My adopted senior dog is aggressive at the vet. How to make visits positive?

Question

I adopted a 9 year old dog (Doxie) from a shelter a week ago and she is very sweet, friendly, and calm. She has no problem with strange people and lets me touch/examine any part of her body with no problems. However the first time I took her to the vet she was very scared and became aggressive toward him and we had to use a muzzle to stop her from biting him. Do you have any tips on how to make the experience more positive next time? And do you think I should be worried by this? Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired) | Female

Dr. Elizabeth · Accepted Answer

Dogs have good memories and it appears that Georgina has bad association with the veterinary office from a previous experience. There are a few things you can do and work out with your veterinary team. This this training may not work but it is worthwhile to try: https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-is-fear-free-training-and-socialization/ Remember though that the goal of your veterinarian is to keep both pets and people safe so always trust your vet's judgement on the use of a muzzle. Your veterinarian sees thousands of animals a year and knows how to recognize a dog who is a bite risk. Best of luck

My adopted senior dog is aggressive at the vet. How to make visits positive?

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