Avian & Exotics Handling & Restraint PDF

Avian and Exotics: Handling & Restraint Avian & Exotics: Handling & Restraint Avian Species Small Mammals Reptiles Psittacines:  Initial reaction fear  Stressed birds may emit an alarm call  Comfortable parrot may step out of carrier onto owner’s hand  Lean backward when approache...

Avian and Exotics: Handling & Restraint Avian & Exotics: Handling & Restraint Avian Species Small Mammals Reptiles Psittacines:  Initial reaction fear  Stressed birds may emit an alarm call  Comfortable parrot may step out of carrier onto owner’s hand  Lean backward when approached=resistance to new person handling  Contract and dilate their pupils rapidly prior to striking=pinning Restraining techniques for parrots:  Calm bird use hand restraint  Stressed bird use a towel  Leather gloves provide no protection to their powerful beaks  One handed restraint:   Control head at the base of the mandible with thumb and index finger while allowing it to grip your lower ring or pinky finger Two handed restraint:  Head and wings as above  Opposite hand used to restrain the legs  Use the thumb and index finger to hold one leg and the index finger and middle finger to hold the other leg  Restraining techniques for parrots (cont.): For bigger birds or resistant to restraint:  Must use a towel  If owner can hold the patient    Owner grips the toes, slowly raise the towel in front of the bird  Drape it over the patient  Back of the head is restrained and the remainder of the bird is wrapped in the towel If resistant to handling  Gently cover the patient from the back inside the cage and simultaneously restrain the bird’s head and beak  Wrap the towel around the patient with an opening along the keel  Finally secure the feet with your other hand Chemical restraint Psittacine Restraint: Photo courtesy of dpaw.wa.gov.au One Handed Photo courtesy of sciencedirect.com Two Handed Photo courtesy of avianwelfare.org Towel Avian Restraint Birds of Prey: Photo courtesy of wordpress.com Leather Hood Photo courtesy of wikiwand.com Leather Jesses Photo courtesy of windsovercolorade.com Hood & Jesses Small Mammals:  Rabbits  Guinea Pigs & Chinchillas  Ferrets  Hamsters, Mice, Hedgehogs, Sugar Gliders, and Gerbils Rabbits:  Highly stressed patient  Posture and respiratory rate used to evaluate stress  At the front of the carrier, sniffing/curious=calm  Back of carrier, grunting, rapid breathing with flared nostrils=fearful  Thumping=slapping hind paw onto the carrier floor   Warning sign Can charge w/forelimbs outstretched  Rabbit Restraint:  Removal from cage/carrier using a football hold  One arm under the ventrum (supports chest/hind quarters from underneath)  Supporting hand controls the hind legs  Face buried into the handler’s forearm and the opposite hand is placed on the dorsum Towel restraint   Place onto a towel and wrap both sides around the patient Chemical restraint Rabbit Restraint: Photo Courtesy of Clinician’s Brief Rabbit Restraint Guinea Pigs & Chinchillas:  Prey species  Guinea pigs emit high-pitched alarm calls   Chinchillas thrash and struggle   Defend by biting Try to flee Restraint  Some guinea pigs can just be held  Towel restraint for uncooperative guinea pigs and chinchillas Photo courtesty of nswschoolanimals.com Photo courtesy of cuddlebugchinchillas.com Photo courtesy of drsophiayin.com Photo courtesy of sciencedirect.com  Predator species  Can nip, esp females  Use treats to distract them  Reactive to strong odors  Ferrets:  Avoid alcohol for blood collection, IV cath placement and U/S Restraint   Gentle scruffing technique  Scruff dorsum of neck, hold vertically, other hand stabilizes the hind limbs  Elicits yawn reflex  More resistant ferret can scruff and hold in lateral recumbency like a cat Chemical Restraint Ferrets Photo courtesy of vox.com Ferret Restraint  Hamsters, mice, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and gerbils:   Hamsters:  Aggressive/will bite  Small hand towel best for restraint  Scruffing can cause eyes to proptose  Chemical/gas restraint Mice:  Scruff the skin along the neck and dorsum w/thumb and index finger  Restrain tail with the pinky finger  Chemical/gas restraint for procedures Hedgehogs:  Quills protect vulnerable head/abdomen  Use leather gloves  Gas anesthesia to examine  Hamsters, mice, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and gerbils:  Sugar gliders:  Agile and jump  Sharp nails and incisor teeth  Control the head with thumb/index finger  Gas anesthesia Gerbils:  Manual restraint like a hamster  Gas anesthesia  Do not grab a gerbil by the tail Restraint of Hamsters or Gerbils Photo: Courtesy sugarglider.com Photo courtesy of jove.com Reptiles:  Lizards  Snakes  Turtles and Tortoises  Lizards:  Green Iguana  Territorial/aggressive  Sharp teeth/nails, muscular tail Defensive lizard  Hunched back  Tail whipping  Head bob Defensive Lizard  Lizard Restraint:  Towel restraint  May also need gloves  Slip towel over patient's head/back  Gain control of head at the base of the neck  Wrap animal’s trunk w/towel to help restrain legs/feet Picking up  One hand maintain control of the head  Opposite hand and forearm slipped under the trunk to support the body  Tail is between the handler’s arm and body Photo credit: Erica Mede, CVT Photo courtesy: backwaterreptilesblog.com Photo courtesy: cliniciansbrief.com Lizard Restraint Lizard Restraint  Lizard Restraint:  Smaller, calmer lizards  Bearded dragons/geckos  Hand restraint usu. enough  Smaller lizards may bite for minor procedures Snakes  Know venomous vs. nonvenomous  Nonvenomous   Control head w/thumb and middle finger behind mandible & index finger on top of head  Rest of hand gently compresses the neck  Opposite hand controls remainder of body Defensive behavior  Raising heads and hissing Photo courtesy of blog.wildlifesecrets.com.au  Lizard Restraint:   Turtles/Tortoises  Caution around beak  Nails (esp forelimbs) sharp Small/medium turtles  Grasp behind top and bottom shell one handed  AKA ”sandwich” grip  Other hand grasp the head behind the mandibles if relaxes and extends head Medium turtles  Two handed sandwich technique by grasping both sides of the shell  Second person will need to control the head Photo courtesy of lafeber.com Photo courtesy of lafeber.com Questions?