Nervous dogs — how do we manage?
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It’s perfectly understandable that some dogs don’t like going to the vets. Vet visits usually come with some poking and prodding, an injection, or their temperature being taken. Dogs will differ in their response to fear. Some may become subdued, others tense and rigid, and some dogs respond with aggression.

Photo by Lauren McConachie
Making the decision to put your dog to sleep is never easy. You will probably be feeling fear, sadness, guilt, and uncertainty, but if you have a nervous or reactive dog you will have additional worries to deal with too:
- How will the vet manage?
- Will they be stressed in their final moments?
- Will someone get bitten?
If you are in this position, please don’t worry. There are things that you can do to make sure your dog’s passing is as peaceful and stress-free as possible.
Speak to your vet
For dogs that just hate going to the vet, euthanasia at home should ensure they see us as a friendly visitor and don’t feel any fear.
However, for dogs that are more generally nervous, we can take their nervousness into account as part of our euthanasia plan. Don’t be afraid to discuss this with your vet or with our care coordinators. There is plenty that we can do to reduce their stress and keep everyone safe.
Make a plan
Having a plan in advance means we know what to expect and can manage the situation as well as possible. We would much rather think about any possible difficulties and how best to deal with them than try to cope with problems as they arise. If you foresee any issues, please speak to us about them when you book an appointment and we can make a plan together.
The things we consider in a euthanasia plan are: how best to introduce ourselves to your dog, whether we need an assistant to come with the vet to the appointment, and whether we can layer different sedatives to make sure each step stays calm and peaceful for them. We also chat about whether we need to take any extra safety precautions, though these are rare.
Sedation before the appointment
We give all of our patients a sedative injection before the euthanasia regardless of their temperament as it allows for a calmer and more peaceful passing.
If you think your dog will be worried about having this injection then we can tweak the euthanasia plan to accommodate them. We have gels that you can rub on their gums and tablets that can be hidden in food. Some of these tablets can be given just before the appointment. Others need to be given hours in advance or started the day before and need to be requested from your regular vet. Not every option will suit every dog or situation, and some dogs benefit from a combination.
Be open and honest
Be as honest as you can about your dog’s quirks so the vet can be as prepared as possible. Vets are resourceful, but the more information we have about your dog, the easier it is to make a plan that will work. We want the same as you: to keep your dog’s stress to a minimum and to keep everybody safe.