Bigboy

Breed mix GS/Lab doesn't necessarily mean a problem with his temperant either biting people etc How long have you had him? As for play prehaps he has never been allowed in the past to play! So any toys would be alien to him i just don't know but it's a good guess that as a puppy he never had this oppurtunity? Hows he going on with the choke chain is he still biting it? I presume he has a choke chain because he pulls?
I too would be concerned.

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courtneypaige456

I wasn't talking about biting as the temperament, more so the loyalty to one special person, which is a common trait in a German shepherd. His biting stems more from his stubbornness and my family's inability to understand how dogs communicate. He was never really socialized when he was younger, if I was older when we got him, he would have been better taken care of and I would have made sure he was socialized. I have had him for 13 years, his entire life and basically my entire life. He has been allowed to play. He likes chewing up toys, like completely destroying them, but due to his teeth he can't really play lately. The choke chain was not really bought for his pulling, he has had the choke chain forever, I don't even remember when we got it. We used his choke chain more for a substitute collar when camping for whatever reason, I have no idea and he just got in the habit of chewing on it. Sadly, no one in my family including me was proactive in stopping him. He has a vet appointment on Thursday for a wellness check-up, which was the soonest we could get him in. Hopefully everything goes well.

I am new to all of this. Does anyone know what I need to know before going to the wellness check-up? Apparently the vet has muzzles and they can also sedate him if they need too...but I am really unsure about the whole sedation thing. Is there anything that I can do for my dog during the visit that will help the vet? Anyone have experience with this that they would like to share with me?

Its sad that I don't know more about vet check-ups, this should be more familiar, but my parents have literally not brought him to a vet for 9 years.

JGLI

First.. try to relax. You are doing the right thing and doing your best for your dog and that is to be commended. It's great that you can have the wellness check done at the same time. Just be as honest and straight forward with your vet as you have been here... be sure to tell him/her your concerns. Let him take the time to "get to know" you dog a bit before he examines him and let him use that time to get to know you as well. Be sure to inform the vet that your dog doesn't have a lot of experience with vet visits and that you are a little concerned about how he will react. Vets have a lot of experience with dog of different ages, backgrounds, and medical conditions. It may be that he will just want to have a look at your dog this first visit and schedule any procedure with sedation for another visit. If and when your dog does need sedation, it really isn't a scary deal at all. My 11 year old had sedation for removal of tissue (ouch!) in order to harvest cells for a stem cell procedure. Under sedation, your dog is really, really relaxed...not out cold like wth anesthesia, but feels much less discomfort and isn't resistant to the vet working on him. If the vet feel anything he need to do will be painful for your dog, he will likely tell you he would like the procedure done under anesthesia instead. And anesthesia has changed a great deal even within the past ten years, it is much safer and your vet will know if and how much is appropriate for your dog's needs. Try to stay calm and allow your vet as much time as he wants to get to know your dog this visit... a positive experience this time will go a long way in making your dog less anxious on his next visit.

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Bigboy

This is good advice And yes I understand the loyality thing too! Please let us know how you get on at the vets!!! Stay calm and your dog may even pick up on this which will help him to settle at the vets.

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Kyllobernese

Any time I have had to take an older dog into the Vet that may need anesthetic, they always do a blood test and at the age of your dog they will probably want to do this anyway for the health test. When they are just doing sedation, the dog does not really go to sleep, it just calms them enough for the Vet to be able to go over them.

Bigboy

I wouldn't delay it any longer I can understand what you are going through but hopefully other members experiences has helped you
if you still feel concerned then speak to your vet! Good luck and let us know how you get on please!

__________________
" Iam chillin with the forum! "

Thanks Monkey! I been fleeced Thanks Skunkstripe. Dave

ATB!