Vet visits horrible, suggestions?

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Inferno - 18 Aug 2003 23:17 GMT

My cat, Buddy, is a 1+ year old half Maine Coone, half tabby. He has a
great personality. He acts just like a dog following my girlfriend and I
around(mainly me seemingly). He likes to go for walks on a leash(with
harness). We can give him medicine or do anything to him and he never
hisses at all. I know that Maine Coones are known for being somewhat like
this so needless to say we really lucked out that the Maine Coone was
dominant. When we take him to the vet(for shots or if he isn't feeling
good) he gets very nervous. This is pretty normal as my old dog did the
same(and most of the animals in the waiting room). With the dogs in the
waiting room he is a little nervous hissing through the windows in his house
occasionally. When the vet sees him he gets very mean and starts swatting
and hissing. I know the vet didn't do anything to him(two different vets,
father and son) as they are great. My parents and I have used them for
many, many years for our old dog. I'm trying to figure out a way to keep
him calmer and to have him behave more for the vets. The last time we went
they had to cover him with a blanket to give him his shots and he was
flipping all around and lunging at them. Suggestions anyone?

Thanks,
Eric

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m. L. Briggs - 18 Aug 2003 23:47 GMT

>My cat, Buddy, is a 1+ year old half Maine Coone, half tabby. He has a
>great personality. He acts just like a dog following my girlfriend and I
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>Thanks,
>Eric

Is there a cats-only Vet in your vicinity?. Perhaps it is all the
doggy smells that bother her. I have a Vet who comes to my house (my
TuTu is too big for me to carry). Tootie doesn't like her cutting
her nails, but she forgets it after a while MLB

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Ardna - 19 Aug 2003 03:06 GMT

Try adding Bach Flower Remedy to the water for a day or two prior to the vet
visit.

Our eldest cat is vicious with anyone who holds or examines her, a little of
the Bach Flower takes the edge of her.

Ardna

> >My cat, Buddy, is a 1+ year old half Maine Coone, half tabby. He has a
> >great personality. He acts just like a dog following my girlfriend and I
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> TuTu is too big for me to carry). Tootie doesn't like her cutting
> her nails, but she forgets it after a while MLB

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Diana - 19 Aug 2003 15:55 GMT

Ardna at spamaway:yes_to_excess@yahoo.com wrote on8/18/03 10:06 PM:

> Try adding Bach Flower Remedy to the water for a day or two prior to the vet
> visit.
>
> Our eldest cat is vicious with anyone who holds or examines her, a little of
> the Bach Flower takes the edge of her.

>> Is there a cats-only Vet in your vicinity?. Perhaps it is all the
>> doggy smells that bother her. I have a Vet who comes to my house (my
>> TuTu is too big for me to carry). Tootie doesn't like her cutting
>> her nails, but she forgets it after a while MLB

Another suggestion: Try spraying the inside of his carrier with a little
bit of Feliway the next time you take him. If you don't know about Feliway,
it's a product that mimics the cat's facial pheromones and has a calming
effect, somewhat by way of making the cat feel as if he is in his own
territory. It's primary use is to discourage anxiety-related urine marking,
but it has other good uses, such as your situation. It's a bit pricey, but
a bottle lasts a long time when used correctly.

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Diana
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-portaltomypages

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Ardna - 21 Aug 2003 08:11 GMT

> Try spraying the inside of his carrier with a little
> bit of Feliway the next time you take him.

I might try that myself as well, we have two cats and each one has its 'own'
carrier .

The Bach Flower Remedy that I mentioned earlier is great stuff, we use it
not only for vet visits but in the days before my wife and I take trips. If
the eldest cat sees luggage out, she goes into a corner and huffs for hours
or will on occasion, physically display her displeasure by leaving 'little
presents' for us on the carpets or in the showers.

Ardna

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Diana - 21 Aug 2003 14:31 GMT

Ardna at spamaway:yes_to_excess@yahoo.com wrote on8/21/03 3:11 AM:

>> Try spraying the inside of his carrier with a little
>> bit of Feliway the next time you take him.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> or will on occasion, physically display her displeasure by leaving 'little
> presents' for us on the carpets or in the showers.

Will you give us more info on Bach Flower (e.g., active ingredient, how much
you use, where to buy} please? I've not heard of it before. Sounds like a
sort of tranquilizer?

I got a chuckle out of your girl huffing in the corner when she sees your
luggage. (The prezzies are less funny!) Mine always do their best to
actually get into my luggage, as if they hope to be packed.

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Diana
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bewtifulfreak - 21 Aug 2003 18:35 GMT

> Will you give us more info on Bach Flower (e.g., active ingredient,
> how much you use, where to buy} please? I've not heard of it before.
> Sounds like a sort of tranquilizer?

I haven't used it myself as of yet, but it's not a drug, but a homeopathic
remedy, which is normally used by humans, but is apparently useful for cats
as well. I'm sure Ardna can give you more details.... :)

Ann

--

http://www.angelfire.com/ca/bewtifulfreak

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*~*SooZy*~* - 21 Aug 2003 18:54 GMT

> > Will you give us more info on Bach Flower (e.g., active ingredient,
> > how much you use, where to buy} please? I've not heard of it before.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Ann

http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/remedies.htm

sold in Boots I think but I know all health shops sell it in UK... try link
above.

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Diana - 23 Aug 2003 00:22 GMT

*~*SooZy*~* at soozyqureshi@hotrags.com wrote on8/21/03 1:54 PM:

>>> Will you give us more info on Bach Flower (e.g., active ingredient,
>>> how much you use, where to buy} please? I've not heard of it before.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> sold in Boots I think but I know all health shops sell it in UK... try link
> above.

Thanks for the link. I don't need anything of the sort at present, but am
curious.

Signature

Diana

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~*SooZy*~ - 23 Aug 2003 09:45 GMT

> *~*SooZy*~* at soozyqureshi@hotrags.com wrote on8/21/03 1:54 PM:
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Thanks for the link. I don't need anything of the sort at present, but am
> curious.

I use white chestnut myself.... always have a glass of water beside me with
4 drops of it in there, help's unwanted thoughts and mental arguments LOL

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bewtifulfreak - 23 Aug 2003 13:22 GMT

> I use white chestnut myself.... always have a glass of water beside
> me with 4 drops of it in there, help's unwanted thoughts and mental
> arguments LOL

Sounds like *just* the thing for me, glad you mentioned it!!! :)`

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Ardna - 21 Aug 2003 21:48 GMT

> Will you give us more info on Bach Flower (e.g., active ingredient, how much
> you use, where to buy} please? I've not heard of it before. Sounds like a
> sort of tranquilizer?

Here is a link to a website with details about it...

http://www.naturalcanine.com/html/rescue_remedy.html

Some of the writeup...

Rescue Remedy is made from Impatiens, Clematis, Rock Rose, Cherry Plum and
Star of Bethlehem. It remedies stress, distress, tension, and restores calm,
reassurance and relaxation. Rescue Remedy may be used as an adjunct to any
other treatment used and during immediate crisis resulting from accident,
dental treatment, injury, shock, surgery or trauma. Also: in anesthetic
crisis when heart and breathing stops and during cardiac arrest. After
convulsions, to revive weak animals, to revive animals slow to recover from
anethesia, to speed recovery in cases of heatstroke and exhaustion, to treat
a wide variety of conditions, including bites, burns, colic, convulsions,
heatstroke, injuries, nervousness, paralysis, poisoning, snakebite,
sneezing, sudden collapse, torsion and wounds.

The bottle we have says "Made in England" but we purchased it here in the
states.

As for the luggage, she associates the luggage with my wife and I leaving
for 3 to 4 weeks every Christmas, we used to board her but now we have two
cats and we have a pet sitter to look after them while we are away. I
noticed a big difference in her the first year we used the pet sitter over
the xmas period, her coat was wonderful, she had not lost any weight and
just looked happy !

But still any sign of luggage still sets her off, even if it is just for an
overnight somewhere ! Sometimes even spring cleaning the place can set her
off, she probably associates us cleaning the place with the pet sitter
arrival i.e. we are going somewhere with her, or we are having some guests
from overseas staying with us.

She just loves routine !!

Ardna

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