Many of us dread visiting the doctor, and our pets feel the same about trips to the vet. That’s why veterinarians work hard to find ways to make these stressful visits easier for our dogs, cats, and other furry friends.
The vets at Alicia Pet Care Center (APCC), a California-based animal hospital, have mastered the art of making vet visits easier. They’ve spent years perfecting their approach, spoiling furry patients with treats and pampering to ease their stress.
But this time, they faced a challenge. One canine patient saw through all their clever tricks, refusing to be won over no matter how hard they tried.
He Outsmarted Them Every Time
Source: ALICIA PET CARE CENTER via The Dodo
When Bandit, a dog visiting Alicia Pet Care Center in Mission Viejo, California, needed to stay for several days to receive his medication, he wasn’t exactly thrilled about it.
“He was very honest in his feedback about his disgust for medicine,” said Diana Gorin, APCC’s social media marketing specialist, in an interview with The Dodo. “He simply would not take any.”
After consulting with his owner, Eric, the staff turned to a tried-and-true solution: using Bandit’s favorite food as a decoy. They decided a turkey sandwich might do the trick.
“We specifically made a trip to Target to get him the necessary ingredients for an excellent turkey sandwich,” Gorin explained.
Source: ALICIA PET CARE CENTER via The Dodo
After buying the sandwich ingredients, the staff felt confident they had cracked the code. All they had to do was show Bandit the sandwich, and the problem would be solved.
But Bandit had other ideas. When they offered him the sandwich, he gently took it, carried it to his bed, and rested his head on it, treating it like a soft pillow.
Source: ALICIA PET CARE CENTER via The Dodo
The situation was undeniably hilarious, and the staff couldn’t help but laugh. Though surprised by Bandit’s reaction, they remained confident that a few more tries would do the trick.
But Bandit proved to be a tougher nut to crack than they had expected.
“We tried plain turkey sandwiches, peanut butter turkey sandwiches, even just peanut butter,” Gorin said. “Unfortunately, none of those were to his satisfaction.”
Before long, Bandit had a stack of sandwiches piled on his bed, creating the perfect cushion for a cozy nap.
While the staff couldn’t help but feel a bit frustrated, they also found the whole situation hilarious. So, they decided to capture it on video and share the funny moment with their followers on TikTok.
It’s no surprise that the video quickly won people over, drawing plenty of positive reactions.
They Finally “Came To An Agreement”
Source: ALICIA PET CARE CENTER via The Dodo
Although Gorin and the marketing team did a great job sharing Bandit’s story, the main goal remained unmet.
Determined to outsmart this clever pup, the vets brainstormed a new plan to finally get him to take his much-needed medicine. After much discussion and trial and error, they finally succeeded.
“Two of our doctors wrapped a pill in a delicious meatball without him seeing,” Gorin said. “They presented it to him, and he ate it!”
Thankfully, Bandit didn’t suspect a thing and happily continued taking his medicine in the form of tasty meatballs for the rest of his stay.
After a week at the clinic, Bandit finally headed home, and the staff is confident he’s thriving.
“I believe Bandit is doing much better at home,” Gorin added. “Perhaps he’s opening up a deli called Bandit’s Turkey Sandwiches.”
Honestly, if this video doesn’t inspire a dog-friendly sandwich brand named after Bandit, what will?