Restraining Animals
Dec 16, 2015
More is NOT BetterOUse the LEAST amount of restraint
that is neededO Dogs can be stubborn and won't give
up
OThe more you try to restrain, the harder they resist O Less pleasant, more dangerous
O"Talk to the animals" in a quiet, soothing voice, its comforting O Tone not content
OEarly application of a muzzle reduces the need for additional restraint
MuzzlingO If real muzzles are not
available, use a piece of rolled gauze and fold in half (makes stronger)
OCreate a large loop and slip animal’s mouth through
O If animal is resisting or aggressive, sneak muzzle on from behind
OTie gauze in a single knot
Muzzling Cont…OBring gauze down sides of
snout, and the ends of the gauze are tied under the jaw with a single knot
OBring gauze up behind ears and tie in a bow for easy release
OKnotting and cutting with scissors to remove may injure animal
HandlingOBefore handling, get animal’s attentionOCall by name and encourage them to
come to you O If the pet doesn't come, slowly approach
from the frontO Never come from behind
OOffer hand, palm down, curling fingers into a fist to prevent nipping or biting
OLet the animal sniff, then slowly move your hand to touch the side of the face then stroke the top of the head
Handling Cont…O If the owner is holding the pet, have the
owner place the animal on the exam table
O Its ok to examine a large dog on the floor in either a sitting, standing or recumbent position (The dog….not the veterinarian)
OTo pick up and place a dog on the table, put one arm in front of the of the chest and the other either behind the rear legs, lift in a "scooping" motion
Carrying a Cat or Small Dog
OCradle the animal's rear quarters in the handler's arm and loosely gripe the front legs with the same hand
OThe other hand is free to pet and the animal’s head but can also quickly grab the zygomatic arches to control the head if the animal attempts to escape
Carrying a Cat or Small DogOCat's will try to hide
when frightenedOCarry a cat with one
hand under the hind quarters and the other holding the scruff of the neck, letting the cat hide its head
Positional RestraintO To restrain in LR, place an elbow over
the neck and holds the elbow of the leg closest to the table
O Drape other arm over the abdomen of the animal with the hand holding the rear leg which is closest to the table
O Hold limbs at a point close to the bodyO Only apply light pressure at all
restraint pointsO If the animal struggles, apply greater
pressure and lean body over the thorax of the animal for more control
O As soon as the animal stops struggling, reduce the amount of pressure
Positional RestraintOCats can be restrained in LR using
the "stretch" methodOHold the scruff of the neck and the
hind legs with legs between different fingers
Positional Restraint O The holder stands on the side of
the dog opposite the leg being usedO The dog is restrained close to the
body of the holder O The muzzle is held away from the
face of the holder and the vetO Holder reaches over and applies
downward pressure over the dog's back, if needed
O If the animal is not struggling, it is not necessary to apply pressure over the animal's back
Inspecting the Oral Cavity
OExamine the surface of the teeth and gums by lifting the lips
OOpen the mouth to examine the inner surface of the teeth, palette, tongue and throat
OLight pressure on the roof of the mouth with the dog's lip between teeth and your thumb will reduce the chance of being bitten