Types of Restraint

• Physical – fence, cage, person• Mechanical – ropes, collars, halters• Chemical – tranquilizers, anesthesia• Psychological – voice, mannerisms, distraction

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Animal Perception & Behavior

Be aware of how animal senses your encroachment into its environment

Perception Affects Restraint• Smell

• Hearing

• Vision

• Touch

• Agnostic behavior

• Fight or Flight

• Domestication

• Aggression

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Animal Perception: Smell

Sense of smell is highly developed in all domestic mammals

When encountering an unusual / unfamiliar smell…

• Horses: snort, become alert, raise head & tail, position ears forward

• Cattle: blow thru nostrils, paw @ ground • Dogs: tuck tail, raise hackles

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• Animals are sensitive to sound, minimize loud or potentially disturbing sounds.

• Slight sounds elicit movement of the ears and makes the animal aware of someone new

• Use low, smooth, confident tones to allow the animal to become comfortable

• Position of the ears is important to assessing animal’s attitude

Animal Perception: Hearing

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• Most animals are not able to focus as well on near objects as humans– Dogs (& likely pigs) cannot focus closer then ~30cm

• Dogs’ ability to make out form and pattern is poor compared to humans (beware fear-biters!)

Animal Perception: Vision

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Animal Perception: Vision

• Cats have excellent night vision and are acutely aware of small movements, allowing them to react quickly (tapetum permits better vision in low light – all domestic animals but pig have)

• Quick reactions allow fearful or vengeful cat to strike out against humans during restraint – beware when in close proximity and do not make sudden motions

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• Herbivores have wide field of vision (to see predators from various angles)

• Horses have sluggish accommodation – which makes them seem fractious when they’re not…they’re just trying to see what you are doing up close

Animal Perception: Vision

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Animal Perception: Touch

• Tentative, light touch or repeated patting makes many species nervous

• Steady, firm strokes are reassuring

• Touch is important in

the communication

between animals

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Animal Perception: Touch

• Physical correction for undesirable behaviors can create fear, stress, and anxiety in animal

• Physical correction for undesirable behaviors can damage the human-animal bond

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• Associated with conflict (being restrained)

• Range from passive avoidance to aggression and fighting

• Varies within and between species

Animal Behavior: Agnostic Behaviors (Fight or Flight)

Understand the NORMAL behavior

of the species in order to effectively restrain

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• Each animal has a fight or flight distance – when it’s encroached animal goes into state of alert (sympathetic nervous system releases epinephrine from adrenal gland ↑ HR & ↑ blood flow to skeletal muscles, lungs, brain)

• Response can vary within the same species and with the same animal

Animal Behavior: Agnostic Behaviors (Fight or Flight)

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Herd AnimalsIndividual Animals

Bunch together with a defined flight distance

Avoidance: cow crashes thru

fence; dog runs awayAggression:

cow can run you over; dog will bite you

Animal Behavior: Agnostic Behaviors (Fight or Flight)

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• Irritable / Pain Induced:– High probability for aggression if animal is apprehensive/nervous

• Maternal Aggression– Nursing domestic species are sensitized to interference with their

offspring by strangers

Animal Behavior: Agnostic Behaviors (Fight: Aggressive Behavior)

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• Territorial Aggression:– Strangers in animal’s territory arouses suspicion,

which can lead to attacks

• Fear-Induced Aggression:– When animal is terrified in environment and left

with no escape, it will become aggressive– COMMON IN VETERINARY SETTING

Animal Behavior: Agnostic Behaviors (Fight: Aggressive Behavior)

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• Intermale Aggression:– Esp. problematic when studs are

kept together

• Dominance Aggression:– Typically a conflict between two

animals regarding resources (males competing for breeding females, competition for food)

Animal Behavior: Agnostic Behaviors (Fight: Aggressive Behavior)

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“Just because it worked before does not mean it will always work again…”

• If using equipment, examine before use & have it ready

• Don’t always rely on a favoredrestraint technique. Tailor therestraint to each individualanimal.

Restraint: EQUIPMENT

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• Ensure you have proper size equipment for the animal and proper equipment for the species

Restraint: EQUIPMENT

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Restraint Procedures & Equipment: VOICE

• Animals respond to tone & pitch Your anxiety results in an anxious animal

• Always let animal know you’re approaching!Start talking to it before you get close by

• 3 Tones of Voice: Soothing, Instructional & Commanding

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Soothing Voice

• Use when animal is behaving well

• Use “crooning” words“good, good”“it’s okay”“hello <pet’s name>”

• Avoid speaking urgently when the procedure is about to take place

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Instructional Voice

• Used when animal balks

• Firm, abrupt, louder than Soothing

• BE DECISIVE!

• “SIT,” “NO,” “STOP,” “WHOA!”

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Commanding Voice• Voice of authority

• Used when animal is not behaving or paying attention

• VERY FIRM, deep and much louder, with different inflection

• “ENOUGHHHHH!!!” “STOP IT!”

DON’T SCREAMScreaming =

Lack of control

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Transferring energy

• Animals can preseve your anxieties

physically and mentally.

1. Beware of grip or force in restraint

2. Mentally clear mind of negative, angry thoughts

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Transferring energy

• Be aware of your stress level• Actively work to be mentally calm and

relaxed!

RESTRAINT PROBLEMS

If unsure of an animal’s temperament

• Muzzle / gauze muzzle• Ask for help

Some images from: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/resources/restraint/index.aspx

Difficult cats• Sometimes less is more• Stretch out• Use scruff of neck• Kitty burrito• Cat bag• Muzzle• Ask for help

Difficult dogs• Go slow, but do not

be hesitant• Use your body, not just hands• Muzzle• Ask for help

If too fractious or excited• Stop.• Take a breath.• Maintain control.• Ask for help.• Some animals require sedation.