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

Question

My dog has aggression issues toward vet to point they don't really want to see him unless nurtured at time I can't afford it he needs a heartworm test would like to have nails done microchiped also but don't want to have him put on anesthetic to have done cause afraid he could die after and last time went vet tried trazadon 2hrs before vet had little affect what can I do to get these things done also would you recommend seeing different vet or stay with the one has been going to. Pet's info: Dog | American Staffordshire Terrier | Male | neutered | 1 year and 4 months old | 79 lbs

Sara Farmer, DVM · Accepted Answer

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/

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

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