Handling Animals That Are Injured, Frightened Or In Pain

When handling an animal that is injured, frightened, or in pain, clinic staff must be aware of ways to take proper precautions to prevent further injury to the animal and to avoid being injured themselves.
Even the most docile animal can be dangerous if frightened. The smells and the noises an animal encounters when entering a clinic can make them afraid and cause them to react with aggression. Paying attention to body language will help to predict their behavior. Knowing methods of restraint will help to ensure control of the animal and maintain the safety of staff.

Training
It is important that all members of a veterinary clinic be trained to recognize differences in animal behavior and to have a clear understanding of the proper steps to take to restrain an animal. Should a situation arise that requires a need for assistance, it is better for staff to be knowledgeable of how they can help and also avoid injury.

Behaviors
Animals that are feeling anxious may react in ways that include:

• Crouching or cowering
• Raising hackles
• Puffing up to appear as big as possible
• Rolling onto its back exposing its belly
• Urinating on the floor or on itself
• Becoming distressed if owner is not visible
• Barking
• Frantically pulling to get away
• Growling or hissing
• Snapping and/or biting
• Scratching

When the animal’s behavior is aggressive, the best course of action is to let the animal rest a moment, while preparing for a method that will allow the animal to be safely handled while restrained. 

Proper Methods for Restraint
For the safety of all involved, any time that the handling or the treatment may be scary or painful for the animal, a method for restraint should be considered, and may include:

• Muzzles
  • Specific types made for both cats and dogs
  • Economical
  • Easy to store
  • Easy to put on and take off the animal
  • Availability of various types
    • Soft cloth muzzles
      • Close with Velcro
      • Easily slipped on and off of animal
      • Comfortable for animal
    • Open cage muzzle
      • Works especially well with animals that are vomiting or breathing rapidly
  • If a muzzle is not available, but one is necessary, a makeshift muzzle can be fashioned but should only be used when care is taken to ensure that it is not too tight and the animal can breathe properly:
    • Materials to use could include:
      • Strip of cloth
      • Leash
      • Length of gauze
  • A closed or cloth muzzle should never be used when the animal is:
    • Unconscious
    • Having difficulty breathing
    • Vomiting
    • Coughing
• Elizabethan collar
  • Helpful for use on animals known to bite or snap
  • Proper fit is important
• BiteNot collar
  • Prevents the animal from turning its head which removes it chance to bite
  • Proper fit is important

Ways to Restrain a Dog
A soothing voice and gentle handling may calm a dog long enough for the muzzle to be put in place. Once an animal is restrained, there is a good chance that it will calm down. Different methods for restraint include:

• Headlock
  • Helpful for quick procedures such as administering injections and for carrying smaller animals
  • Steps for larger animal:
    • Muzzle animal
    • Hold animal securely against chest
    • Place one arm around its neck and the other around its waist
  • Steps for smaller animal:
    • Muzzle animal
    • Support the abdomen with one arm, grasping the front leg
    • Using the other arm, immobilize the head
    • Hold dog close to your body
• A method that restrains the animal from getting up requires the following steps:
  • Muzzle animal
  • Lay animal on its side
  • Grasp the inside front and back legs
  • Slide the dog to the floor
  • Hold legs out straight while placing forearms on its chest and pelvis

Ways to Restrain a Cat
Even in a cooperative cat, reaching down to pick the animal up from above is recommended.

• Scruffing:
  • With one hand, grasp the cat by the scruff of the neck raising its front feet off the ground
  • With the other hand, securely grasp the back feet, keeping away from the claws
• Frightened cats can be calmed by covering them up with a towel:
  • Once the animal settles down, slide the towel under and around the body
  • Lift the animal up as a bundle
• Restraint bag
  • A zippered bag serving to hold the body of the cat, leaving the head out
  • The bag protects the handler, and allows for some examination needs
• Squeeze cage
  • Used mainly for aggressive and/or feral animals
  • The squeeze cage can be gently tightened around the animal’s body
  • The animal may feel mild discomfort, but is not harmed
  • Holding the animal securely in this way enables injections to be given, samples to be taken, but does not allow for a complete physical exam.

In times that require the physical restraint of an animal, knowing that animals can sense anxiety is important. Talking to the animal in a quiet and confident manner will help it to relax. The point to remember is that no matter how gentle, if the animal is nervous, don’t hesitate to use care to safeguard the safety of all involved.

Contact your Covetrus representative to learn more ways to help clinic staff when they are working with animals. Call at 855.724.3461. 

Source:

http://aevm.tamu.edu/files/2010/06/Handling_Restraining_Dogs_Cats_1.pdf