WhitneyLeaving Your Dog at The Vet Overnight
November 12th 2008 00:17
Many of us have left our precious puppy at the vet overnight to board or even for surgery, but in either case it's going to be a hard thing to do. There are really many different situations in which you may have to leave your dog at the vet overnight, but in all of the situations, you still have to leave you dog overnight.
Generally speaking, it's always going to be easier leaving your dog willingly overnight for boarding while you go on vacation or even for a night after recouping surgery, but when you're not expecting to leave your dog at the vet, it can be a hard thing to do.
Recently, I've had to take my American Pit Bull Terrier to Auburn Small Animal Vet Clinic for possible bone cysts on her front leg. I went up expecting x-rays and maybe even the biopsy that day. Little to my knowledge, I was going to have to leave her there all week.
I will admit looking at her ttle blue face as I tried to walk away was God-awful and heart wrenching. I almost broke into tears right there. She just didn't understand why Mommy was leaving her with strangers in a strange place, but I know it's for the best and she's in good hands. And, that is the only thing kept me from break down when I came home from work today and wasn't greated by that big blue lush of a dog.
If I had known that we were going to have to leave her, I would have prepared myself and I would have prepared her by bringing a few things from home.
When leaving your dog at the vet overnight, you can typically bring a few things to help your dog adjust to the new surroundings. You may want to consider some of the following items.
* Dog bed or blanket
* Dog food and his/her bowls
* One or two of his/her favorite toys
* A chew bone
And, of course, how much you bring will depend on the length of the dog's stay at the vet. A one night stay may not require multiple toys and a bone to chew on.
I know that it may sound silly to bring your dog's own food/water bowls, but some dogs prefer certain bowls. For example, my yorkie can't stand using metal bowls and has to use plastic.
Another thing that may help you if your dog has to stay a few days more than you'd like is to call the vet and check up on how the dog is doing. I've been lucky that the senior student that is in charge of the case has called every evening, even twice today after the surgery to let me know what is going on.
But, at the same time, I will admit it broke my heart to hear that MIA woke up from surgery nervous from being in a new place around so many strangers.
For whatever reason you have to leave your dog at the vet, you don't want to make a big deal out of getting to go for a ride or when you leave the vet. IE you don't want to get all excited about going for a ride when you know that you're going to leave the dog for an overnight stay, and you don't want ot be all hugging and kissing and baby-talking to the dog when you leave the vet.
Make the process as smooth and easy as you can for yourself and for your dog.
Generally speaking, it's always going to be easier leaving your dog willingly overnight for boarding while you go on vacation or even for a night after recouping surgery, but when you're not expecting to leave your dog at the vet, it can be a hard thing to do.
Recently, I've had to take my American Pit Bull Terrier to Auburn Small Animal Vet Clinic for possible bone cysts on her front leg. I went up expecting x-rays and maybe even the biopsy that day. Little to my knowledge, I was going to have to leave her there all week.
I will admit looking at her ttle blue face as I tried to walk away was God-awful and heart wrenching. I almost broke into tears right there. She just didn't understand why Mommy was leaving her with strangers in a strange place, but I know it's for the best and she's in good hands. And, that is the only thing kept me from break down when I came home from work today and wasn't greated by that big blue lush of a dog.
If I had known that we were going to have to leave her, I would have prepared myself and I would have prepared her by bringing a few things from home.
When leaving your dog at the vet overnight, you can typically bring a few things to help your dog adjust to the new surroundings. You may want to consider some of the following items.
* Dog bed or blanket
* Dog food and his/her bowls
* One or two of his/her favorite toys
* A chew bone
And, of course, how much you bring will depend on the length of the dog's stay at the vet. A one night stay may not require multiple toys and a bone to chew on.
I know that it may sound silly to bring your dog's own food/water bowls, but some dogs prefer certain bowls. For example, my yorkie can't stand using metal bowls and has to use plastic.
And, when I say dog bed or blanket, that doesn't mean that if your dog is used to sleeping on the bed, that you can bring your entire bed. 
Another thing that may help you if your dog has to stay a few days more than you'd like is to call the vet and check up on how the dog is doing. I've been lucky that the senior student that is in charge of the case has called every evening, even twice today after the surgery to let me know what is going on.
But, at the same time, I will admit it broke my heart to hear that MIA woke up from surgery nervous from being in a new place around so many strangers.
For whatever reason you have to leave your dog at the vet, you don't want to make a big deal out of getting to go for a ride or when you leave the vet. IE you don't want to get all excited about going for a ride when you know that you're going to leave the dog for an overnight stay, and you don't want ot be all hugging and kissing and baby-talking to the dog when you leave the vet.
Make the process as smooth and easy as you can for yourself and for your dog.
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