We took Breeze to get an xray as its now 6 weeks since her TPLO and het thinks she is still fairly lame and once we get the results from the hospital (in a week) then we can start hydrotheraypy. A week seems an really long time to wait to get the result, but not much I can do. Still only allowed short walks and I cleared the garden this morning of her old bones and plastic bottles so there is nothing she can play with. Blocked off one half of the garden so she only has 80ft instead of 160ft to have access.

The vet was very nice about her but said that she is not an aggressive dog but but does show signs of fear when being treated. He siad that 'she was lovely and friendly and walked with him nicely on the lead, got on the table without a hitch, the only time she showed any aggression was when they put the needle in her to give her the sedative and said had she not been muzzled she would have bitten but this is only time and apart from that, she is a lovely dog'.

I have no idea why she shows fear when being treated (even by us) and what we can do to re-assure her we are not trying to hurt her. We have to put ear drops in her once a day and I would love to be able to do this without muzzling her. I wuold love to treat her hot spots without her being muzzled. It has been suggested that we go to a behaviourist about this but wondered if any of you had any tips?

She is fine in the bath and we towel dry her, we can touch her feet not problem, ist just treatment she is fearful of!

Have you tried rewarding her before and after with a tasty morsel as that may help.

My vet always give the girls a biscuit whenever we go and see him. That way the dgs will also associate the visits with something good ! they normally barge their way into the consulting room ! 

Hi Sarah,

if she is particularly food obsessed you or your OH could try feeding her something extra special like roast chicken or cooked offal from a partially clenched hand so that she can just and no more lick and pick at it, thus keeping her occupied while the other of you is administering the treatment at home.  If she is very apprehensive of treatment , however, she is unlikely to favour food over her fear of what's about to happen   If any of my dogs are unsure about a situation then there is no way on this earth that a treat (partcularly from a vet or complete stranger) is going to work.

If you can get the treat system to work at home then by all means try to take this a step further by including it in her vet visits but don't push for too much too soon otherwise you'll have blown it   Establish her confidence at home with yourselves first and then gradually work towards dropping into the vet office occasionally and having her petted, fussed and given her special food treats while the nurse (or vet if available) is doing something simple with her like checking her paws

TBH if she's particularly phobic about veterinary treatment none of this may work but the main thing is that her character is otherwise good so should a muzzle be necessary occasionally it is not the end of the world

best wishes, Teri