My husband is usually the one who does vet visits I stay home. One of our cats has chronic sinusitis which comes with ear infections. Husband took him to the vet got his meds checked him out. He comes home and runs meowing at me about what my husband did he’ll avoid my husband and give me a lot of attention for a couple days. He’s more bonded to me anyway but you can tell after vet visits it’s personal.
231
u/Constant_Purple8875
lol, yes, mine pulls this when I travel without her.
Which is understandable, but I am leaving her with grandma who she is very enthusiastic to stay with a day or two on a regular basis, but a week would get me “banned”.
ONCE i travelled for 2 weeks and she was cold to me for 2 months. would pretend not to hear well or that our old tricks stopped working.
Give him time and routine back. Gotta earn that trust :)
147
u/Cinderbunni
My dog ran away (to find me!) when I left him with grandpa when I went on vacation. He was missing for 3 days as the entire neighborhood went on a hunt to find him. When grandpa got him back, he was fed and ENTIRE whole foods roasted chicken and loved on big time. When we got back, this dog, who was bonded to me and would make me spoon him every night, slept on the other side of the couch, wouldn't cuddle, avoided eye contact and would turn his head away from me for 3 MONTHS until he got over the trauma, the hurt, the feeling of betrayal? I was gentle and loving and gave him all the treats. It took a lot of time, and i did have a few moments of tears, but at the 3.5 month mark, he went back to cuddling with me and we now spoon again every night.
Your baby will forgive you. Give him time.
110
u/AnitaLatte
I had a dog that wouldn’t look at me all the way home from the vet. Just faced the door in the car. But 4 days is kind of a long time.
You say he got all of his vaccinations at that appointment. Dogs, like people, can be tired, sore and achy after vaccinations. Their immune systems react over a period of days or weeks, and they can feel under the weather.
I would gently do a body check where he was vaccinated to see if there are any swellings or feverish areas. A call or e-mail to the vet clinic would probably be a good idea as well.
We had a dog that got an egg-sized swelling on her vaccination site every time she was vaccinated. It lasted about 3 weeks before it was finally gone. Our vet said it was an immune system reaction that the vaccination was doing it’s job, but he still would report it to the vaccine manufacturer so they would have that data.
50
u/Ok_Sell5000
The best thing you can do right now is give him space and stop trying so hard to win him back. Every time you go to him with extra treats or the good boy voice he is interpreting that as you admitting you did something wrong which reinforces his behavior. Let him come to you on his terms and when he does give him calm gentle attention withuot making a big deal out of it. Dogs pick up on our energy and the more you act guilty the more he will act like you should be. Stick to your normal routine like nothing happened and he will realize the drama is over and come back around. He is absolutely running a theater production but it only works if you keep buying a ticket.
50
u/pyxus1
Lay on the floor with him. Lay down with your head on the floor. Get as low as you can. Let him sniff around you, push his head against you, rub against you. Don't say anything. He will understand your apology.
31
u/Serious-Telephone967
This is so well written and very familiar. Poor biscuits! Four days does seem excessive though. I have a stubborn hound so I always get the silent treatment and she refuses to sleep in the same room as me but for 24 hours max. Did he get shots while he was there? Sometimes those can cause them to feel unwell.
19
u/blithetorrent
My corgi/border collie did that for at least a week, exactly the same thing. Close by, but the contract had been broken. It was when I cleaned out his infected ears, clipped his nails, gave him a medicinal bath and brushed him out all in the same day. He HATED any kind of grooming or interference and clearly decided I hated him. It was honestly pretty depressing until he finally either forgot or forgave me. On the other hand, I think it might have been the reverse, ie, he may have thought I was punishing him and that we were no longer pals. It seemed to take forever for him to warm up to me again. Heartbreaking.
15
u/Anam_Liath
It was a little scary for him, you went with him into the lion's den and brought him out. He escaped with his life because you were there to lead.
He's being submissive and shy now. He's not mad, he's awed!
Lie on your back on the floor and talk squeaky puppy talk like when he was a baby. Don't make eye contact just play with a toy of his or even a towel. Be silly like he's a puppy and toss really good treats but don't look at him.
He'll come around. He's not mad. Just a little off kilter and awed.
Also quietly take him for treats a couple times to help defuse the car. Mine go to the vet in pairs, one gets treated the other gets a non-confrontational visit to the office. With 3 dogs, that means 2/3 of their visits are no big deal and they are there for their buddy.
12
u/kateinoly
I started taking mine for friendly visits. We walk around, the receptionists and vet techs pet him and give him treats, I put him on the scale, then we leave. My vet recommended doing this to reduce his vet anxiety.
He is no longer nervous going into the office.
9
u/ConsiderThis_42
My dog and I had a system of time outs for bad behavior. I put her in her kennel for 15 minutes when she was bad. Usually it was for chewing on the wrong things. When the oven timer went off, I let her out and gave her something more appropriate to chew on. Then all went back to normal. Eventually, she learned to do things like bring me her old chews when she needed a new one, so I knew it was time to replace one. We had to work out our differences just like housemates sometimes have to do.
She gave me timeouts by turning her butt to me and refusing to acknowledge me. I learned to go to my rocker, sit in silence and take my 15 minutes of time out with humility. I got in trouble for things like trying to trim her toenails, walking to the mailbox without letting her escort me, and petting another dog before first paying attention to her. She was OK with her vet trimming her nails. He had better clippers, but after one bad incident she never let me clip her nails again even though I bought clippers just like his. Once was enough for her.
When I had to leave another dog I had at my mom's so I could get to work when we had major flooding on the Missouri River, I learned to call home everyday and have mom put my dog on the phone. Mom said that she would cock her head to the phone to listen to me say familiar things. That kept me out of serious trouble for not coming home. She really just needed to know that I was OK and coming back. But she really gave the guy who was ferrying people across the flooded river to the bridge a piece of her mind because he wouldn't let her in his boat so she could come to me. He laughed about that for years at how she fussed at him for not letting her in the boat. He said if he would have had a life jacket that would have fit her, he might have relented, given her insistence. But I was not going to get in that boat to come to her. The Missouri is very dangerous when it floods and I was glad he stood his ground.
8
u/Running_Amok_
My dog a Boston Pug mix sat for 3 days with her back to me after a vet visit. She was so mad. She did not forgive easily
6
u/Natural-Escape-3537
“He accepted them with the dignity of a man tolerating a handshake from someone he has not yet decided to forgive.”
This had me lol’ing. You are a writer.
6
u/OldCapricorn
Hope it’s not a reaction to a shot.
6
u/LostMyZen
Our older boy cried at his first vet appointment. The vet gave him a shot and left the room to get something. He wanted her to come back. He also broke his leg at 8 months old. When we went in for his first checkup, one week after major surgery, he did his best to drag us into the hospital, cast and all. He was thrilled to see his fans.
His little brother is not nearly as outgoing, or forgiving. If I do something really traumatizing, like try a collar on him to check the size, he hides in his brother’s crate (his favorite place when he’s emotional) for hours, looking at me like I’ve broken his heart and betrayed his trust. It takes a sincere apology, cheese, and a good nap before he’ll talk to me again.
5
u/Easy_Olive1942
Trip to the vet is definitely a silent treatment worthy offense in our house too.
I get told off, maybe silent treatment too, for not heading out on adventure/walks too many days in a row or abandoning them too long too many days in a row.
4
u/kajeyn
So... In 4 years this is the first time you've taken him to the vet?
4
u/thatveronicavaughnn
The most challenging thing about this is if you have to take them when something is actually wrong and its scary!! I am lucky that my dogs absolutely LOVEEEEEE going to the vet even if there is some kind of sickness, procedure, urgent situation. So I guess would it be worth it to try to find a way to positively reinforce the vet visits while theyre happening? Not that you're eager for this silent treatment again.... I don't know, not a lawyer, just taking a shot in the dark on this.
3
u/quantumsparq
That’s a pretty funny write up.
3
u/Key_Scratch_4584
My girl is different, she Loves going to the vets, absolutely loves it, as we turn down the road to get there her tail is helicoptering to it's fullest capability. When we get in i need her on a short leash to stop it sending everything onthe shelves everywhere. The small amount of treats she got the first time we went there has stuck in one of those braincells for nearly 7 years now. When we leave, I get the silent treatment for hours.
3
u/toxiclight
Thankfully my dog usually goes back to normal after a day or so when she feels traumatized. By the vet, by me being out of town overnight (despite the fact that she still has my husband and youngest with her the entire time!) She's thankfully quick to forgive.
3
u/mitzilani
My ex made me take our dog to get fixed and then he would pick him up, making me the bad guy. “What have they done to you, boy?!”
3
u/Dry-Peach-6327
Yes. One of my cats, now 16 years old, is the master of punishment. When I adopted a second cat 4 years ago, he wouldn’t purr for a month. We’ve moved a few times in his life, and while he rolled with it when younger, now that he’s old he’s gotten cranky and will give me the silent treatment. Currently he is punishing me due to a temporary move we did two weeks ago back to my apartment (we were staying at family house to assist with their care for the last couple of years). He now spends most of the time under the bed, sulking. I know he is fine because I have cameras around the house. As soon as I leave or fall asleep he wanders around the house, eats drinks and uses litter normally. Sleeps on top of his cat tree. As soon as I come home, he goes back under the bed and sulks 😂 he also cuddles with me on the bed in the middle of the night while I sleep, and wakes me up in the morning for treats. He has just started greeting me when I come home, but then goes back under the bed. He also use to love brushing time, but now he refuses to let me brush him which is a little problematic as he has long hair and he’s old. I have spoken to his vet and we will try a gabapentin script.
we’re moving into our new house in a month, so I’m sure this will just happen all over again. But I think the gabapentin will help him chill out a bit
Oh and about the vet. He goes to the vet every 6 months or so for blood work due to his hyperthyroidism. For about a month after each vet visit, he hides when he hears me getting ready in the morning because he convinces himself that I’m getting ready to take him to the vet. He is actually a very smart cat lol, I could go on. Like you, I talk to my cat like he’s a human and explain everything that is happening. I talk to him about going to the vet before and after it happens. Sure he may not understand but I talk to him about it anyway. 😂
All of this makes me really sad, but eventually with time and space my cat comes around. I’m sure your dog will, as well. I am surprised to hear about this happening with a dog and with a retriever mix, too. He may just be exceptionally smart so he is taking everything more personally.
3
u/Ldyjam
My pup definitely does this silent treatment when I took him to the vet. We went to a new vet and they take him in the back for his shots, bloodwork and all the not fun stuff. Now when he's returned to me he's so happy to see me and away from the mean people he doesn't give me the attitude anymore. I'm sure your fur baby will come around soon.
2
u/Ju5t4ddH2o
He is part Golden. They’re the most judgy of all the dogs! He’s got you reexamining everything you’ve done, lol. You’ve paid your dues, let him have his space & he’ll get over it. No more extra sympathy! Or it’ll just get worse w/ him. Good luck!
2
u/Ok-Potential-863
Sometimes my dog will pretend he’s mad at me because he wants me to give him extra attention and plead for his forgiveness.
2
u/Skinnylatte2
Omg, this is sad 😭😭😭
And then I read the last part. Goofball (but he's a Goldie 🤣)!
2
u/Reasonable-Crab4291
My dog put himself in his open kennel and wouldn’t come out until my husband came home.
2
u/Rigabear
Oh god this breaks my heart </3 Surely time will do the trick, but I wonder if ‘popping the bubble’ in a sense could help. Is there something that makes him ‘laugh’ or makes him act like a puppy? Some game he can’t resist that can help reconnect you, help bring your hearts back into the same frequency? Oh our sensitive pups <3
2
u/Lunar-opal
Did you apologize with snuggles and treats?
2
u/Love_Baking_in_CO
Tell your dog that we all have to do things we don't like.
2
u/mcmurrml
Animals can't pretend. He is mad at you. Hopefully it will blow over soon. They aren't like people. An animal doesn't put on airs.
2
u/Baby-Giraffe286
I am not an animal person. I have previous trauma and wasnt a huge fan before that. My husband and kids love animals though, so I always do the vet stuff for them. I also changed all the bandages and stuff after surgeries and do all drop offs and pick ups for overnights. It doesnt bother me when they give me the cold shoulder for a few days. Honestly, though, mine are pretty forgiving. Usually it takes less than a week before they are all over me again.
My dog had to have a toe amputated a few years ago. My husband only took him to one follow up and the dog was mad for days. All they did was check his wound and rebandage it. He pitched less of a fit when I literally took him to get all the stitches removed. I think he just knows I am a betrayer and forgives me anyway. Lol
2
u/Confident_Action4915
Can… I point out a simple thing in dog psychology? Dogs DO NOT EVER assign blame. There’s most likely a fear factor here, or a loss of trust for some reason. In most cases is brought about by trauma. Please be patient and on the lookout for anything that suggests the shutdown was warranted or that the dog has anxiety disorder or depression. Not necessarily- It could also just be shock, not to say there aren’t ways to work on both, I just personally don’t know what they are.
2
u/Over-Marionberry-686
When my little Shih Tzu Falcor was neutered, it took probably three maybe even four months before he would snuggle with me again if I sat down on the couch he would get up and go to the other couch. When we went for a walk he went to the edge of the leash and stayed there. He was pissed.
2
u/GlowInTheDarkSpaces
I’d have a heart to heart talk with him
2
u/queendecaffeine
I stopped letting my dog get on the couch since we were about to move and needed to start learning new rules. My mom drew a hard line: no dogs on the couch.
Anyway, my dog left the couch, left the room, went out and laid in the coldest room in the house on the concrete floor next to her dog bed.
She refused to face my direction or acknowledge me, she refused to eat, to go for a walk - just laid there limp at the end of the leash dragging.
It lasted 12 hours and the transition from couch access to no couch access was pretty smooth after that.
It was, apparently, the largest betrayal she had faced in her life. I've never gotten a reaction like that since.
2
u/Analyst-Effective
Lol. Dogs are not humans. The dog forgot about it 5 minutes after you left the vet
1
u/coloradocrime2
My dog does this after going to the groomers but only for one day. I've found that all I can do is wait it out. Maybe make someone else take him next time.
1
u/Kizzieuk
Be matter of fact around them and they forget much sooner. The more you try to comfort and soothe the worse they get.
of course he maybe feeling shit from the vaccines many humans do so I guess so do animals and its nothing to do with you, just they he doesn't feel good.
1
u/unicorn_345
My 14 year old little man dog goes in for shots and has gotten dental in the past. He is a bit grouch man for days after those. The older he gets the more he is just done with me and the world for a few days. I can’t even touch him day of once we get home. He screams bloody murder. And of course he also feels like crap from the shots so eating is sometimes off the table for a day or two, or often at least pushed to a minimum. Sometimes it takes a couple days and some pain meds to get him interested in more than holing up in his bed. Other times he has gotten up the next day and been ok. Age has been part of that.
1
u/Wackel81
My cat ran to his favorite hiding spot after the last vet visit and stayed there for a few hours. The loneliest hours of my life! Not even his favorite snacks got him out of there. But at least he forgave me later on, reluctantly at least. But I feel that deep down he knows that in merely 10 months I will betray his trust again.
1
u/CicadaSlight7603
This is kind of normal for cats? Mine thinks I’m a fuckwit most days and doesn’t hesitate to make that clear. Even though I have done nothing but good things to him.
1
u/weirwoodheart
This is a joke, right? Dogs don't 'give the silent treatment' like humans do. Biscuit is probably just a little bit tired from the stress of something he found a bit taxing.
1
u/CartographerSea5923
I dunno, man.
But that was a great read.
1
u/sundancer2788
🤣 yes! Everyone of them.
1
u/MessagefromA
My dog loves our vet, even after surgery and needles she would never be mad about going. The cat on the other hand is an emotional terrorist. We had to go for vaccinations and an ear check-up after I found some dirt and blood in it. Had to get her ear cleaned by both the vet and I. She will Not Look at me. That’s been the situation at home since two weeks now 😂
1
u/AppropriateAmoeba406
My Labrador had TPLO surgery and then crate rest for a month. She still isn’t allowed up on the bed. You think your dog is pissed? Let me just tell you.
1
u/SufficientOpening218
take him out for a pup cup
1
u/amso2012
Man can you please write a dog story book!! You write so well and I could totally visualize Biscuit with the behavior you just described.
Please write a book, you have a gift!