Handling, Restraint of Dogs and Cats
To pick up a dog to place it on the table, put one arm in front of the animal’s chest and the other either behind the rear
legs, at the level of the stifles or under the abdomen and lift in a "scooping" motion. If the animal has a history that
indicates abdominal disease, avoid lifting it under the abdomen as it may cause pain.
A large dog may require 2 people to lift. One person lifts behind the front
legs and the other under the abdomen.
Decide BEFORE picking up the animal if it will be placed in sternal or
lateral recumbancy and if lateral, if the legs will be directed toward or away
from the holders.
Getting an animal out of a cage
Many animals are so happy to get out of a cage that they will leap without looking. To remove those eager pets, as you
open the cage door insert your other hand into the cage to keep the animal from leaping to the floor. Place one arm in
front of the animal’s chest and the other either behind the rear legs or under the abdomen to lift them out of the cage. To
remove a cat, you can hold the scruff of the neck instead of placing a hand in front of the chest but hold the cat's weight
by lifting the rear, not by lifting by the scruff.
Animals who are frightened and don't want to come out of a cage can be difficult to handle. There are several options for
handling these animals:Throw a towel over the head of cats and small dogs, then grasp the scruff of the neck through the
towel, lifting the rear end with a hand or arm behind the rear legs to "scoop" them out of the cage.
Carrying a cat or small dog
I prefer this method in which the animal's rear quarters are cradled in the handler's arm
and the front legs are loosely griped with the same hand. The other hand is free to pet and
stroke the cat's head but can also quickly grab the zygomatic arches to control the head if
the animal attempts to escape.
Cats will try to hide when frightened. You can carry a cat with one hand under the hind
quarters and the other holding the scruff of the neck, letting the cat hide its head.
Restraint
More is NOT better. Work with the animal in the position that the animal finds most comfortable yet provides you
adequate exposure to do what you need to do. The LEAST amount of restraint that is needed should be applied. Often
the only restraint needed is to have some one stand behind the animal to make sure they do not back up off the exam
table. Excessive restraint becomes a test of wills and you will find animals to be stubborn and not give up. The more you
attempt to restrain them, the harder they resist and the less pleasant and more dangerous the experience becomes for all.
It is also is very upsetting to the client.
"Talk to the animals" Many dogs and cats can be comforted by being talked to in a quiet, soothing voice. What you say
is not important...the tone of voice is.
The client should not be the one to restrain their animal. A large number of lawsuits filed against veterinarians are by the
owners who have been injured by their own animals. A technician will likely do a better job. The owner can talk to and
comfort the animal and can be within sight of the pet although occasionally it is better to examine the animal away from
the owner.
Use of a cat restraint bag
Restraint bags can be used to restrain cats and small dogs. The bags are made of canvas
or nylon, with a hook or other type of fastener at the neck opening and one or more
zippers (or strips of Velcro) to allow selective exposure of a body part. Instead of a
restraint bag, a heavy towel can be used to wrap the cats body, leaving the head exposed
but use of a towel is not nearly as effective as a bag.
The open bag is draped
over the cats back and
the neck closure is fastened.
The neck fastener should
be tight enough that the cat
cannot insert a front foot through
the neck opening.
The cat is either flipped into dorsal recumbancy or held off the table so the longest zipper
can be zipped. As you close the zipper, take care not to catch the cat's fur in the zipper.
Zippers are strategically placed around the bag to allow selective exposure of a body part. The image on the right shows
exposure of the medial aspect of the hind limb for venipuncture or catheter placement in the medial saphenous vein.
Positional restraint
To restrain an animal in lateral recumbancy the holder places their elbow over the
neck and holds the elbow of the leg closest to the table. The other arm is draped over
the abdomen of the animal with the hand holding the rear leg which is closest to the
table. The limbs should be held at a point close to the body, if you hold the limbs too far
distal, the animal has more leverage to roll themselves back into sternal recumbancy.
The holder should only apply light pressure at all restraint points. If the animal struggles, the holder applies greater
pressure and may learn their body over the thorax of the animal for additional control. As soon as the animal stops
struggling, reduce the amount of pressure applied. Most animals quickly "learn" to lie still if you "reward" them with
minimal restraint.
Cats can be restrained in lateral recumbancy using the "stretch" method, holding
the scruff of the neck and the hind legs. It is more difficult for the cat to get a hind
limb loose from the grasp of the holder if the legs are held between different
fingers of the same hand rather than both legs grasped together.
This photo shows restraint for a medial saphenous venipuncture. I prefer to bring
the cat's body to the edge of the table (marked by the red X) so I can hold the
limb off the table. More mellow cats don't need to be held by the scruff and can
be held in lateral recumbancy as described above for the dog.
Restraint in sternal recumbancy
For examination, many animals will lie still in sternal recumbancy with minimal restraint. Sometimes all that is required is
for the holder to pet the animals head or lightly tap a finger on the top of the animal's head to distract the animal's
attention from the exam.
The animal is restrained in sternal recumbancy for placement of a cephalic catheter. Notice that the
holder is standing on the side of the dog opposite the leg that is being catheterized. The dog is
restrained close to the body of the holder. The muzzle is held away from the face of the holder and the
person placing the catheter. She is reaching over the dog to hold off the vein and can apply downward
pressure over the dog's back, if needed to keep the dog in sternal recumbancy. If the animal is not
struggling, it is not necessary to apply pressure over the animal's back. The dog's leg is being held at
the elbow to prevent her from pulling back her leg.
The thumb is placed on
the medial side of the limb
and then "rolled" to the
dorsum of the leg, close to
the elbow in order to roll
the cephalic vein in a more
dorsal location.
The thumb is being used to occlude
venous blood returning from the leg,
causing the vein to distend with
blood. In some cases the vein will be
clearly visible; in other cases you
may palpate the distended vein.
Restraint for jugular venipuncture
The holder also
prevents the dog
from pulling the limb
away from the
venipuncturist.
The cat is held
positioned similar to the
dog but the cat's head is
held with the fingers on
the zygomatic arches.
The zygomatic arches
are "natural cat handles"
which provide secure
restraint of the head
without risk of
compromising breathing.
A jugular catheter can be
placed with the patient in sternal recumbancy, with
the neck extended upwards and the front legs held
over the front of the table, or with the animal in lateral
recumbancy. Notice that the holder is keeping the
dog's head directed away from herself and away
from the venipuncturist. The venipuncturist is using
one hand to press at the thoracic inlet to engorge and
vein with blood and the other to manipulate the
syringe and needle.
Large dogs can be restrained in a sitting position on the floor by standing behind them, so the dog’s body is
braced against the holder’s legs. The dog’s head is extended upwards.