Handling and Restraint

Complications of improper restraint can:

cause injuries such as strains, sprains, bruises, and abrasions cause hyperthermia due to excessive stress cause difficulty breathing (dyspnea)

halter

the halter encircles the head with a noseband and throat latch. Most have rings along the side of the nosepiece that take a lead.

stock

A narrow enclosure that partially immobilizes a horse for treatment is called a stock. Stocks may be made of metal bars or wooden planks. There's usually a front and a rear gate. Lead the horse into the stock with both gates open. Don't enter the stock with the horse. Pass the lead rope along the top of the stock as the horse enters, then close both gates.

nose lead

A nose lead, large metal tongs with large ball-shaped ends serves to control the head when a halter isn't sufficient. Place the ball-shaped ends into the nostrils to gently squeeze the nasal septum (the tissue between the nostrils). You can then tie the nose lead to one of the poles at the front of the cattle chute.

humane twitch

A one-person twitch, called the humane twitch, can be used when a restrainer is unavailable to hold a regular twitch.

pig catcher

A pig catcher is a large, long-handled clamp with a rope that holds the ends of the clamp shut. Apply the clamp to one of the pig's rear legs, then pull the rope to hold the clamp tight around the leg.

snubbing rope

A snubbing rope helps to restrain a captured pig's head. A snubbing rope is a rope with a loop at one end, tied with a slip knot so that the loop can be tightened.

To restrain a pig in a V-trough:

Capture the pig. Lay the pig on its back in the trough. Attach a rope to one front leg. Pass the rope under the trough and tie it to the other front leg. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 on the back feet. The trough can be tilted to the desired position.

halter (cow)

Even when restrained in a chute, cattle move their heads considerably, making treatment difficult and handling dangerous. Most cattle restraint is designed to hold the head in place. Halters generally serve that purpose. The cattle halter resembles a horse's halter. It can be made of flat leather straps or improvised from a length of rope.

A cat that feels stressed or threatened may:

Find a small dark place to hide Vocalize with growls, hisses, and moans Pull back its ears against its head Twitch its tail slowly

hobbles (pig)

Hobbles restrain a pig on its side. You can buy hobbles or fashion them using the pig's snubbing rope. Use the snubbing rope's free end as a casting rope. Pass this end around the pig's rear leg, making a half-hitch. Pull up on the rope to draw the pig's leg toward its nose, forcing the animal off its feet.

hog snares

Hog snares look and function like dog snares. The snare has a long metal handle enclosing a rope, cable, or chain loop that protrudes from one end of the handle. A hog snare is often used to capture large pigs. Small pigs can be restrained on their backs in a V-shaped trough. The V-trough is usually made of plywood.

mouth gag

Other horse-restraint devices prevent specific behaviors. For instance, a mouth gag is a wedge-shaped structure that prevents a horse from biting down while someone is examining or treating its mouth.

hurdles

Pig handlers typically herd a small group of pigs, including the one to be captured, into a series of smaller pens. Gently prodding a few pigs with a flat stick or cane will move the herd; tap the animals lightly at the shoulder. Handlers also use hurdles, flat shield-like pieces of plastic or plywood about three feet square.

pigs

Pigs aren't very athletic, and they have relatively fragile skeletal systems. However, they have strong jaws that can inflict severe bites. Tusks of male pigs can also be very dangerous. Handling a pig can present problems, such as the difficulty in capturing a single pig from a group.

blindfold

A blindfold may calm a particularly frightened or otherwise unmanageable horse. A blindfolded horse is easy to lead. Simply place a cloth, such as a towel, over the animal's head. Blindfolding will also help you lead a nervous horse into a horse trailer.

catching hook

A catching hook is often used to catch chickens and turkeys. The hook is usually about five inches long and attached to a long-handled pole. Loop this hook around the bird's leg.

catching net

A catching net serves to remove individual birds from a flock. The net is usually attached to the end of a long-handled wooden pole. The net is placed over the bird and then turned up, trapping the bird inside. Nets are least likely to injure the bird but must be used gently

venomous snake

A clear plastic or plexiglass tube can restrain venomous or nonvenomous snakes. The tube should be half the length of the snake and open at one end. Its diameter should be large enough for the snake to enter but small enough that the snake can't turn around. Let the snake enter the tube and then grasp the open end of the tube, along with the snake protruding from it. This hold prevents the snake from backing up. Snake hooks, used to press the animal's head against a solid surface, such as the floor or a tabletop, can also hold a snake in place.

cradle

A cradle is a series of bars tied together like a non-rigid fence. A cradle is tied around the neck of a horse like a loose splint. It prevents the horse from biting or licking itself.

hobble

A hobble is a leather strap fastened around a horse's legs to restrict movement. Hobbles can keep a horse from kicking, but most veterinarians prefer chemical restraint for a particularly aggressive horse, or one requiring significantly painful treatment. There are several types of hobbles, some of which are commercially available. Hobbles can be improvised out of a length of heavy rope. One common type of hobble consists of a thick, wide leather band with a buckle at one end. This device can be used to keep the horse's foreleg in a flexed position.

ferret restraint

Although most ferrets aren't aggressive, a distressed ferret can inflict severe bites. Worse, a biting ferret usually doesn't let go. You may have to put the ferret under running water to force it to release its grip. It's better, to distress the ferret as little as possible by handling it properly. You can restrain and handle a ferret much as you would a cat. However, when you scruff the ferret, make sure it has no feet on the table. If the ferret's feet touch the exam table, it can turn its head and bite.

chain shank

Another distraction device you may use is a chain shank, which is a long leather lead or rope with about a two-foot length of chain and a snap hook at one end. You may use the chain shank in several ways. The first is to pass the chain through the cheek ring on the halter and then across the bridge of the nose, attaching the snap hook to the opposite cheek ring.

To capture a chicken:

Approach and stand next to the chicken. Reach down and grab the chicken's legs quickly. Pull up the chicken so that its head is facing the ground.

Front leg

Cephalic vein site

Chemical restraints

Chemical restraints are oral or injectable sedatives, tranquilizers, and anesthetics. If manual or mechanical restraint causes safety or stress concerns for the patient, chemical restraint may be the best option. This usually poses additional costs for the owner, and the patient's health status must be considered. Only the veterinarian can authorize the use of chemical-restraint medications.

foals

Foals (young horses under one year old) can be quite skittish when approached. The easiest way to catch a foal is to lead the mare into a small enclosure. The foal will likely try to hide behind its mother. When the foal attempts to move behind the mare, block the foal's progress by placing one arm in front of it and one arm behind it. You may want to secure the foal by holding the base of its tail. If possible, guide it toward a secure fixture, such as a wall. Always keep an eye on the mare while working on the foal.

goats

Goats are the least predictable of domestic animals. An agitated or frightened goat may kick or try to butt you. However, goats may also be playful when you're trying to handle and restrain them. Working with goats requires patience.

To capture a piglet:

Grab the piglet's hind legs. Quickly grab the piglet by one or both of its rear legs. Place your other arm under the piglet's chest and lift straight up. To carry the piglet, release the rear legs and place your hand under its abdomen.

Removing a mouse from its cage

Grasp the base of the mouse's tail as close to the body as possible. Lift the mouse straight up and place it down on a wire-mesh cage top or other grid-type surface, keeping hold of the tail. The mouse will grasp this surface with its feet and try to escape. This keeps the mouse distracted. Gently stretch the mouse's body by pulling back on its tail with one hand while you grasp the loose skin on the back of its neck with the other. Lift the animal and cup it in the palm of your hand. Loosely drape your other fingers around the animal's body, holding the feet and tail between your last two fingers. Don't hold the mouse so tightly that you impede its breathing.

Rat restraint

Grasp the rat by placing your thumb and index finger around its lower jaw. This secures the head and keeps the rat from being able to turn and bite. With your other hand, support the rat's hindquarters while holding its feet and tail still.

Hamster restraint

Hamsters can be difficult to restrain because they are typically more aggressive than other small rodents. Proper hamster restraint reduces the chance of a bite by using the loose skin around its jaws and neck to your advantage. It helps to know that hamsters tend to sleep during the day and may hibernate for short periods of time. Since hamsters often bite if awakened suddenly, never try to pick up a sleeping or hibernating hamster.

milking hobbles

Hobbles can prevent an animal from kicking. Various types of hobbles are available. Milking hobbles look like leg irons: two metal bands connected by a length of chain. Place the hobbles on the animal's rear legs, just above the hock. The chain should pass in front of the legs. You can also improvise hobbles out of rope.

To play the second technician's role and apply the lip twitch:

Hold the twitch handle in your right hand. Be sure to hold it firmly so that you won't lose control of it if the horse pulls back or strikes. With your left hand, place the ends of your fingers through the loop of chain or rope. Grasp the horse's upper lip with your left hand and slide the rope or chain high up around the lip. Tighten the twitch by twisting the handle. Slightly tighten the chain or rope, loosen it, and then tighten again. Repeat tightening and loosening throughout the procedure.

To apply the humane twitch when only one technician is available:

Hold the twitch in your right hand while holding the lead line. With your left hand, place the ends of your fingers through the plier-like end of the twitch. Grasp the horse's upper lip with your left hand and slide the twitch high up around the lip. Tighten the plier-like handles of the twitch with your right hand. Clip the rope to the halter to hold the twitch in place and restrain the horse's head with the halter and lead line.

Dogs may display a variety of anxious behaviors related to restraint and handling, including:

Increased attention Tensing of muscles Increased whining or barking Pacing Repetitive behaviors Panting or trembling that can't be associated with the temperature Anal gland release Urination or defecation in the waiting room or exam room

To attach the tail rope:

Locate the end of the last vertebra in the tail. Lay a piece of rope across the tail at that site and fold the rest of the tail up and over the rope. Pass one end of the rope behind the tail, making a long, sharp loop in the rope as you go. Bring the loop over the folded tail and pull it tight through the rope that's looped around the tail. You can then use the other end of the rope to tie the tail to the horse's front leg or neck.

To pick up and restrain a hamster

Make sure the hamster is awake. A knock on the side of its cage usually awakens the animal. Reach into the cage and grasp the loose skin on the back of the hamster's neck. Grasp as much of the loose skin as possible, or the hamster may still be able to turn and bite. Lift the animal out of the cage and cup it in your palm as you would a mouse.

Manual restraint

Manual restraint is a "less is more" approach of using your hands to hold or guide the animal in the desired position. Since this method causes the least amount of stress, you'll want to use it whenever possible. Manual restraint works well for most species during physical examination or minor technical procedures. Always use the minimal force required to keep the animal in position. You should never hold an animal forcefully. If manual restraint does not suffice, use mechanical restraint.

Martingale collars

Martingale collars are the safest, most effective, and most humane collars for all sizes and breeds of dogs. When fitted properly, a pet is unable to slip out of them.

Mechanical restraint

Mechanical restraint employs equipment such as muzzles, leashes, collars, blankets, restraint bags, and poles. These devices may upset animals, so use them only when manual restraint is insufficient or presents safety concerns for the animal or the team. Most mechanical-restraint aids are designed for one species only. For instance, muzzles are usually species-specific. Once you've chosen the correct device for a particular species, you must use it correctly; incorrect use can injure the animal. Even when you've applied and used mechanical restraint correctly, make sure you check the animal for injury after removing the restraint. Clean the device thoroughly after each use. This keeps the device from spreading disease and eliminates scent. Some animals will resist a restraint device that smells of another animal.

restraining lizards

Most lizards can be restrained by grasping them around the shoulders. Use your other hand to restrain and support the hindquarters. A towel can be placed over the lizard's eyes to calm the animal and allow for easier restraint. If the lizard becomes difficult to restrain, placing it on the wall may calm it down; lizards often feel most comfortable while climbing.

Nylon or leather flat collars

Nylon or leather flat collars are most appropriate for daily home use but are unreliable for restraint. Dogs may easily slip out of them, and the metal or plastic clips may break over time. Some flat collars are designed to release quickly so that they don't catch on something and choke the dog.

Occluding

Occluding the vein also provides enough blood for proper venipuncture. Cephalic venipuncture typically requires the dog to be in standing, sitting, or sternal restraint.

Sheep restraint, Stand on the animal's side:

Place one arm around the sheep's neck at the shoulder and with your other arm. Reach over the animal and under its abdomen as far as possible, depending on the animal's size. Stand directly behind the sheep so that its back rests against your legs. Gently lift the sheep and tilt it back onto its rump. Tilt the sheep's body slightly back so that it's off balance.

To pick up a small calf (40 pounds or less):

Place one arm in front of the animal's chest and your other arm behind the animal's hindquarters. Once your arms are around the calf, lift it.

to pick up a ferret

Place one hand under the animal's chest, behind its forelegs. Pick up the ferret. Use your other hand to support the ferret's hindquarters.

Rabbit restraint

Rabbits present a tough combination for their handlers because they are difficult to handle and easy to injure. They're difficult to handle because their strong back legs can inflict severe scratches. They're easy to injure because of their delicate skeletal systems. A struggling rabbit can kick violently enough to break its own spine. Proper handling of rabbits is crucial. Never lift a rabbit by its ears. Lifting a rabbit by its ears will hurt the rabbit, damage its ear cartilage, and probably cause it to struggle and injure its back.

to handle a rabbit

Reach into the cage and lightly grasp a small amount of the loose skin behind the rabbit's ears. Facing the animal away from you, slide your other hand under its rear legs. Lift the animal toward you and press it gently against your body.

to pick up and restrain a guinea pig

Reach into the cage and place your hand in front of the animal to block it from running around. Slide your other hand gently under the guinea pig's chest. Pick the animal straight up. Immediately place your other hand under the animal's hindquarters for support.

to restrain a chinchilla

Reach into the cage and place your hand under the animal's thorax (chest). Pick the animal up out of the cage. Immediately place the other hand over the animal's shoulders to prevent it from escaping.

Turtle Restraint

Restrain a turtle by grasping its shell. Make sure you grasp a snapping turtle by the rear third of its shell, or it may bite you. To keep a turtle from moving away, place it on a ledge or pedestal taller than its legs and smaller than its shell. Most turtles will retract their legs or heads inside their shells when frightened. Use tongs, if necessary, to pull the head or legs back out. Never place your face or hands directly in front of a retracted turtle. The turtle may come back out of its shell suddenly and bite.

restraining a snake

Restrain any nonvenomous snake by grasping the animal behind its head and supporting the body on your arm. If the snake is longer than three feet, then it will require one restrainer for each three feet of length. For example, a nine-foot snake will require three restrainers.

Back leg

Saphenous vein site

to restrain a rabbit for procedures

Simply place the rabbit on the examination table Place your arms or hands on either side of the rabbit. Because rabbits feel more secure if they aren't sliding around on a smooth surface, place a towel or other rough surface under the rabbit. For intramuscular or subcutaneous injections, gently press the rabbit into the table. Venipuncture may require chemical restraint or an acrylic restraining device. Several rabbit-restraining devices are available but may be expensive. If the correct size of restraining device isn't available, you can wrap the rabbit securely in a towel or light blanket.

One way to restrain a lamb for tail docking and castration is to:

Sit down. Grasp the lamb's right legs with your right hand and its left legs with your left hand. Place the lamb on its back, supported by your legs. A second method is to stand and support the lamb's back against your body while holding the legs as described in Step 2.

To correctly lead a horse, follow these steps:

Stand on the horse's left, holding the lead rope in your right hand about 18 inches from the horse's head. Hold the remainder of the lead rope in loose loops in your left hand. Make sure the lead rope passes in front of your body and isn't wrapped around your hand; otherwise, it could seriously injure you if the horse bolts. Walk on the horse's left, keeping your body in the zone between the animal's head and left shoulder.

tail jacking

Tail jacking is a method of lifting the tail. It usually serves to distract the animal from procedures performed elsewhere on its body, but tail tying may also be necessary to prevent the animal from swinging its tail in your face as you work. The tail-tying procedure is the same as that described for the horse. Remember to always tie the tail to the animal's body and not to a fixed object.

The Gentle Leader Headcollar (also known as the Promise Collar)

The Gentle Leader Headcollar (also known as the Promise Collar) is a nylon head halter that fits around the nose of the dog and behind its ears. It's used to control a dog's head by allowing you to apply pressure to the side, thus turning the dog's head when it pulls. The Gentle Leader helps prevent the animal from pulling the owner or trainer. It offers a safe way to control strong dogs.

casting rope

The casting rope serves to place an animal on its side. There are several ways to use a casting rope. All of them require the animal to wear a strong halter or nose lead. Place the rope across the animal's back so that its ends fall between the forelegs and cross under the sternum. Pull the rope ends up. Let these ends drop down so that they fall near the animal's rear legs. Cross the rope ends over the animal's back. Use the rope to guide the animal into position on its side. Pass the ends of the rope through the animal's rear legs and pull.

stanchion

The front of the chute has an opening that holds the cow's head in place (called a stanchion) and poles on either side for cross-tying. Some chutes also have side walls that can be pressed in to move the cow to one side of the chute.

lead

The lead is a guide leash, often made of rope or leather, which attaches to the halter and allows you to hold an animal. A horse accustomed to regular handling may need only to be held by a lead during a veterinary examination. Chain leads provide more forceful restraint. You can often distract a horse during technical procedures by passing a chain lead through the rings of its nosepiece or along its gum line.

lip twitch

The lip twitch, usually composed of a long wooden handle with a loop of rope or stainless-steel chain at one end, is one of the oldest and simplest horse restraints.

tail tie

The tail tie holds the tail out of the way for examination of the horse's rectum or vagina. The tail should be tied only to the horse itself; never to anything else.

approaching a horse

The worst way to approach a horse is from the rear, where you're in prime position to receive a dangerous kick. It's best to approach a horse from its left side. Horses tend to be apprehensive and suspicious, so pay attention to the animal's body language. A horse with its ears back and its head lowered may be signaling aggression. Always approach a horse at the shoulder or near the neck so that it can see you. Never approach from behind if you can help it. Speak softly to the horse. Your voice will put it at ease. Also, the horse may be asleep, and talking to it will awaken it. Don't make sudden noises or movements that might frighten the horse. Once near the horse, pat it on the neck or shoulder and continue to speak softly to it.

fur slip

Though chinchillas are fairly easy to handle and rarely bite, you must avoid fur slip. This expression describes a chinchilla's tendency to shed patches of its fur if grasped too roughly. You can hold the chinchilla as you would a guinea pig.

To restrain a pig with a snubbing rope:

Tie with a slip knot so that the loop can be tightened. Place one end of the rope in front of the pig's snout. Wait for the pig to open its mouth. When the pig opens its mouth, slip the loop into its mouth, and push up the loop quickly so that it rests just behind the tusks. Tighten the loop across the top of the pig's snout. Either hold the snubbing rope or tie it to a stationary object.

bull staff

To cross-tie a bull by its nose ring, attach two lead ropes to the ring and tie them to opposite poles of the chute. You can also help restrain the head with a bull staff, a long-handled metal rod with a large hook at one end that clips to the nose ring.

Training collars

Training collars consist of stainless-steel links with a ring at each end. The links can be a variety of thicknesses. In general, use the thicker links for very large, muscular dogs, while thinner links are best for smaller breeds. Training collars are sometimes incorrectly referred to as choke collars. A properly used training collar never chokes the animal. You must apply it correctly to avoid injuring the dog. These collars catch easily on cage bars and similar surfaces and thus can seriously injure or kill a dog.

Two mechanical devices used to restrain rodents

Two mechanical devices used to restrain rodents are the acrylic rodent restrainer and the forceps. An acrylic rodent restrainer is a clear plastic tube with access ports drilled into it. Allow the rat or mouse to climb up into the device and then place a small plastic gate behind the animal to keep it from backing up.

Gerbil restraint

You can handle a gerbil much as you would a mouse, but remember that gerbils tend to be quite active. They're also good jumpers and may try vigorously to escape, so make sure your gerbil is gently but firmly restrained. Remember to grasp the animal only at the base of its tail, close to the body. Picking a gerbil up by the tip of its tail will damage the skin surface of the tail. It's appropriate, for some technical procedures, simply to scoop up and cup the gerbil in your hand.

restraining fowl

You can restrain fowl for physical examination and most technical procedures by holding them against a solid surface. Don't handle the bird roughly. Birds have very fragile skeletal systems, and their legs and wings break easily. Hold the bird's head loosely in one hand and restrain its feet with the other. If the bird is receiving oral medications, you'll usually have to hold it with its neck outstretched.

cattle chute

You can use a cattle chute or a halter to restrain cattle. The typical cattle examination area channels the animals into progressively smaller areas. One area is usually an alleyway just big enough for a single cow. At the end of this alley is the cattle chute. At its other end is a gate to be closed once the cow enters the alley.