wagsalot Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Riley is 10 and since we've had him he's only been separated from us once, which was when he was 6 months old and stayed at the vet during the day to be desexed. He's never been to kennels, or left to be groomed. He even goes to my parents for the night if we are going to be back late so he has company. (although, sometimes I wonder if they enjoy it more than him ) Today I had to take him to the vet to get a tooth checked. Luckily it all seems ok, however if there is further problems he'll have to go back in and be sedated so they can have a good look. The thought of having to leave him at the vet terrifies me. I really don't think I could do it. I can just imagine him standing there, watching me leave, with this horrible look in his eyes, his cries, and me thinking he thinks im never coming back. Hopefully he's tooth will be fine....otherwise I do not look forward to that day. I don't know how Id do it. Is it just me? I know others leave their dogs without a worry in the world. I used to wash dogs and people would leave dogs with me all the time without a worry. I guess the fact that I've never had to do it in 10 years, makes it harder. That and my dog is a complete sook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandybrush Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 wags i get how you feel completely however i can go away for a holiday with my bro in law house sitting/dog sitting and be fine, cause i know raz is happy at home and is being looked after :D we are going away for christmas this year and im going to look for a kennel for him, my OH offered to send him to his grandmas house but i could not physically drive to her house drop him off and drive away with out him, because i know he loves visiting, but when we leave he always comes and i just know he would not like it i couldnt do it. I woudl rather kennel him, because they walk him out the back and he doesnt see me leave (which is why im looking for a kennel). I hope Rileys tooth is fine to wags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minxy Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I absolutely hated leaving Kyojin at the vets when he got desexed. I spent the whole day checking the clock waiting for it to be 4pm so I could leave work and ring the vets to see if he could come home. I think I would have cried if they had said they needed him to stay OH and I are going away for 16 days in June for our honeymoon and we're already both devastated at the thought of leaving him. I think if we hadn't already paid for our flights, we would have changed our minds and found somewhere pet friendly at the beach here instead. I'm not really comfortable with any of the options we have for him while we're away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagsalot Posted March 12, 2011 Author Share Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) Yes the leaving bit would definately be the hardest dandy. Luckily my parents house is like Riley's second home - we used to live there for a few years when we first got him - so he grew up with them. So I can leave him there if we go away without him and not worry. Although, we went overseas for 2 weeks back in November, and my parents actually came and stayed at our house so Riley, the cat and the birds would be more comfortable Edited March 12, 2011 by wagsalot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I have always boarded them if needed, or left them at home or with friends when I went away , without a problem having an ill animal stay in hospital is always a worry - but only because of the illness . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagsalot Posted March 12, 2011 Author Share Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) I absolutely hated leaving Kyojin at the vets when he got desexed. I spent the whole day checking the clock waiting for it to be 4pm so I could leave work and ring the vets to see if he could come home. I think I would have cried if they had said they needed him to stay OH and I are going away for 16 days in June for our honeymoon and we're already both devastated at the thought of leaving him. I think if we hadn't already paid for our flights, we would have changed our minds and found somewhere pet friendly at the beach here instead. I'm not really comfortable with any of the options we have for him while we're away. I hope you find something suitable for while you're away. A few weeks before we got married last year we found our Riley had a small tumour on his nose. I was so stressed that I would go on our honeymoon and something bad would happen while I was gone. Luckily it was benign and all was ok. ETA - I can leave our cat Charlie at the vets, or groomers without a worry. I think its because I know she's more independant and as much as she probably doesn't like it, I know she'll cope. Riley on the otherhand, Id worry he'd stress so much it would cause him harm. Edited March 12, 2011 by wagsalot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizT Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I was at the Emergency room of a Hospital after a fall from a horse last Sunday night and they would only let me go home if the pain could be managed and I could show them I could walk. Whilst I knew my youngest daughter would be fretting it also was a strong incentive because I knew my dogs would be worried too! When I got home late Crytsal in particular was sniffing the pain/damaged site despite nothing being put there. She knew there was damage. And all week she has been making a fuss and won't settle in her crate at night so she gets let out and lies beside me. Sweet caring little thing she is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 If it is your dog that frets the Vet can give a pre-med whilst you are there. You wait until that's taken effect and that can help with stress levels on your departure. If it is you who frets ..... well, maybe your Doctor could prescribe something, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 a bit OT , but I believe dogs (and owners) should be able to happily spend time apart if needed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) a bit OT , but I believe dogs (and owners) should be able to happily spend time apart if needed I agree, Perse ..... although being left at a Vet can be slightly different. But I think it is good to have our dogs being ok about spending time apart from the owner. It's not always cut and dried though but it is something we can work towards making it better than it otherwise might presently be. Edited March 12, 2011 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagsalot Posted March 12, 2011 Author Share Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) a bit OT , but I believe dogs (and owners) should be able to happily spend time apart if needed Yep, I certainly don't think the situation is ideal, but its just the way its ended up. Not really by choice, but moreso because I've never had to have to leave him anywhere before. Riley's always been a sook. When we choose him at the RSPCA at 9 weeks old, all the puppies were at the front of the cage jumping around, getting pats etc, but Riley was the only one right at the very back of the cage. The staff member told the other people choosing when there was just 2 puppies left, not to pick Riley as he was at the back, and he'd be a unsociable dog. It seems like we have the opposite problem though! He has a real thing with barriers - for years if there was something in between you and him like a screen door he'd cower on the other side and look at the ground until the door was opened. Thankfully he's alot better now and very rarely does it, however I think part of my stress is the thought of him being back in the cage, stressing out and it might send him backwards again back into old habits. Edited March 12, 2011 by wagsalot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 thought of him being back in the cage, stressing out and it might send him backwards again back into old habits. Have you thought of ,or tried him with a nice comfy LARGE crate? maybe with door open and beds etc inside ? It would take time, but may help him realise that those wire bars can also mean comfort/food ..and being 'with' family , tho not being touched by them .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claireybell Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Totally understand Wags. Only way I ever leave my naughty puppies is if my sister will puppy sit. The girls adore Aunty Lisa and she adores them. We are currently in Thailand and it's the longest I've ever left my babies, I basked my eyes out when we left!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormie Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I'm terrible Orbit and I spend so much time together that being apart is strange. I'm incredibly lucky though that my Boss/friend loves Orbit so much and just loves having him stay, so whenever I need to board him I just leave him at work. He comes to work with me every day so being there whilst I'm away is nothing new for him and just means he gets to sleep with my boss and his wife instead of me :D But saying goodbye is always hard, even if its just for a night. He always peers out through the gate at work with this look of 'why are you leaving without me?' and I must admit to tearing up a couple of times, even when it's only been for a weekend He was sick about a year ago and needed to stay in hospital for a couple of nights on fluids. The first night I was ok cause I took him in late but the second night I couldn't stop thinking about him so I drove back to work and set up a bed next to his cage. I ended up opening the cage door and he came out and spent the night next to me on my bed and didn't once try to walk around! Its funny really, because I spend so much time at work comforting owners telling them how their pets generally don't fret and settle in very well so they shouldn't worry, but I'm probably the worst! Orbee sleeping with me at work when he wasn't feeling very well.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W Sibs Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Oh... it's never easy leaving Charlie at the vets, even if it's for a few hours!! But, when I'm there, I'm all cool, calm and collected because I don't want him to pick up my nervous/worried energy. He knows what's going on, but doesn't fret or anything. I would like to believe it's because he knows I'm always going to come back to get him. Which I always do. When I get in the car, that's a total different story... that's when I get all worried about him. Riley will be fine You will get through this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esky the husky Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I absolutely hated leaving Kyojin at the vets when he got desexed. I spent the whole day checking the clock waiting for it to be 4pm so I could leave work and ring the vets to see if he could come home. I think I would have cried if they had said they needed him to stay OH and I are going away for 16 days in June for our honeymoon and we're already both devastated at the thought of leaving him. I think if we hadn't already paid for our flights, we would have changed our minds and found somewhere pet friendly at the beach here instead. I'm not really comfortable with any of the options we have for him while we're away. There's room here if you want :D (Wants Kyojin cuddles) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smooch Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I think both Smooch and I suffer from separation anxiety. A few years ago he was at the Sydney specialist center for two months after suffering a spinal stroke, I wasn't allowed to go near him as it would take too long for Smooch to settle when I left. this was on the advise of my vet. When Smooch came home he was still paralyzed and couldn't be left alone, even when we needed to go shopping either ES or myself would have to stay in the car with Smooch. A couple of weeks ago Smooch was on a fluid drip for three days and as there is no one at the vets of a night I had him at home, Smooch and I slept on the lounge with a lead attached to his harness and wrapped around my hand so that if he moved I would wake up. I can't close the bathroom door when I am in there as Smooch would rip the door down. These days I only ever leave him for about 3 hours and he sulks the whole time. Biggest problem I have is that he won't drink if I am not around. so leaving him on a hot day is just not on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 I hardly ever leave my dogs at the vet. I always organise a time for surgery, ring to make sure there are no hold ups or get a new time if there are, then take them in and wait while it is done. Some of the vets are happy for me to watch the surgery, others prefer I wait in the waiting room. Either way I am there when they knock the dog out and there when they start to come round. Once they are fully awake I take them home. You have to be prepared for surgery to be delayed or cancelled due to emergencies but I prefer my dogs to be in the vets for as short a time as possible. Mine tend to stress a lot if other dogs are barking or crying so I like to be there as they wake from an anaesthetic to re-assure them and get them out of there asap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 a bit OT , but I believe dogs (and owners) should be able to happily spend time apart if needed Point me in the direction of the International Airport and see how quick the dogs go into kennels. Yes persephone I really do believe what you say is correct. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacqui835 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 You are definitely not the only one. For my new job I have to be sent to Sydney for training for a whole week. I don't know how I'm going to cope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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