Restraint

I. Basic Factors to consider when selecting a restraint technique1. Will it be safe for the person who must handle the animal?

2. Does it provide maxium safety for the animal?

3. Will you accomplish the intended procedure?

4. With chemical restraint can you observe the animal after resraint until fully recovered

5. Environmental considerations

6. Health status of the animal - temperament, size

7. Anatomy

II. Indications for restraint1. Control for a procedure - apply min. restraint as possible

2. Prevent the animal from harming itself

3. Protection of personnel

III. General restraint tools1. Voice, talk to them (tone)

2. Reducing/eliminating an animal's visual communication - birds in a dark room

3. Reducing sounds

4. Cooling the environment diminishes the animal's ability to respond to stimuli

IV. Horse

Don't startle horses by quick movements and loud noises. Speak firmly and show confidence. Always make sure the horse knows where you are at all times. Approach the horse from the side never directly in front in back. Stand close the horse when working with them.

Near side = left sideFar side = right side

Horses do not like closed-in places.The technician should usually stand on the same side of the horse as the operator.

As you approach a horse, speak to the horse and walk towards their withers. If the horse moves away, the handler should stop and stay still until the horse has quieted again. Sometimes if the handler turns slightly away from the horse and not look directly at them, the horse will turn back to the handler.

A. Restraint Devices

1. Halter:When haltering a horse, the handler should be a rope around the neck to indicate to the horse they have been caught before placing the halter on.

Never put your fingers inside the halter to help with restraint.

a. Chain shank halter - for spirited horsesover the nose, through the mouth, under the chin (not recommended in most cases)

b. Buckle horse halter

c. Temporary halter using a lead rope

d. Rope halter

2. Holding the lead rope - never loop the rope around your hand.

3. Tying the horse

4. Twitch -nerve stimulating device that can immobilize or distract a horse

.

a. lip twitch1. Humane twitch

2. Chain twitch

3. Hand

b. skin twitch

c. ear twitch - not recommended; can cause the horse to be head shy and damage the ear cartilage

5. Pressure on the eyelid - pressing a finger on the eyelid

6. Hobblesa. breeding hobbles - used on mares to prevent them from kicking the stallion when breeding. They fit around the hocks

b. Scotch hobble - a hobble that draws up a hind leg. This technique can be used to examine the opposite leg, castration position, or to keep a horse from kicking while examining them

7. Cradles: prevents a horse from chewing on bandages or surgical sites

8. Stocks - safest way of handling “fitful” horses.

B. Manual Restraint Techniques

1. Venipuncture

a. Jugular

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RymfcN2nFyc

2. IM/SQ injectionsa. neck

b. rump

3. Examining the mouth/oral medication

4. Lifting up the foreleg - face the rear of the horse and stand next to the horse slightly in front of the leg that is being lifted. Run your hand down the leg to the fetlock area. Lean into the horse and pick up the leg. You may have to squeeze the suspensory ligament.

5. Lifting up the hindleg - face the rear of the horse and stand near the flank of the horse and run your hand down the leg to the fetlock that is being lifted. Lean into the horse and pick up the leg. Then walk under the limb, staying close to the horse’s body until the leg is outstretched behind the horse with the foot resting on the inside thigh of the restrainer.

6. Foal Restraint - grasp the foal by the tail and hold under the neck

V. Cattle

Cattle are herd-oriented animals. To work with most cows, they are herded into small areas first.Most cows are not halter brokeMost cattle are reluctant to lift up their feet

A. Restraint Devices

1. Squeeze Chute - most effective way to work with individual cows

2. Halters

3. Nose tongs: cows have a sensitive nasal septum; never lead a cow by the nose tongs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r5z-4NWSICow restraint (nose tongs)

4. Cattle prods- electrical “stick” used to push cows forward

B. Manual Restraint

1. Tailing a cow - "Russian Anesthetic" - grasp the tail at the base and push upmoving the cow forward

2. Casting - using a rope, bring a cow down to the ground by buckling the legs

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWPn0QuJ1ok Casting a cow (Purdue University)

3. Restraining a calf on the ground - get on the ground and grab the top back leg

and place your foot into the bottom back leg. Have someone kneel on the neck of the calf to restrain the head.

4. Calf restraint:a. newborn - place one arm under and around the neck, other hand over the tail or around the hindquarters

b. flanking - grasp the opposite flank and over the neck, press the knee against the flank and lift with both hands

c. legging a calf - grasp front leg and lift it up, this drives it against the body pushing the calf over

d. Venipuncture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2fy9CwYRDw1. Jugular2. Mammary 3. Coccygeal

e. IM/SQ injections

VI. Sheep

Be careful when capturing sheep in hot temperatures because they don’t have the ability to sweat.Sheep should be crowded in narrow chutes or places and then isolated to work with because they are herd oriented.

Approach sheep quietly with deliberate movementsNever grab the wool when attempting to catch the sheep because it hurts the sheep and can cause SQ hemorrhages and damages the wool fibers

A. Restraint Devices

1. Shepherd’s crook/crane - can be used to hook around the neck or back leg of a sheep.

B. Manual Restraint

1. Setting up a sheep: grasp the flank on the opposite side, pull the head toward the sheep's side, push the knee into the flank, push the head around and set them up on their rump, cradle the head between the legs

2. To initially grab an adult sheep , grab under the flank

3. To restrain a sheep to stand still, place an arm around the neck. Place the sheep if possible against a solid barrier and push them into the barrier from the side

4. Lamb restraint: support the body underneath the chest

5. Venipuncturea. jugular

6. IM/SQ injections

VII. Goats

Avoid restraining a goat by their horns or patting their head, this is considered a challenge to the goat. Be careful of the horns because they can easily stab you.

Restraint of goats is similar to sheep except you will not be able to set up a goat.

Hold a goat by a collar, halter or beard or cupped hands

VIII. Pigs

When working with pigs, don't overwork them in hot temperatures (deep layer of fat doesn't allow conduction of heat). They don’t have the ability to sweat.

Pigs are very vocal when restraining and working with them.

A. Restraint Devices

1. Cane, Board/Panel - used to direct or drive a pig

2. Snout rope/hog snare - fits over the snout and behind the upper canine teeth. The pig will naturally pull back while the restrainer pulls the opposite direction. Can be used to give injections or collect blood from the vena cava.

B. Manual Restraint

1. Venipuncurea. vena cavab. ear vein

2. IM injections

3. Oral medications - if possible, hide it in food.

4. Rolling a pig - corner the pig in carefully grab the base of the legs on the opposite of the restrainer and pull their feet out from under them. Quickly have another person sit on the ground and place the pig’s head in their lap propped up while the body is in dorsal recumbency.

5. Piglets - should be separated from the sow prior to being picked up and handled.a. Newborn piglet - picked up by the tailb. Piglet 2-4 lbs - picked up by the tail and one hind legc. Larger piglets - support the body under the chest

IX. DogsMost dogs have the desire to please

A. Restraint Devices

1. Leash - all dogs in the veterinary hospital should be on a leash. The slip leashes work well to keep in the car glove compartment and can also be used as muzzles.

2. Choke/Pinch collars - used only when training or walking a dog. Should never be used to chain a dog up.

3. Muzzles - proper muzzling technique for short nose and long nose breeds; a. Leashb. Commercial

c. Gauze

d. Gentle leadhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zPHnCfH774

4. Elizabethan (E) collars - used to prevent self-mutilation, prevent an animal from getting at a bandage/cast or surgical site.

5. Rabies Pole (catch pole, snare) - used only with aggressive dogs

6. Pole syringe - used with aggressive dogs

7. Towels

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=towel+restraint+in+dogs&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=tKgXA1mkNPzP8M&tbnid=LttbswTlmonqBM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://iamarg.com/2012/05/03/yourang/&ei=_gNWUZaCE-TlygHOzIHIDQ&bvm=bv.44442042,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNGbAgo6nuC31ffJ1-GGKSgpGE3KoA&ust=1364677979803606

B. Manual Restraint

1. Lifting dogs onto the table - never let them jump down from the table; tables give the restrainer the upper hand because most dogs are afraid of heights

a. small dogb. medium/large dogc. aggressive dog

2. SQ injections

3. IM injections

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQaBe-nzkUU

4. Venipuncture a. cephalic vein - sternal recumbency/sitting

b. jugular vein - sternal/sitting

c. lateral saphenous - lateral recumbency

5. Administering oral medication

6. Using cage doors as restraint

X. Cats

Cats are unpredictable and are harder to handle than dogs most of the time - more apprehensive. They are very independent.

Minimize the amount of restraint used if possible. Use detraction techniques if possible.Example: scratching, petting, talking, toys, tapping the nose.

Never wear gloves when working with a cat. You are unable to get a good hold on the cat and the cat still has the ability to bite through the gloves.

A. Restraint Devices

1. Leash

2. Towel

3. Cat bag

4. Catch pole/Snare

5. EZ nabber

6. Muzzlea. commercial

b. gauze

B. Manual Restraint

1. Carrying a cat

2. SQ injectionshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrC7VHd-uro

3. IM injections4. Venipuncture

a. cephalic vein - sternal recumbency

b. jugular vein - sternal recumbency/ dorsal recumbency

c. femoral vein - lateral recumbency

5. Administering oral medications

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-get-your-cat-to-take-medication

XI. Rabbits

Rabbits have a strong kick reflex. They have the potential of kicking with their back feet hard enough to break their back. Always support the back end and control the feet.

Rabbits are more secure when they are close to your body. Rabbits can bite, kick and scratch in defense.

A. Restraint Devices

1. Cat bag

2. Towel - “burrito”

B. Manual Restraint

1. Examination - have the back end facing the restrainer a. hypnotize

2. Carrying the rabbit - control the feet and hold close to you; tuck the head under the arm and hold the back feethttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Delxm5f3fmw

3. Putting a rabbit back in a cage or carrier - back end first

4. SQ injections

5. IM injections

6. Venipuncturea. femoralb. cephalicc. jugulard. marginal ear veine. cardiac

XII. Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs are very vocal and like to run away when trying to retrieve them from a cage.

A. Restraint Devices

1. Towel - “burrito”

B. Manual Restraint

1. Carrying the guinea pig

2. SQ injections

3. Venipuncturea. lateral saphenous

XIII. Chinchillas

They are usually very gentle to work with. Some females are cage territorial.

A. Manual restraint

1. Retrieving a chinchilla out of the cage - don’t grab the fur or scruff a chinchillaa. base of the tail

b. scoop them up

2. SQ injections

3. Venipuncturea. lateral saphenous

XIV. Ferrets

Ferrets have the ability to scratch, bite, and wiggle out of most restraint techniques. When ferrets bite, most of them do not let go. You have to pry their teeth off. Most will bite out of fear and pain.

A. Manual restraint

1. Scruffing a ferret

2. Using ferratone to assist in restraint for temperatures and nail trims

3. SQ injections - most ferrets become aggressive with SQ injections. Their skin is very thick and tough.

4. IM injections

5. Venipuncturea. jugular

b. cephalic

c. cardiac

XV. Rats

Rats main defense is to bite. Pet rats usually will not bite unless provoked. The least amount of restraint is better when working with rats. Scruffing a rat is not effective and can result in a bite.

A. Manual restraint

1. Picking up the rata. tailb. shoulder area

2. SQ injections

3. Oral medication

4. Venipuncturea. Coccygeal vein

b. Intra orbital

B. Restraint devices

A. Tube

XVI. Mice

A. Manual restraint

1. Picking up the mouse2. Holding the mouse for procedures

3. SQ injections4. Oral medication5. Venipuncture

a. intra orbital

B. Restraint devices

A. Tube

XVII. Hamsters

Hamsters are nocturnal and therefore sleep most of the day. Bites occur usually when someone wakes them up and immediately picks them up. Make sure the hamster is awake prior to picking them up out of the cage.

A. Manual restraint

1. Holding/Scruffing the hamster - make sure not to scruff the hamster for long periods of times due to the eyes bulging forward from the pressure. Make sure the cheek pouches are empty before scruffing so as not to tear the pouches.

2. SQ injections

3. Oral medication

4. Venipuncturea. Cardiac

XVIII. Gerbils

Gerbils if stressed while be restrained can bite and have a seizure and die. This can result in their jaws locking on the skin of the restrainer. Offer a stick as a distraction for them to chew on while working with them.

A. Manual restraint

1. Picking up the gerbil - never pick up the gerbil by the tail to prevent the skin

from slipping off the bone

2. Holding the gerbil

3. SQ injections

4. Oral medication

5. Venipuncturea. Cardiac

XIX. Hedgehogs

They ca not throw their quills or release them into your hand. There is no apparent toxin on the tips of the quills. Even so, some people will get a reaction when they come in contact with the quills and their hands start to itch and become irritated.

When restraining a hedgehog, hold them from underneath where there are no quills. With some hedgehogs, you may have to wear gloves.

A. Manual restraint

1. Place your hand underneath them to prevent them from curling up into a tight ball.

2. If a hedgehog refuses to come out of the ball position, place it on the floor or in a sink. The slick surface and new area will usually cause them to come out.

3. Nail trims - place the hedgehog in a sink with a slow drip of water. Then carefully pull one foot up a time to trim the nails

4. Gas anesthesia may be required to complete an examine a hedgehog

5. Injectionsa. SQ - on the side below the quills to avoid the fat layerb. Venipuncture - cardiac

XX. Turtles

Box turtles have the capability of tightly closing their shell with them inside. Water turtles do not have a hinged shell that allows them to close up completely. All turtles have the capability to

bite with their beaks.

Never turn the turtle quickly upside down or tip them with their head lower than the rest of the body. This can cause twisting of the intestines or pressure on the lungs that will result in respiratory problems.

A. Manual restraint

1. Hold most turtles from the sides of the shell.

2. Trimming a box turtle nails or administering medications - to keep the turtle from closing up inside the shell, grasp one of the legs or head. If the turtle refuses to come out of the shell you can

a. tip them forwardb. place them in a container of water that goes over the top of the shell

3. Injections:a. SQ injections - between the webbing of the front legs (avoid the back because of the renal portal system)

b. Venipuncture1. Box turtles/water turtles - jugular vein, dorsal coccygeal vein, subcarapacial vein

2. Tortoises - jugular vein, dorsal coccygeal vein, subcarapacial vein

XXI. Snakes

Always control the head of the snake. Once the head is under control, you must act like a tree branch to support the rest of the body.

Never put the snake around your neck. If a snake bites, they may not let go. Resist the urge to pull back. This will only embed the teeth further in your skin. Pry open the mouth with a blunt object (tongue depressor) and then remove the body part.

A. Manual restraint

1. Grasp the snake from behind the head and then support the body.

2. Injections:a. SQ/IM injections - on the side of the snake between the scales. Go down towards the second third (length) of the snake

b. Venipuncture

1. Heart - end of the 1st third of the snake

2. Caudal coccygeal vein

XXII. Lizards

Most lizards have the ability to bite, scratch, and whip you with their tail. Breeding season for iguanas can lead to serious bites for women that having their period. Their hormones dictate their behavior.

A. Manual restraint

1. Grasp the lizard around the neck and shoulder area while pulling their back legs next to their tail when initially obtaining them from their cage. Once you have the lizard, you can hold the lizard from underneath while supporting the body.

2. Large lizards can be placed in a towel

2. Injections:a. SQ- between the webbing of the front legsb. IM- hind limbsc. Venipuncture

1. Abdominal vein

2. Caudal coccygeal vein

XXIII. Amphibians

Most amphibians do not have the capability of biting . The concern in restraining these animals is the toxins they can release through their skin and the toxin you can give to them through your skin. When working with amphibians, you should wear latex gloves to prevent irritation from both patient and restrainer.

A. Manual restraint

1. Injections:a. ICeb. Venipuncture

1. Heart - end of the 1st third of the snake

XXIV. Avian

Always restrain from the back. Birds do not have a diaphragm, and holding them from the front will constrict their breast muscle.

A. Manual restraint

1. Towel - distraction for the bird; keeps your oils from your hands off the feathers

a. toweling a bird while they are perched on your handb. toweling a bird in a cage

c. toweling a bird on the floor in a dark room

2. Restraint for trims - always keep your bird up right and support them; always keep the towel off their head to watch their breathing and pupils for stress

3. Injections:a. SQ - webbing between the leg and body

b. IM - breast muscle

c. Venipuncture1. Jugular - right side is bigger

2. Medial metartarsal - anesthetize prior to using this vein3. Cutaneous ulnar - save for IV catheters

4. Tube Feeding a bird

XXV. Llamas/alpacas

These are herd oriented animals. Go slow and herd them into a small area before trying to restrain them. Never restrain the top of their nose, their nasal bone does not extend down all the way and you can restrict their breathing.

A. Manual

1. General restraint - place your arm around their upper neck and place your hand over the shoulders pressing down. A second person can press down over the lower back. If a llama/alpaca lays down sternally we call it kush.

A young alpaca can be restrained around the neck and holding the base of the tail.

2. Oral medications - place your thumb and forefinger on the sides of the mandible to open the mouth and squirt the medication from the side.

3. SQ - arm pit

4. IM - back leg

5. Venipuncturea. jugular vein - right one is larger; next to the jugular grove boneb. coccygeal veinc. marginal ear vein