My dog is aggressive at the vet. Can I give him something at home?

Injectable sedation or general anesthesia might be in Hercules’s best interest, and neutering could make a big difference in his behavior. Each ‘scary’ experience at the vet builds on the next, so if he is getting worked up on oral sedatives alone he needs more sedation. You could ask your vet about trying an oral sedative in addition to the gabapentin and you could also work on training him to use a basket muzzle for safety. You could also look for a hospital that specializes in ‘Fear Free’ handling techniques but I will tell you that these hospitals are usually pretty liberal with their use of injectable sedative because the outcomes are so much better fo the pets. At his age I would worry that if you don’t work on this now Hercules will be a dog that cannot be handled at the vet. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/dog-muzzles-about-when-why-and-how-to-use-one/

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.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Unfortunately, I cannot prescribe any medications for Marley without having examined him myself. If he is extremely aggressive while being groomed, you may want to consider having him sedated and groomed at your vet's office. This will mean that Marley is closely monitored during the sedation and supported with fluids and heat if necessary. Your vet can also perform a thorough exam, and ensure that Marley's heart and lungs are healthy enough to handle the sedation. At home, you can try calming chews available in most pet stores, and consider getting Marley a muzzle to keep yourself safe.

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

That is unfortunate. It is likely the vet will also be unable to muzzle him. At least take him in so that they can see just how aggressive he is and devise a plan moving forward. Chemical sedatives wll lkely be needed in order to treat Kane. They will know what to do. Take care!

Do you have a muzzle for Snowden? If not, I would get one for her, then take her into the vet to get sedated to have her safely examined. I would also recommend having injectable medications given to treat her problems, like Convenia (a long acting antibiotic shot) so you don't have to worry about giving her pills.

You could try to find a mobile vet that would come to your house to examine her. You could also get a cage muzzle and put it on her before taking her to the vet so she won't be able to attack another animal or person. You could also ask your vet for a mild sedation which might help, too.