Why does my dog forget house training after the vet?
Stressful veterinary visits trigger temporary behavioral regression, causing dogs to have indoor accidents and hide for days afterward. This sudden setback makes routine care difficult and leaves owners scrambling to manage unexpected messes right after a vet trip.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- Most of it landed at once — the busiest month was September 2026, with 6 people.
- This comes up 42.1× more often in r/dogs than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1taking the dog to the vet parking lot just for treats without an appointmentDid this help you?
- 2giving pre-visit anti-anxiety medicationsDid this help you?
- 3switching to a different vet clinic with kinder handlersDid this help you?
- 4desensitizing the dog to handling very gradually at their own paceDid this help you?
- 5Researched extensively online during veterinary hospitalizationDid this help you?
- 6Seeking advice and community experiences from other puppy ownersDid this help you?
- 7sitting with the dog in the backseatDid this help you?
- 8using dog beds and pillowsDid this help you?
- 9allowing the dog to look out the windowDid this help you?
- 10researching plush car seats or foldable transport boxesDid this help you?
- 11Putting a hoodie or surgical suit on the dogDid this help you?
- 12Using a thunder shirtDid this help you?
- 13Exercising and training the dog to build confidence and resilienceDid this help you?
- 14training and doing positive reinforcement everydayDid this help you?
- 15Giving the dog time and love to adjustDid this help you?
- 16Using a groomer that allows owners to watch to ensure kindnessDid this help you?
- 17Posting symptoms and asking online communities if the behavior is normal.Did this help you?
- 18Calling the original vet's office to find out if sedatives or specific medications were administered.Did this help you?
- 19Seeking a second opinion at a 24-hour emergency vet clinic.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I got a toy poodle (9 months) and he been acting strange since we got home few hours ago, He got a long coat to a more short coat”source ↗
“like normally he is a barking boy, he is sensitive but now just very quiet; its kinda unnerving for me”source ↗
“I'm just concerned if this is a common thing maybe anxious after first time grooming especially since he had matting so maybe just getting used, maybe a few days and back to normal? I'm just concerned or did I accidentally kidnap someone else dog and my dog with some stranger?”source ↗
“our dog (10 months) has always been uncomfortable in the car. As a baby he actually slept during the drive. Nowadays he just pants , lays down on my leg, gets up again, and just seems very stressed. Even on short drives to the park.”source ↗
“Does your dog experience regression after such an experience/visit? Example specific to us: is potty trained but for 2-3 days after will act as if she isn't aka have accidents in the house”source ↗
“I am a bit baffled by his behavior.”source ↗
“When off-leash (I live outside the city so I got large fields where I can let him free), sometimes he will run away and make me chase him for quite a bit as he won't react to the recall.”source ↗
“Finally, he dismantles things. Once every few days, he finds something around the house and shreds it to pieces (trash can, flower pot). Also occasionally digs.”source ↗
“my dog does similar, after stressful vet visits he forgets his house training for couple days and hides under the bed like the world is ending.”source ↗
“My dog is quite a nervous dog in general.”source ↗
“Now, he's acting unnatural. Like, when he walks he doesn't seem to have much balance and his pupils are dilated, as you see in the picture.”source ↗
“He's also moving he's head weirdly, like his staring at things for a prolonged period of time.”source ↗
“What could be wrong? Is this normal? Please help.”source ↗
“He also feels very light. I mean his weight. And he's a heavy cat.”source ↗
“My puppy is a 13 week old dachshund, I have had him for 3 weeks. Let me tell you it has been a ride.”source ↗
“But he is home now and doing well, unfortunately he no longer will sleep in his kennel, he freaks out, he is up all night long, he also is mouthing and biting harder and more than he did before.”source ↗
“Plus im exhausted emotionally and physically. I just need advice.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 43How do I deal with severe separation anxiety in a newly adopted dog?
- 8Why is my puppy suddenly barking at every dog and person?
- 6Why is my pet aggressive after running away?
- 10Groomer won't let me stay with my anxious dog
- 4How to keep a high energy dog calm after surgery
- 7How to get a rescue dog to stop freezing on walks