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The Muzzle

Basenji Talk
  • How embarrassing! We took Cyrus to the vet today for his annual shots. Our very kind vet approached Cyrus and started to look in his eyes and ears. Cyrus tried to bite the vet - not once but twice! I was mortified. The vet asked us to put a muzzle on Cyrus so he could finish the exam, which we did with some difficulty. I was mortified!

    Cyrus has never snapped at anyone before. I read that Bs don't really like strangers, and that is true of Cyrus. He likes to warm up to strangers at his own speed. Maybe he did not like the vet moving in on him so quickly or staring at his face. Does anyone else's B attack the vet? How do you calm your B down during vet visits?

    Jenn

  • @CyrusVirus:

    How embarrassing! We took Cyrus to the vet today for his annual shots. Our very kind vet approached Cyrus and started to look in his eyes and ears. Cyrus tried to bite the vet - not once but twice! I was mortified. The vet asked us to put a muzzle on Cyrus so he could finish the exam, which we did with some difficulty. I was mortified!

    Cyrus has never snapped at anyone before. I read that Bs don't really like strangers, and that is true of Cyrus. He likes to warm up to strangers at his own speed. Maybe he did not like the vet moving in on him so quickly or staring at his face. Does anyone else's B attack the vet? How do you calm your B down during vet visits?

    Jenn

    Have you had Cyrus since a puppy? Has he ever had a bad experience at the Vet? At that particular Vet?.. My boy "hates" the one Vet we used to go to… (who by the way didn't really like Basenjis and they knew it)... but with my current Vet (for the last 11 yrs) he loves all of them... Vet visits can be stressful.. I take my puppies in just for a fun visit... so that they know that not every time they show up there something is going to happen that might hurt..... we would go and "just" hang out... maybe get weight.... pets, treats.. ect....

  • Cyrus is only 1 year old. He (regrettably) was a pet store puppy who had been discounted at least 3 times because no one wanted him. He had been at the store for over 2 months when we bought him. He received his puppy medical care at the pet store. Cale took all 3 of our boys to the vet's office for a claw trimming, but they did not see the vet. Cyrus did see the vet on one other occasion, but there was no incident. Our vet could not be nicer.

    That is a good tip about just stopping by the vet's office for some good experiences. The vet is next to a shopping plaza where we could actually walk Cyrus outside. Cyrus is unbelievably smart, and he seemed to know where we were going before we pulled into the vet's parking lot. Thanks for the idea!

  • Since the location is close, then just stopping by and maybe you can have your Vet come and give him treats, so that he relates this person and a "great person"… Good Luck And yes, my boy if we were a block from the Vet he hated would start to snarl.... he for sure knew.

  • the vet knows rocky. he HAS to be muzzled before the vet will even go near him. lol

    we also have to muzzle him at home when clipping his nails. He HATES his paws being touched.

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