning. If you saw my arms now, you would think I lost a knife fight. I gave him a Benadryl one hour before we left home. Next time, I’ll do it 1.5 hours.
Not only is he not very social but he is scared to death of everything he isn’t used to doing. He was in a panic just sitting in the car without it moving. I told Vince we’re going to have to start taking him on short little runs to town when Vince is running in the store for one thing so he can get used to the car.
I suggested the tech put a muzzle on him. He isn’t a biter so long as people don’t reach for him but I was afraid he was going to feel like he was backed into a corner and he might bite. She got out the muzzle and I asked if she wanted me to put it on. She didn’t want my help. She talked to him a second, handed him a tiny little treat. He seemed fine. She went to put the muzzle on and he growled and snapped but didn’t make contact so she then handed me the muzzle to get on him.
He hollered like he was dying before the vet ever touched him. They drew blood, gave him his shots, cut his nails, checked his ears, expressed his glands. He was extremely vocal about his displeasure with all of it but they were fast and we were out of there quickly. I apologized to the vet for his behavior and she said “That’s ok. He’s . . (and I could tell she was searching for words) not the worst we’ve ever seen!”
That’s comforting. My cute little dachshund isn’t the worst dog in town.
We got home and the real fun began. Oscar had never had a bath. With new furniture arriving this afternoon (though it will always have a slip cover on it) and after the glands having been expressed, he got a bath. I told Vince . . we may need to call Servicemaster there’s so much water in the laundry room. Poor baby. I guess he figured he was not going to survive the trip to the vet, the shots, the nail trim, and now a bath. I told Vince . . next time it’s your turn to bathe him. Thank goodness for the laundry room sink . . I would hate to have to bathe him in the bath tub.
The Benadryl is now working or else he is totally worn out. He’s in my lap sleeping.
Stephani in N. TX says
Great timing on the Benadryl effectiveness, wouldn’t you know??
judy.blog@gmail.com says
The vet suggested the one hour. It’s not like I give it to him all the time to know how it will work. Hopefully we’ll do better with all this next time, which I hope is a year from now.
Paula Nordt says
I had to take a once feral, still stand of fish, cat to the vet for its shots. This cat bounced off the walls, the exam table, file cabinet….! The vet gave me sedative for her the next time we came.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
You may remember when I managed to shove Cat (the feral cat in Texas that would come up to me and rub on my legs but I couldn’t catch her) into a crate and took her to the vet for shots. She screamed like a crazy cat all the way to the vet. They sedated her through the spaces in the crate in order to give her shots. Not fun! Still can’t believe I was able to do that.
Ginny says
Perhaps you should buy a panic jacket for him. I got one for my sister miniature schnauzer, he is terrible in the car and they were sedating him. They used it to go home to New Jersey from here in Connecticut on Easter Sunday. When I spoke to her Monday morning she said the trip was 100% easier, he was still nervous but not shaking and drooling the entire trip home which 1 1/2 hours at the minimum and probably 2 hours on Easter. They are used for panic attacks, fear of thunder or fireworks and a lot of other things.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
We have one for Rita and it never did much good for her. I think Oscar would panic when we put it on him. I don’t know that the one we have for Rita will fit Oscar but I’ll dig it out and try it and see. Thanks!
montanaclarks says
Judy, ask your vet for Trazadone–it’s a calming medication for dogs. I give it to Emmi when we fly and she sleeps the entire trip. My tablets are 50 mg and I give Emmi a half when we fly, a quarter for other anxiety producing events such as the vet. She only weighs 10 pounds.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I will do that before the next vet visit. Thanks!
vivoaks says
My daughter is a vet tech and her dog lives on trazadone whenever she has to take her anywhere!! The poor dog is a nervous wreck whenever she is out of the house, and a trip in the car is major undertaking. Even with the trazadone, she has to be caged in the car…
judy.blog@gmail.com says
To a fault, I’m pretty anti-meds and will hardly take an aspirin. It broke my heart to give Oscar the Benadryl this morning. I don’t really see us going anywhere in the car with him except to the vet and back. I’ll talk to the vet the next time I’m in there and see what she says. I don’t want him to suffer but . . did I say I’m pretty anyt-meds? 🙁
Nelle Coursey says
Short rides in the car are always good. And if they get a treat even better!