BDP 004: Six Secrets For Utopian Vet Visits

As dog parents, one of the things we recognize about our dogs is that they don't have a voice. This mandates that we, the ones who love them and are blessed to be loved by them, have a heightened responsibility. It goes well beyond food and shelter. It extends into the intangible realm of setting up situations to go in their favor. And a prime example of this is shaping your dog's experience at the veterinary hospital. Of course, there are some elements of this experience which are completely out of our control, but as a veterinarian, I admire and applaud my clients who handle the visit with thoughtfulness and strategy—maybe intuitively or maybe because they've learned from past experiences. Here are 6 tips which I've gleaned over the years for helping you be proactive in creating the most enjoyable vet visits possible for the dog you love.