URBANVET
Two Locations for your convenience...
Elliot: Monday - Friday 9:00 - 4:30
Capitol Hill: By appointment only M & F 1:00-4:00
Call for Appointment - SPECIFY CAPITOL HILL
206-352-6900

Compassionate care at affordable prices... Seattle's own neighborhood vet

• Vaccine walk-ins welcome along with scheduled appointments
• General Health Examinations $48.00
• Acupuncture - initial exam/consult $78.00
• Free estimates with exam
• No examination required to Vaccinate healthy pets
• Full Lab Service Testing
• Payment at time of treatment
• Surgery requires appointment
• ResQ International Microchip and Avid Eurochip
• Spays and Neuters for Dogs and Cats (See below)
  • For Spays & Neuters:
  • Please let us know if your female is "in heat."
  • Please let us know if only one testicle is visible on your male pet.
  • No exam required for healthy cats and dogs
  • Call ahead of time to check age and weight requirements.

Is your dog worried at the vet's?

• Acupuncture
• Health Certificate
• Abscess Repair
• Canine Vaccinations: DA2PPV, Corona, Bordetella, Rabies, Giardia
• Cherry Eye Repair
• Dental Treatment and extractions
• Demat
• Declaw
• Feline Vaccinations: FVRCPP, FELV, Rabies
• Ear Mite Examination & Treatment
• Ear Flush
• FELV/FIV TESTING
• Frontline Flea Treatment
• Hematomas
• Laceration Repair
• Mass Removals
• Skin Problems
• Spay/Neuter
• Deworming

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Is your dog worried at the vet's?

Vet Tipsi nformation below "Copyright 2003 - Carol A. Byrnes, Diamonds in the Ruff, www.diamondsintheruff.com. ditr_training@hotmail.com All rights reserved. Used by permission."

Like the parent of a three-year-old child visiting the dentist for the first time, your body language, tone of voice and inside stress will affect how your furry "child" reacts to this new environment. He's looking to you to see if everything's ok, help make him feel comfortable.

Below are additional challenges to consider while helping to lower your pet's stress:

• Lack of socialization - Socialized animals who have "been there done that" are less likely to freak out, or if they do, it's to a lesser degree. Get your dog out more, attend an obedience class, visit friend's houses. Socialization is a maintenance agreement with your dog - if you slack off, so will his social skills.

  • Fear imprint periods - During critical social development periods, dogs show a heightened fear response, are less trusting. Most importantly, a traumatic experience during a fear imprint period will likely stay with the dog for life. In the wild, this could save the life of a wolf pup who is startled suddenly by a rattle snake, creating an extreme avoidance of anything similar in the future. This natural learning phase could backfire if a traumatic veterinary experience happens to an 8 week old pup or a 7 month old adolescent. The resulting extreme avoidance of the vet clinic could make visiting for routine care a lifetime problem.

  The first time you visit the vet for vaccinations will be during a fear imprint period. The age most dogs are routinely spayed or neutered is also a fear imprint period. Keep the trip as calm, matter of fact, and low stress as possible.

  • Previous trauma - Dogs learn in pictures, they make scent associations. How the veterinarian looks, smells and the body language he or she uses can trigger a self-defense response if it brings up a previous association. We have to change the association to a positive one. Visit the vet on "non-appointment" days, just to say 'hi' and eat biscuits in the waiting room. Maybe walk in and out of an empty exam room and feed him biscuits. Have the staff feed your dog and let him show off a few tricks.

  • Owner anxiety - Yes, it feeds right down the leash. Worried owners make worried pets. Your words may be telling the dog that everything's ok, but your tone of voice and body language are saying anything but. Frantic stroking, coddling and baby talk convince the animal that the person they trust most is falling apart - so who is going to protect them if they need it?

  • Lack of previous handling/training - A dog or cat who has never been physically hugged or restrained will naturally struggle against being held, even at home where it feels safe and is not on a scary metal table off the ground. This adds to the animal's stress. It might lash out, feeling cornered and scared with nowhere to go. Handle your dog daily. Hug, restrain, lift, lie him down, roll him over, check ears, mouth, feet. Massage sessions are especially helpful to desensitize handling issues and are a great way to relax the dog while at the vet clinic.

Copyright © 2004-2007 URBANVET, PLLC All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners.