Can't you read the signs? : Dr. Primm's Warm and Fuzzies

Can't you read the signs?

by Kathryn Primm DVM on 08/30/13

This week I saw a dog who is normally pretty happy to be at Applebrook.  But on this day, he hid under his owner's legs. He didn't mind me reaching for him and ate a treat from my hand, but was clearly distressed by something that was different on this day.  His owner even commented. Nothing bad has ever happened to this dog here, so what do you think caused his concern today and not the last time?
I think that the answer lies in the SIGNS.  Remember the old song, "Signs" by Five Man Electrical Band? It said "Signs, Signs, Everywhere there's signs.
Blocking out the scenery. Breaking my mind. Do this! Don't do that! Can't you read the signs?"  I do. (In fact, I will be humming it all day thanks to this blog!)
Animals live in a very different world than ours.  Their sense of smell allows them to read the signs everywhere.  So to this poor dog, there may have been a sign that said "I was hit by a car and rushed in here. I was afraid and I was in pain".  If you have ever approached a Haunted House for Halloween with the creepy signs along the sidewalk, telling you to Beware and RIP, you have an idea what the signs might make your dog feel.  Only you know that the Haunted House is just for fun and he does not.  You know that the animals that were seen here at Applebrook, left feeling much better than when they arrived, but he doesn't.
So if you can associate a trip to Applebrook with treats and calm, we will try to make sure that your experience does not match up with whatever signs, he might be seeing on the front door!

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