Week 1 Animal Handling & Restraint Basics PDF

ANIMAL HANDLING & RESTRAINT Week #1 – Animal Behavior and Restraint Basics WHY: This lab introduces the student to basic animal behavior, what “restraint” is and why it is used, and common equipment involved in restraint. Students will gain knowledge on why animals behave...

ANIMAL HANDLING & RESTRAINT Week #1 – Animal Behavior and Restraint Basics WHY: This lab introduces the student to basic animal behavior, what “restraint” is and why it is used, and common equipment involved in restraint. Students will gain knowledge on why animals behave the way they do (species, sexual status, age) and what they perceive as dangers. Students will also gain an understanding of how animals can injury handlers and themselves while being restrained. OBJECTIVES: At the conclusion of this lab, the student will be able to: 1. Understand basic behavior of domestic animals 2. Understand how animals can injure handlers 3. Understand how animals senses differ from humans and basic animal communication. 4. Understand why animals need to be restrained for procedures and the importance of safety to the handlers and the animals. RESOURCES Animal Restraint for Veterinary Professionals; Topel: Chapter 1 Clinical Textbook for Veterainry Technicians 10th edition; McCurnin: Pages 164-166 (up to preparing for the visit), page 182 (An introduction to herd animals) PLAN 1. Accountability exam. 2. Instructor will discuss the syllabus and schedule with the class. 3. Instructor will lecture on animal behavior and dangers associated with restraint. 4. Instuctor will go over common restraint devices used for large animals. 5. Instructors and students will go observe behavior of the large animals on the farm (cattle, goats, sheep, llama/alpacas, horses, pigs) to reinforce the lecture. ANIMAL USE: No animals are utilized in this lab except to observe normal behavior. NOTES OUTLINE: I. Animal Behavior: Basic general overview A. Prey vs predatory 1. Prey species will act differently than predatory species. a. Prey species (typically herbivores and some omnivores) will react with a flight response to the threat of danger rather than fight, but will resort to fighting if pushed too hard. We can use that flight response as a technique to move a herd or flock as necessary. b. Predatory species (typically carnivores and some omnivores) will react differently to a threat than a prey animal. While they may flight first, they will not hesitate to fight if they think they are under attack.  B. Herd instinct differs among species and are typically seen in prey animals. 1. A strong herd instinct can help capture animals and safely restrain them. a. Cattle, sheep, and alpacas have a strong herd instinct and stress when seperated from their herd. b. Goats, horses, llamas and pigs have less of a herd instinct than those mentioned above, but the herding behavior can still be used to move a group. C. Sexual status of the animal may dictate different behaviors in a species. 1. Intact males may be more aggressive or dangerous. a. Species dependent b. Flock or herd protection may increase aggressiveness c. Females in heat in close proximity may increase dangerous behaviors in intact males 2. Females will be less aggressive than males but will potentially become more dangerous when: a. In heat b. Have offspring with them. D. Dominance among pack or herd members may dictate who will be more aggressive or dangerous. 1. Frequently dominance is dictated by sexual status. 2. Can change at anytime 3. Sick members of the flock or herd may lose their status. E. Territorial aggression or dangerous behavior. 1. Seen more in dogs and cats than herd animals. a. Caged dogs and cats at the clinic can become aggressive to defend that territory. 2. Herd animals may form circles in their territory to confuse predators and protect young. 3. Exotic/lab animals/pocket pets will frequently defend their cage as their territory. II. Means of defense A. Each species of animal will have their own means of defense and understanding the defense mechanisms of each species will help us restrain them properly. 1. Large animals will do any of the following a. Kicking (both forward and back with rear legs) b. Ramming with head c. Stomping with hooves d. Striking e. Biting 2. Small animals (dogs, cats, and pocket pets) will do any of the following a. biting b. scratching with claws (includes kicking with rear legs) c. puncturing with teeth or claws  3. Birds will do any of the follwing a. Crush fingers with beak (larger psitticines) b. Bite and pinch with beak (small and large psitticines) c. Strike with bills (waterfowl) d. Peck and pinch with beaks (galliformes and passariformes) III. Animal perception, communication, and body language A. Animal perception: Animals assess their surroundings using all of their senses. 1. Olfaction (sense of smell): Highly developed in most species a. Changes in smell may stress and deter animals b. Small prey animals may be fearful when a predator is near by even if they can not see them. (ferret near a guinea pig, or dog near a rabbit) c. Large prey animals may stay away from unfamiliar smells *** Be mindful that most laundry detergents, perfumes, hair products, deodorant, and lotions all have strong smells. When we all get together and all have these chemicals hanging around on us this can be a deterent to the animals. Natural smelling products are better (ie vanilla, sage, lavander, berries) but all should be minimized.*** 2. Auditory (hearing): More acute than human. a. On many species the pinna (ear flap) can be turned independently to pick up sounds. b. Hear different frequencies (larger range) than humans do. c. Unusally loud, strange, and sudden noises may freighten most species causing a fight or flight response. d. Sounds can be used to calm and or reassure animals e. Sounds can also be used to move herds or individual animals 3. Vision (sight): Different than humans a. Field of vision varies according to species i. Grazing animals typically have eyes on the sides of their heads with a large field of vision. Most have a blind spot directly behind them. ii. Predatory animals have less field of vision as eyes are on the front of their head. b. Most species can see better in low light compared to humans, giving them an advantage. c. All species vary in the amount of color they can see. d. Many species lack depth perception e. Strange and unusaul movements may cause a fight or flight response. 4. Touch: Some animals are more conditioned to touch than others. a. The rule of thumb is to use a firm but gentle touch with confidence. b. Tentative (unsure, not confident) light touch in some species will cause a fight reaction which may result in biting.  5. Taste: Most species have a different sense of taste than humans a. Certain species (mainly horses and ruminants) will use their mouths as hands. They will attempt to figure out their surroundings by mouthing and biting. B. Communication through Body language: It is important to be able to read the body language of the species you are working with for the safety of all involved. 1. One must take time and pay attention to the animal and its body parts. a. Ear position b. Body position c. Tail position d. Eye position and pupil dilation or contriction 2. Other things to take note of which will be species dependent. a. Haircoat piloerection b. Panting c. Yawning d. Shivering 3. Each species will have their own body language which can take a long time to master. We will learn more about each domesticated species weekly. C. Communication through vocalization 1. Each species will have their own set of noises or vocalizations. 2. Can be used by the animal to warn the handler or their herd/flock members. 3. Vocalizations will change due to situations. a. Animals in heat/during reproduction b. Food present c. Stress, fear, anxiety d. Happiness, non stress e. Calling others when separated IV. Importance of using restraint A. What is restraint? Methods used to keep something under control, suppressing their actions and movement, which decreases their freedom. 1. Restraint can be something as simple as voice commands and touch or as involved as giving sedatives or anesthesia to control movement. 2. Restraint can be categorized into the following: a. Psychological b. Physical c. Mechanical d. Chemical  B. Why use restraint? 1. Patients typically don’t or are not willing to sit still for procedures. a. Humans can be asked or told to sit still for procedures while animals can not compehend why they must lay still for a radiograph, or be poked by a needle. b. Procedures need to be done to help diagnose an animal illness, treat the illness, and provide preventative care. 2. Safety of the handler and any personnel involved in the procedure is of the utmost importance. a. An unrestrained or improperly restrained animal may cause serious damage to those involved in the procedure. b. Injured personnel are no longer useful to the team until they are fully recovered. This may result in a loss of income to the veterinary practice since we are lacking team members. ***Owners should never be allowed to restrain their own pet. Injury to an owner during a procedure can result in a lawsuit against the veterinary practice. It is one of the most common lawsuits filed against veterinary practices and can cost the practice a large sum of money*** 3. Safety of the animal itself. a. An unrestrained or improperly restrained animal may be injured or further damaged which is not the goal of a veterinary practice. V. Basic principals of restraint. A. Plan the procedure and be prepared. 1. Understand the species, sexual status, and temperament of your patient. a. Taking a thorough history from the owner of the patient will help to understand the patient's temperament. b. Reading the medical records to see what worked previously will also help to plan the restraint for the patient. 2. Decide which personnel will be used for the restraint during the procedure. a. Different team members will have different strengths and weakness, and different expertice with specific species. All team members should be trained to handle all species. b. As stated previously do not ask an owner to restrain the patient for liability reasons. 3. Decide what setting will be best for the procedure. a. Locked room b. Climate controlled c. Time of day B. The least restraint is the best restraint 1. Start all procedures using the least restraint possible. a. Body language will help us assess the amount of restraint needed (minimal to chemical restraint) b. Even though least restraint is best, remember that the safety of personnel and the animal is top priority. C. Try different techniques. 1. What works for one patient may not work for another. 2. Be prepared to have an open mind and not get into the habit of always using the same techniques. D. Be vigilant! 1. Keep your mind and attention on the patient and the procedure. 2. Be aware of where your coworkers are during the procedure. E. Work as a team! 1. We all have the same goal, or we should have the same goal. 2. Be respectfully of everyone on the team even if they do not have the same experience or knowledge you do. 3. Learn from others.