Pet parents share their veterinary fails and how to remedy them: ‘Hold your puppers and cuddle!’

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Feb 2, 2025 8:00 PM EST

It's not easy being a new puppy parent. You have a whole slew of new things you have to learn and also train for your pup. It's not just like you can throw some newspaper on the ground and call it a day—what is this, a 1930s cartoon?? No, you have to make sure you are feeding your pup the right food, taking them out to get enough exercise, socializing them, giving them all of the love, and more. One of the most stressful things can be finding a vet you not only like, but that your pup likes too. 

 

Going to the vet can be made into a stressful situation every time or a pleasant one. That's why it's good to shower them in treats and toys and love when you take them as a pup. So that they associate the vet with all those happy things. It's not easy though. One thing can go wrong and it will unravel all of that work. For instance, if you have a vet who isn't empathetic to your dog's needs, it can go sour very quickly. And it's even worse when they gaslight you into thinking it's YOUR fault. Ummm, aren't you the professional? Shouldn't you be giving advice on how to make the vet visits good?

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    Instead, we turn to the internet to help us figure out ways to help our beloved canine babies. And here we have Redditors sharing their experience and fails at the vet. The best thing you can do? Find a good vet! You need a vet that knows your pet needs love too, not just pin them down and stick 'em. That's crazy! If you get that, like apparently, many on the internet have, then it's time to find a new vet. See how other pet parents have dealt with this situation! 

  • "Vet made me feel like I’d done something wrong"

    Had my 12 week old lab puppy to the vet yesterday for his boosters. I know the important of the vet not being a scary place so I brought lots of yummy treats and a toy. While we waited for the vet I gave lots of praise, treats and we played some tug. Vet and vet assistant came in and he was excited to see them. Tolerated the hands on exam well (aside from just being too bouncy for them to get a good eye exam).
    via LittleBucket07
  • Then came time for the vaccines.... They gave the puppy a lick mat with some treats which he happily started enjoying. They gave the first vaccine but no one was really holding him steady? When the vet poked he stepped backwards into the needle, let out a big yelp and then ran and hid under the chair I was sitting on.
    via LittleBucket07
  • The vet assured me he yelped because the needle went deeper and poked a muscle which would hurt more but that there is no harm. They had to essentially hold him down for the remaining ones because he no longer could be distracted by the food.
    via LittleBucket07
  • When the visit was over the vet lectured me on how I have a "fearful puppy" and I need to do a better job socializing him.... In my opinion I had a fearful puppy in that situation because of what she did. I know things happen and I'm not angry at all with what happened with the vaccine but it upset me when it seemed like she tried to blame his reaction on me.
    via LittleBucket07
  • Appropriate_ice_2433 I'd find a new vet. JuggernautOnly695 This right here. For future reference, you can hold your puppy during exam unless the vet tells you otherwise. Most vets will either get on the floor with the dog or ask you to be standing on the other side of the exam table for safety.
    via JuggernautOnly695
  • PaleReaver This, no contest. Puppies need to learn a lot and won't magically do everything perfectly, nvm that the puppy wasn't physically supported, then blamed you for everything.
    via PaleReaver
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  • uaebetty Me too, I did this once, the vet spoke to me like I was some sort of idiot, we had a difficult rescue dog, I knew him inside out, I told her what would, and would not work with him, in regards to being touched, how he would be amenable if I held him, she didn't listen to me, when he growled and refused to let her touch him, she blamed me, said I needed to train him better from a pup. She hadn't even listened to me, I told her we had just taken him in at 7 years old.... I walked out got
    via uaebetty
  • cloudberryhuckle Totally agree. The first vet I took my puppy to to get his shots, they took him to the back room, and I could hear him yelping and crying. At this point, I had only talked to the vet techs/assistants and not the actual veterinarian. They brought my dog back out and said he was a bit dramatic.
    via cloudberryhuckle
  • I understand some vets do that, but I decided to try another vet because I wasn't comfortable with not being able to see him OR meeting the veterinarian who administered the shots. At my new vet not only did I meet the vet, but they asked me if I had any questions, gave a thorough exam, plus had an assistant to hold my dog after petting and giving him treats, gave a lick mat, and told me to talk/pet him to comfort him as they administered the shot. My puppy didn't even flinch. He just continued
    via cloudberryhuckle
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  • ConfidentFox9305 Yikes. New vet. My vet was really happy I brought treats for our girl, we held her together just to steady her because 9 week old puppy. She didn't even feel it and the vet made sure to rub the site just so there wouldn't even be stinging. That's what I expect. Not blaming me.
    via ConfidentFox9305
  • LittleBucket07 OP This is what I was hoping for . Even if they had of said "oops your puppy is a little nervous now after what happened. You can try xyz to help him get his confidence back". Not act like he was fearful the entire time.
    via LittleBucket07
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  • Chance-Animator4842 Oh yeah, bag of treats is a must. I was with my mum's GSD last time she had to go to the vet's and I had to distract her while they did the 'up the thermometer'. The panic in her eyes will stay with me forever, but we can laugh about it now it's done AA
    via Chance-Animator4842
  • InboxMeYourSpacePics My vet had a tech with in her so one of them held the puppy while the other gave the shot. The booster times after that they took her into the back to give the shots, but it sounded like multiple techs were helping distract her and keep her from moving too much (she didn't need treats though because she was distracted by the pets >)
    via InboxMeYourSpacePics
  • LittleBucket07 OP I will be getting a different vet for next time. All of you in agreement has just reinforced my decision. Unfortunately an entirely different clinic isn't feasible but there are several different vets at the clinic. The more I think about it the more annoyed I get because it could have easily been a positive visit. Even with what happened with the vaccine they could have said "oops we made your puppy nervous after what happened with the vaccine. You can try xyz to help him rebu
    via LittleBucket07
  • girl_from_aus Most vets are also fine with you just popping into the waiting room for a few minutes to build a positive association. Call the reception desk and mention that your pup freaked out last time and can you just bring him into the waiting room to give some treats, maybe do some basic training commands, maybe get their weight and then leave. This will help him be more comfortable at the clinic!
    via girl_from_aus
  • gasping_chicken I would hope the vet wasn't actually blaming you. As someone who worked in Vet med for a very long time, I'm going to guess what the vets actual intention was and that would be that you have a puppy with a strong association and memory for negative things. Most puppies get over a sudden, unexpected pain within seconds when no long term damage was done. They are also easily redistracted. Your puppy ran, hid, and could not be redistracted. This is not your fault, not the vets fault
    via gasping_chicken
  • The vet would point this out and encourage a lot of socialization and exposure to potentially scary things so the pup could build confidence and reduce that knee j fear. In the long run, hopefully preventing a reactive and excessively fearful dog. At least this is very much what I hope was intended and perhaps simply worded wrong during an emotional visit.
    via gasping_chicken

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