Our new rottie boy appears to be getting spooked whenever anything is applied to the back of his neck.

The first time jab at the vets he was absolutely fine, the next one two weeks later was a different matter. He loves the vets, so happy to see the nurses and vets and gets a big fuss. But this vet was scared of him, it was obvious by her body language, she didn't stroke him or make a fuss, put a treat on the side and told him to wait, but she kind of hesitated as she went towards him, as she went to put her hand (slowly) on his back he turned to see what she was doing and she jumped up and went and got a muzzle. I wasn't happy with this, she told me it would calm him down and did it anyway.

Now the next time I went to put his flea stuff on he literally jumped away. I just quickly applied it and let him have a treat. I have also noticed while he absolutely loves being stroked if say I find a seed in his fur and try and pick it out with one hand he is fine, yet the minute I have two hands in one area he quickly moves away - so obviously I am not trying to do this, but I need to be able to lol. That's only around his neck and back area, he is fine if I check in between his toes.

At the moment every now and then I will sometimes briefly go to put another hand on the spot but not and treat him. I also have let him sniff a used flea bottle and treat him when he does. But I am not sure on how to move it forward.

Would like to get this sorted so as it doesn't become a case of pinning him down for his jabs, I wouldn't like that :(

Not having any background history I have no idea if this is something he remembers from his past, or the vets setting him off, as like I say the first flea treatment and jabs he didn't react at all.

My collie won't let me put flea treatment on her neck - the smell and the noise alerts her.  I tried to trick her and that just made it worse.  It all comes down to the fact that my previous dogs were the sort you could do anything with so I had never had a dog that was nervous and suspicious of everything I was doing to her.  I just bumbled in as I had done with my old dogs and probabally worried her.    I now treat her (when I bother because I really don't like these treatments that go on the skin) on her backside just before she is going out for a walk.  I make no fuss and bother just do it as I am stroking her.  After a nice walk it has dried.   I don't know what to say about the vet.  If she felt happier with the muzzle on and your dog was quite happy with it I wouldn't worry - probabally had a bad experience by the sound of it - or just inexperienced?

I just wondered if it may have triggered it in anyway - he didn't seem to have a problem with anything before this - I suppose it could be a coincidence. And no, I guess it didn't upset him having the muzzle on - just me being a protective mum *blush*

That's a good idea actually, doing it before a walk, or maybe even on the way back when he is really tired after a long one - think I might try that next time. Not nice seeing what appeared to be such a confident lad being so jumpy.

I do want to try and get him more relaxed around his shoulders/neck though before the next jabs.

Actually that has just reminded me, he did get jumpy when I used to unclip his collar when we first got him - but he is used to it now. Also now you mention it I think it may be more the sound, as when i tried to start getting him used  to the flea bottle just touching him he started to relax, but today when I actually used it it was the sound that spooked him. (I put treatment on early after finding a baby tic on his head yesterday after a long walk somewhere new)

> (I put treatment on early after finding a baby tic on his head yesterday after a long walk somewhere new) <IMG class=qButton title="Quote selected text" alt="Quote selected text" src="/images/mi_quote.gif" width=20 height=10>

Try frontline spray instead!  :-)

The same happened to my dog with the drops used jump and hate it, I have used frontline spray for quite a while now and he really likes to have this massaged through his thick coat and he had a jab the other month at the vet's didn't know he had it done so it was the drops he didn't like, also the spray works out a lot cheaper!

Only problem with that is I pay £10 a month as a VIP pet to get all worming, flea, jabs and checks up paid for yearly - and they only offer the drops, don't get a choice on which flea stuff to use.

I'll just have to keep working on him I think. My gsd doesn't like it either but she just gives in instead of jumping away lol.

my rottie doesn't like it either and takes off once I have applied it and runs round the garden shaking and rubbing himself on the ground like I have put poison on him.

The reason is that it is a really strong chemical and will burn like hell, some dogs are more sensitive than others.  You would probably be better giving your boy a clove of garlic each day and some brewers yeast in his food, that will prevent fleas.

Aw bless him cheekychow lol How does he react when you actually put it on? That was my problem yesterday, as he literally jumped away I only put half on, then me getting him again to do the rest just scared him even more bless.

That's interesting about the garlic and brewers yeast, may have to look into that. Does it only protect against fleas though or would it help with tics etc too do you know?

As we came back from the walk today and I put his lead on his collar I dusted off all the seeds etc and deliberately (gently) grabbed the fur on the back of his neck, and touched it with another hand - he didn't flinch! So yeah, if I continue down this route I think I will just apply it around walk times. I wonder if my vets will wait at the end of the walk for me to give him his jabs....:D ;)

> Aw bless him cheekychow lol How does he react when you actually put it on?

He looks petrified and is a total wuss.  He doesn't like his feet being touched either and looks like I am going to hack them off when I put the clippers near him.

> Only problem with that is I pay £10 a month as a VIP pet

I think you have to put a stress free dog over the cost of treatment.  I buy the largest spray from my vet, and even though it may sound expensive, it does last a long time.

If it is burning - like it does with so many dogs, you can't blame him.  At least he's not going for you as the source of his discomfort.  Not sure that I would want something this harsh on my skin either.

I agree jeansw, I would rather cancel it and buy it separate, I hate seeing him in distress, it's why I made a post here.

Although I am not completely certain it is just the flea drops, as I say this stemmed from his jabs - I had no problems touching his neck/shoulders, or him with both hands in the same place before he had the jab with the petrified vet. So it would seem silly to change flea stuff when it may not actually burn. I got some on my skin after he bolted, it didn't sting me at all.

Once it is actually applied it doesn't bother him in the slightest, he doesn't try and get to the area at all and will be quite happily stroked (sometimes forget and get my hand covered in flea stuff lol).

Same thing if I try and get a seed out of his fur, one hand he is fine, move the other over to remove it (anywhere on body apart from feet) and he quickly jolts away as if I am going to hurt him.

Just out of interest, did your vet frontline your dog immediately before or after giving a vaccination?

I would try and desensitise him to the sight of the treatment and counter condition using treats. Start just showing it to him and praising/giving a treat. You don't have to have it close to him at all. However gradually move closer over the course of several days/weeks.
Eventually you might be able to get close enopugh to put it on him. When its put on I would feed him something really tasty and big! Maybe a large piece of sausage so he's totally distracted.

Just remember take it slow and use very nice food.

Adam

No, she gave me the bottles, but when I first brought him home I had some spare so used that, he was then vaccinated a week later - fine both of those times.

Adam, that's what I have started to do kept the old flea bottle so as he associates the smell too. I suppose it will take time, my gsd was petrified over the head halti years ago, I know for a fact I rushed it, took a lot of chicken and time until she was okay with it - so I wont be making the same rushing mistake again :( By the way, she is absolutely fine with it now :D She knows it means going somewhere new.

I just hope that if I can get him used to the flea treatment (I have a year) then it will have the same effect when he comes to get his jabs next year.

> will burn like hell

Really never thought of that - how do you know that it burns? 

My St Bernard had no problems as a pup. He's 3 now. Last year, he got his vaccinations in the usual spot at the back of his neck. He cried and whimpered and it was actually embarrassing as my cocker didn't bat an eyelid getting it!! That was in February and he developed a large bump which gradually went away. Then in August, I put spot on and he got an angry weeping spot about 2 inches wide there. So this year I mentioned it to the vet in January when he was being neutered. He said that he was likely very sensitive there. His injections now are to his thigh and he doesn't bat an eyelid. He even had a blood test and no problem with that either. Also all my dogs get suspicious when I concentrate both my hands on an area of them as it usually means a pinch for a tick removal. Dirty things. I hate them.

2 inches wide? Poor thing :(

My gsd notices when I use two hands in an area too, but that's mainly because she wants to try and eat whatever I pull out of her fur lol.

Really never thought of that - how do you know that it burns

From the reaction the op said the dog has when it is applied.

I had a dog which used to go potty after applying flea treatments, as I was quite ignorant of what I was doing at the time, I continued to use it as directed by the vet, I think it was every 3 months, he rolled about and cried when I used it - he would then stare at the walls for hours after as if in a trance.  This dog of mine later died aged 3 from a reaction to his booster. 

So my advice is to be really careful what you use on your dogs.  Occasionally you may have to use one of the strong flea products, but unless the dog has a problem with fleas then why not use garlic, brewers yeast, neem shampoo and you can always rinse your dogs coat in water and lemon juice - again natural remedies that do work and don't cause adverse problems.

These chemical flea products work by entering the blood stream I think, I am not a chemist but common sense tells me that things entering the blood stream that can kill fleas (and fish if dogs swim after having this applied) must be quite poisonous in the first place, so what exactly are they doing to our dogs?

> must be quite poisonous in the first place

That is what I feel - I hate giving it to my dog - as I said I haven't bothered yet this season - I started using it again when I suspected that my dog had picked up lungworm.  I asked how I could prevent it and was told to use a particular flea treatment.  I really should do something again now seeing that I am back in a fox area and loads of cats about too.  Must be fleas around - I will regret it if I get them in my new carpets I know - but I am just so reluctant to use this type of treatment.  A spray would never do for my dog either - she is so wary of any noise.  I don't bathe my dog either - just brush.  Her coat always seems to clean up so well.  Only when she has rolled does she get a clean down.

I read in another thread about some people generally not bothering unless they actually pick fleas up. And I have to say that is the reason I have many spare packets of flea stuff over the 5 years from my gsd. I only used it occasionally in the summer, never in the winter and apart from when we first rehomed the gsd we have never had fleas in this house.

I used it the other day though as we went on a new walk and I found a tic in the rotties head so wanted to make sure in case I had missed any.

But yeah, on the whole I don't agree pumping them full of worming/flea/jabs etc.

I am contemplating stopping the VIP scheme, I pay a tenner a month for each dog to have all jabs, flea and worming treatment. I think I'd rather save the money and buy treatment when needed, I am also thinking more for my gsd as she is 5, knocking vaccines on the head and getting titre tests done instead.

Just wanted to add to my thread, it turns out it isn't just flea drops. I tried to trim his nails last night and he jumped away in fear, the same response as the flea drops :( And as the flea drops I have trimmed his nails before, a few months ago and he was absolutely fine.

I presume as he is a rescue, the first few months he was still adjusting but now he is more relaxed he is being his normal self. Whether this is down to never having these things done before, or fear from previous experiences I now know that a lot of slow advancement in these areas are needed!

Rotties are notoriously bad for not liking their feet being touched, it may just be a breed thing rather than anything else but like you say this is only manifesting now that he is more settled with you.