Basic Veterinary Restraint and Handling Procedures

Chapter 40
Basic Veterinary Restraint and

Handling Procedures
© 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied
or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Interpreting an Animal’s Body
Language and Behavior
• Change in environment may cause
behavior pattern to change
• Communication by the animal about how
it feels toward other animals, people, and
its environment
• Determines how easy or difficult an
animal may be during handling and
restraining
The Happy Animal
• Relaxed, alert, stand, sit or lie with a
comfortable appearance, ears up and
forward
• Easier to handle
• Veterinary assistant should be alert to
change in behavior, depending on the
procedures being performed
The Scared Animal
• Potential to be difficult to handle and
become aggressive
• Stiff stance, shake or tremor from
nervousness, avoid direct eye contact,
lay their ears flat or back on the head,
lower their body or tail to ground
• Submissive – give into humans due to
instinct that makes them feel threatened
The Angry Animal
• Aggressive
• Stiff stance, bearing teeth, head lowered
to the ground, staring, and tail raised
• Dominance aggression – “pack” animal
instinct and social status within a group
• Fear aggression – defense reaction to
being harmed and the instinct for an
animal to protect itself
The Angry Animal
• Territorial aggression – refers to an
animal’s protective nature of its
environment
• Redirected aggression – predator instinct
where the animal turns its aggressive
behaviors on the owner
– Most serious situation
Restraint Considerations
• Restraint – hold back, check, or
suppress an action and keep something
under control using safety and some
means of physical, chemical, or
psychological action
• Used by veterinary staff to allow an
animal to be controlled for procedures
– Safety of animal and of the people
Restraint Considerations
• Sedative/Tranquilizer – medication given
to an animal to keep it calm during
certain stressful procedures or
circumstances
Animal Safety
• Those not accustomed to humans will
become easily stressed when removed
from territory
• Young animals – handle with care; small
and brittle bones
• Older animals – handle with care; may
be arthritic and painful
Animal Safety
• Safety of animal and staff must be
considered every time restraint is
necessary
• Never allow non-veterinary staff or
animal owner to restrain any animal
– Potential legal issue
Restraint Equipment
• Muzzles, anti-kick bars, hobbles, or
stanchions
• Muzzles
– commonly for dogs, cats, and horses
– made of nylon, leather, wire, or basket materials
– can be made with gauze, tape, or leashes
Restraint Equipment
• Towels
– used to restrain small animals
– used to wrap and contain
• Squeeze cages
– used with small animals
– contains animal without placing a person’s hands
directly on animal
Planning the Restraint Procedure
• Area with enough room, is clean, is dry,
and is well lit
• Plan should be discussed
– Move any costly equipment
– Nonslip area
– Temperature should be considered
– What should be done if animal happens to get
away from restrainer
– Backup plan
Restraint Knots
• Knots are made from one to two pieces
of rope material where one section of the
rope prevents slipping of another
– Allow animals to be tied and restrained for a
temporary period of time
– Ropes should be inspected
– Ropes may be used to tie animals in position
Square Knot
• Commonly used to secure an animal
• Nonslip knot that doesn’t come untied
• Two ropes or a single rope can be used
to make the square not
Reefer’s Knot
• Single bow knot that allows a nonslip,
quick release tie
• Same as the square knot with the
exception that the second throw is made
upon itself, creating a hold that can
easily be untied
• Common tie for large animals to prevent
them from injuring their heads and necks
during restraint
Half Hitch
• Tie that makes a loop
around a stationary
location such as a post
or a fence
• Commonly used to
secure an animal to a
surgery table
Restraint Positions
• Recumbency – lying position
• Standing restraint – used to keep an
animal standing for a procedure and to
prevent it from sitting or lying down
• Sitting restraint – used to keep an animal
in a sitting position for ease of
completing a procedure
Restraint Positions
• Sternal recumbency – placing the animal
on its chest for restraint
• Lateral recumbency – placing the animal
on its side for restraint
– May be done in left or right lateral recumbency
Restraint Positions
• Dorsal recumbency – used to place the
animal on its back for restraint; is a
common restraint during surgical
procedures and radiology techniques
Restraint Positions
• Blood collection
– Cephalic vein – located in the medial aspect of the
front limbs known as cephalic venipuncture
– Jugular vein – located on either side of neck in
lower throat area
– Saphenous vein – located on lateral surface of the
rear limbs just proximal to the hock
Restraint for Blood Collection
• Cephalic venipuncture
• Jugular venipuncture
• Saphenous venipuncture
Restraint Procedures and
Techniques
• Equipment is used to protect
• Removing animal from cage
– head control device
Small Animal Restraint
• Animal is held in safe manner through
body control
• Common injuries: bites and scratches
• Cats, dogs, rodents, rabbits, ferrets,
reptiles, and birds
• Diversions: talking to animal, calm
noises, lightly blowing in face, or lightly
rubbing temple area
Cats
• Tend to be one of the most difficult
during restraint when they become upset
and aggressive from stress
• Safely restrain and have control over the
head
• Cat bags: control the limbs and head
Cats
• Squeeze cages: wire boxes with small
slots that allow injections to be given
• Anesthesia chamber: used to sedate
• Scruff technique: gives control over
head; may divert attention
Cats
• Stretch technique: scruffing the cat with
one hand while in lateral recumbency
and using the free hand to hold the rear
limbs and pull them dorsally
Dogs
• Rabies pole or snare pole
– is long, has noose on end, and acts as leash
– captures and restrains dogs
– pulling can cause severe head and neck injuries
Large Animal Restraint
• Livestock: horses, cattle, goats, swine,
and sheep
• Instincts of prey animals
• “Fight or flight” instinct as part of reaction
to restraint
• Capable of: kicking, biting, rearing up
into the air, or using their large bodies to
injure

Basic Veterinary Restraint and Handling Procedures

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Basic Veterinary Restraint and Handling Procedures

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Basic Veterinary Restraint and Handling Procedures

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chapter 40

Basic Veterinary Restraint and

You might also like