Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

RE: Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

emzmccullagh123 — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 18:36:22 GMT

After being bitten on the face by a dog and having to go to the hospital to see plastic surgeons i will never not hold an aggressive animal without a muzzle. It has taken me over a year to get confidence back to even deal with aggressive dogs. My work place has supported my decisions to place muzzles on in even the slightest signs of aggression. Otherwise i refuse to hold. Xx

RE: Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

Selena Carnell — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 17:49:00 GMT

i have the scar on my arm, where a vet wouldn't wait long enough for me to get the muzzle back on. It i don't feel comfortable i will say!

RE: Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

Rachel Woodcock — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 19:50:17 GMT

Your safety has to come first! Many a time I've told vets we need to muzzle and if they say no then I either get them to hold the angry animal or I refuse to help! If the client has an issue with muzzling then I try to make light of it or say something like he's getting a litle stressed so let's either stop,for today or pop a little hat on to see if it helps.

RE: Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

Sal the 1st — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 21:02:03 GMT

[quote user="Ben Ogden"]

I've been in this situation many a time before with dogs taking exception to nail clipping, however I'm of a characteristic where by I take control of the situation (with or without the vet) and say to the client; "oh dear, it seems Dog X is getting a little upset and is trying to tell us to bugger off, we can either look to do the rest of the nails another time or for our safety and his we can pop a muzzle on".

[/quote]

Do you find that sometimes a client will accept the use of a muzzle more if you make light of it? I was once asked to do a Schirmer on a sharpei in nurses clinic (yep thanks for that!). Dog walks into consult and I felt the draught as its teeth missed me - my opening comment'wow what nice teeth you have but you would look a lot cuter with this on your snotbox' and handed over a muzzle. Owner just laughed and put the muzzle on - apparently the vet always had problems getting them to agree to a muzzle, but then I suppose I wasn't really asking so much as indirectly saying this is how its going to be. Nobody more amazed than me that we managed to carry out the test successfully (well as successfully as you can do anything with a sharpei)

RE: Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

apache — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 20:14:19 GMT

In this situation I'd hold the dog and get the nurse to clip the claws. I'm taller, stronger and more importantly the boss so if anyone gets bitten it's me. I would muzzle if worried about biting, but held tightly to a body they can make wiggly dogs worse.

RE: Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

Sal the 1st — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 19:35:38 GMT

I freely admit that these days I am not good with carnivorous dogs - I have got a lot less brave as I have got older, the harlequin great dane that pinned me against a wall in a nurse consult , the staffy that decided to try and remove my kneecap with its teeth and the German Shepherd x that made it necessary for me to climb on top of an up and over bin down the yard and fight it off with a broom until the dom and torb kicked in may have made some contribution to that, but also i'm not that fast or bendable now and I recognise my limitations. It isn't just about me I wouldn't want to put anybody else at risk because I'm not able to perform in a way that is needed. I don't mind one bit if a vet doesn't want me to restrain a dog or somebody feels that they are better suited - thats their choice - and its my choice not to take risks.

We did have a client at one practice who saw it as a sort of sport/olympic event to see who could get a muzzle on his ridgeback cross to empty its anal glands- he found it absolutely hilarious and I didn't - absolutely refused to buy a muzzle because he reckoned it didn't need one but always asked us to put one on 'just in case'. We asked him to put the muzzle on once and he came back with an absolute beaut of a remark - 'no because he might bite me and if he does I will sue you' - my reply , and if he bites me I can promise you it will cost you at least a day in court and probably the loss of your dog. Next time I saw the dog it already had a muzzle on.

Like I say dogs I'm not the best but give me a cat with attitude and we both speak the same language.

We can't all be good at the same things - and the chances are what we lack in one area we can more than compensate in another

I agree with JoJo perhaps have a quiet word with a few other people

RE: Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

WelshyNurse — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:41:53 GMT

[quote user="Ben Ogden"]The vet doesn't get a bloody choice, you want my help you'll play my way or you can do this merry little dance without me.[/quote]

Agree, but not everyone has the balls to say this to the vet. Also sounds like the head nurse is not very approachable.

I've worked in other practices with some nurses who are terrified to even approach some vets with a question!

RE: Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

jojofruits — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 13:36:19 GMT

I have found with wriggly bitey little nail clips the dog almost has to get over the wriggle to realise its not going to work and then you can usually get the job done, it also makes future visits easier.. a very experienced nurse may be able to do this without a muzzle especially if the muzzle really upsets the dog.

Its something personally I do quite regularly but I am confident that I have hold of that dog and its not gonna bite me or anyone else! My vet also knows I can do it, and has worked with me for years.. we are a nail clipping dream team... however, that being said, not everyone is strong or experienced enough to do this, its taken me 25 years of experience, I have zero fear and even I wouldn't ever do it with a dog larger than a jack Russell... my own chihuahua was the worst case of fear aggression I have ever seen and so I'm used to them! I had 3 months of him trying to eat me if I did anything at all! haha

but I would NEVER ask any nurse to do this if they weren't feeling it..

bottom line , if you want a muzzle? you get one .. :) safety first !

Don't take it personally, take it as a learning experience, speak to the other staff involved quietly if you feel you need too, and stick to your guns next time too.

RE: Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 12:29:47 GMT

Ben Ogden

Legendary advice, as per!

RE: Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

Ben Ogden — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 11:56:08 GMT

Not a nice situation at all.

The vet doesn't get a bloody choice, you want my help you'll play my way or you can do this merry little dance without me.

If it's just me and the vet without the client, say rules apply; "This dog is trying to bite, we can either revisit this another time or i'm putting a muzzle on".

10 years in practice I've only had one vet dare insist I continue to hold without a muzzle and the response was "that's an idea, if you want to proceed without a muzzle, I suggest you hold the dog and I will clip the nails" they soon fell in line, this probably comes with age though, I can see how the situation can be quite emotional and intimidating though and hope you find you way with situations like this.

RE: Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

Chris Geddes — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 11:08:03 GMT

Sorry you've had a crap experience.

If the dog is aggressive you should never be afraid to say you're not comfortable.

If there genuinely was something that could be improved about you held the dog etc, it's right that the head nurse (presuming she is your line manager) should say something, but it should be in a 1:1 situation at a later time/date - I hope it wasn't a dressing down in front of others. If it was I would respectively ask it not to be in future. Likewise if the vet spoke to you in a rude manner in front of others.

Are you sure the scars up the nurses arms are from being bitten by aggressive dogs?

If you're not happy at the place generally, maybe time to move on. Be careful that you could be identified by your practice from posts like this though.

RE: Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

Olivia Coulton — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 18:55:59 GMT

No not overeacting at all, your safety comes first !!

Would always muzzle if the holder doesn't feel comfortable unless the dog becomes worse with one on or you physically can't get one on. Have you tried talking about the incident to the vet that was with you?

RE: Being forced to hold an aggresive dog no muzzle

WelshyNurse — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 18:18:05 GMT

Did you tell the vet you did not feel comfortable and wanted a muzzle?