Two Questions Your Vet Might Ask You If You Tell Them You Want to Take in a Stray Dog

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If you have found a stray dog who does not appear to have an owner, and you're thinking about keeping it, these are the questions your vet might ask you when you discuss this matter with them.

Do you already own another pet?

You can expect the vet to ask if there are other pets residing in your home. There are many important reasons why the vet might ask you this. For example, if the stray dog appears to have a strong prey drive (i.e. if they exhibit a hard-to-control, instinctive impulse to hunt and attack creatures that they perceive to be prey) and you own a prey animal (such as a rabbit), the vet might advise you to find a different home for this dog, as this pooch might end up spending their days at your home attempting to catch and injure your pet rabbit. Even if the rabbit is safely inside an enclosure, being aware that there is a predator nearby could make them highly stressed. As such, in this situation, it would not be fair to your rabbit to take in this stray dog.

Your vet could also make this enquiry out of concern for the stray dog. For instance, if you already own a friendly but very hyperactive dog, who tends to unexpectedly dash around and who will often jump up on people and other animals, and the stray you're thinking about taking in is clearly traumatised and very nervous, the vet might not recommend adding this new dog to your home. The reason for this is that it will be difficult for them to view your home as a safe area where they can fully relax if your existing pet is too excitable and is perpetually frightening them with their abrupt and hyperactive behaviour. In these circumstances, the vet might instruct you to find the stay dog a calm and quiet new owner who lives alone, as this will give the dog the best chance of getting over any trauma they suffered in the past.

How has the dog been behaving since you took him or her in?

In the days running up to the vet appointment, you should observe the stray dog's behaviour in your home and make a note of anything that could be considered unusual or abnormal, as the vet will probably enquire about the animal's behaviour when you speak to them. The information you provide could make it much easier for the vet to quickly diagnose any conditions the dog may have developed whilst they were not being cared for.

Some examples of odd behaviours that you might want to watch out for include yelping when you touch a particular patch of their body (for example, if they cry out when you gently hold one of their paws, this might mean that they have a fracture in a toe), or extreme lethargy (which might be an indicator of long-term malnourishment, that has left the dog with very little energy).

4 March 2020