09/20/2024
Groot is another one of our Fear Free Success Stories, which we'd like to share with you for today's post!
Autumn, one of our Vet Assistants, came into Groot's life about a 18 months ago. Groot had a history of severe fear aggression, especially toward men. From the day they met she began working on rebuilding the human-animal bond. Thankfully, Groot is a very food motivated dog, so she was able to use treat rewards anytime he stepped out of his comfort zone.
As an animal hospital medical team member, Autumn knew having a veterinarian fully examine him was going to be an extremely stressful situation for him, and also knows the importance of preventative and medical veterinary care. So, she began working with Groot right away.
At first Autumn just sat in front of his kennel and got him used to her presence, rewarding him anytime he approached the door or sniffed her hand. She very slowly worked up to gentle petting in areas he was comfortable with, and from there they began to build trust. Eventually, she was able to do a full mock examination on him at home, which he tolerated extremely well, so it was time to schedule his first visit.
At this point, he was still too fearful of getting into a vehicle to bring him to the clinic, so Dr. Honeycutt made an exception and came to Autumn's house for his first appointment. He was muzzled and was still very reactive to Dr Honeycutt. They were able to accomplish his exam, vaccines, and blood draw, but he clearly still had a long way to go.
Over the next year, Autumn continued to work, building his trust and their bond. She eventually incorporated muzzle training so that when he did have to wear one for procedures, it wouldn't further increase his fear levels. He learned basic commands and started to show a new level of comfort with Autumn, so he began having short, closely monitored interactions with calm natured friends and family members. Groot slowly came out of his shell, learned to love the people who loved him, and became a whole new dog.
This year, for his annual vet appointment, Groot was prescribed pre-visit medications to help decrease his stress levels in the car and at the clinic. He rode there happily looking out the window, enjoying the ride for the first time. He greeted Dr. Honeycutt outside the clinic, unmuzzled, and happily accepted pets from her, something that would have never been possible a year ago. He was muzzled for his exam and vaccines as a safety precaution, but was extremely tolerant and mostly well behaved as long as we moved through the procedures slowly and calmly. After his appointment, they went inside the clinic to get an updated weight, and he was extremely happy to interact with the entire team, receiving pets and love from anyone who passed by.
Autumn reports, "I couldn't be more proud of how far he has come!" Needless to say, Hanging Rock Animal Hospital is SO proud of them, their relationship and Groot's behavior, which is a reflection of all the compassion, patience & hard work! 🐾💙
Fear Free Pets
