How can I get my aggressive dog vet care without anesthesia?

It is important to figure out a way to safely get Kawaski medication care. There isn't any anesthesia that you can use at home, but there are some sedatives that your veterinarian can prescribe for you to give at home prior to bringing him in to the vet. One other thing that I would recommend is getting Kawaski comfortable with you putting a muzzle on him. You might consider something like a basket muzzle (http://www.akc.org/content/dog-training/articles/dog-muzzles-about-when-why-and-how-to-use-one/) which might allow you to safely take him to the vet if he has a sedative. I would call your vet and discuss these options and see if they are comfortable prescribing a sedative for Kawaski. I hope that gives you some ideas and was helpful. Good luck! Thanks for using PetCoach.

It is important to remember that some dogs may always react aggressively and are at risk to hurt someone (which no one wants). Your veterinarian knows how to read pet's body language and must take into account the safety of everyone (the pet included). Some pets needs to be sedated and muzzled and there's no other way around it. There are some things you can discuss with your veterinarian and may be able to work out with the clinic if you are committed to trying to make Java less afraid and more willing to allow proper care. Here is a link: https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-is-fear-free-training-and-socialization/ Again, it never hurts to try but it may not work. I hope this helps.

Poor Rocky! I'm sorry to hear that he has this problem. To get a veterinary check-up, I would recommend calling your vet to discuss your concerns and make a plan for how to have him seen safely. This may involve having you train him to wear a muzzle at home, so that you can put this on before he arrives at the veterinary clinic. The veterinarian may prescribe some anti-anxiety medication for you to give prior to coming in, and he may also need injectable sedation once he arrives at the clinic so that he can be handled safely. For the future, I would strongly recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can help you put together a detailed training plan to work on his aggressive behavior. Most aggression towards strangers is fear-based, so this normally includes using positive reinforcement (food rewards, etc.) to help the dog learn to be more comfortable with the things that scare him. Punishment-based training (prong or choke collars, shock collars, etc.) are NEVER recommended for the treatment of aggression issues, as this does not address the underlying problem and has a high risk of making the aggression worse over time. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org or ask your regular veterinarian where the nearest one is located.

Neutering could definitely help the aggression problem. I would also recommend picking up a product called Feliway. It comes in a spray and a plug in and it has pheromones that can help calm your cat. You will not be able to smell it. Sometimes this helps, too. You can also spray the towel in the carrier so he can bring it with him to the vet. I would contact your vet for an oral medication to help sedate him prior to his next exam. This would help ensure his safety and every one that handles him.

Yes, there are certainly risks associated with sedating Rex. While age isn't a disease in and of itself, you mentioned that Rex has previously been diagnosed with metastatic (spread of cancer) melanoma. Existing disease processes raise the risk of sedation, which can include heart and blood pressure issues, or difficulty breaking down the drugs in the liver and/or kidneys. That said, I'd recommend having a conversation with Rex's vet regarding their previous exam findings, as well as the severity of his current skin infection. You'll need to weigh the risks and benefits of sedation vs. leaving this skin infection untreated. Your vet may recommend trying some different oral sedatives or anti-anxiety medications, which are often a bit safer than some injectable sedatives. Your vet may also be able to offer a telemedicine visit to check out Rex's skin. I hope that everything goes well!

Hi! Sounds like Max really needs to see someone. What we usually do at our clinic is this: as long as a pet comes in with a well fitted muzzle, we can usually help. Max will need to be sedated, to be treated. So, call ahead to your vet clinic, and let them know that Max needs help. They are under no obligation to treat him if he is truly dangerous. But, if he is able to wear a muzzle, that should be a big help to the staff.

It’s pretty common for dogs to start to show signs of fear towards strangers and at the vets office around 6-12 months of age, and I doubt the muzzle had anything to do with it. Biting without giving warning signs is scary behavior and it would be best to see a behaviorist to try to work on this. He absolutely should wear a muzzle at the vets and it may be a good idea to train him to wear a basket muzzle out in public to keep strangers safe. You can purchase a muzzle and put it on at home or in the car before arriving at the vets to reduce stress, and you may want to ask your vet about a sedative before the visit. Some dogs need heavy sedation for vaccines and exams to help prevent them from becoming even more fearful at the vets office. While a Petco vaccine clinic might be an option they would also need to use a muzzle and would not be able to prescribe sedation if necessary. https://bestfriends.org/resources/muzzles-tool-keep-everyone-safe