Explain the need for humane restraint of animals in a veterinary setting.

Question

Explain the need for humane restraint of animals in a veterinary setting.

Answer 1

If they are not restrained, they could very well attack the people trying to examine them.

Answer 2

Animals can be unpredictable and might not react they way you expect. Animals in pain can be very aggressive and/or defensive. Restraint is used to protect the animal and the veterinary staff.

(learned from the Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians)

Animals can be injured by trying to get away from the veterinary staff, such as a horse receiving a laceration on a protruding nail. Two dogs in a vet office might get in a fight while passing each other. And clients will blame the veterinarian and the staff for injuries an animal may receive while in the vet's care.

To avoid discomfort for the animal veterinarians should use the least amount of restraint for a procedure as possible.

Without proper restrain an animal can injure itself during and/or after a procedure. Such as an injury if an animal moves while receiving an injection. Or an animal removing it's stitches with out the use of an Elizabethan collar.

Without proper restrain an animal can injure the staff. Injuries may result in loss of income or efficiency.  Bites and scratches from small animal. Kicks and body slams from large animals.

Clients often base their impression of the care their animal receives on the manner in which their animal are restrained.

Animal Restraint for Veterinary Professionals

C.C.Sheldon, Teresa Sonsthagen, James A. Topel

Pg 2

Why Learn Restraint Techniques?

Veterinary medicine is dedicated to the preservation of the health and well-being of animals. As in human medicine, this involves a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. But unlike human patients, veterinary patients are not willing to have blood samples drawn or to hold perfectly still for radiographs, and sometimes even resent being touched! Therefore, as veterinary professionals, we must learn how to properly restrain our patients.

Restraint means hold back, check, or suppress action; to keep something under control; or to deprive of physical freedom. Various degrees of patient restraint can be used to allow the veterinary medical team to examine, treat, and perform supportive procedures as prescribed by the veterinarian. Restraint in its mildest form is a gentle touch and a soft voice. for example, when first meeting a canine patient, you need to start with a soft stroke to the head and a gentle hello. This will go a long way in gaining the animal's trust.

In its moderate form, restraint can involve confinement in a corral, box stall, or cage that limits the animal's movement or may be as restrictive as immobilizing a portion of the animal's body, as is necessary for jugular venipuncture. Restraint in its most restrictive form can be as involved as causing a reduction or complete loss of muscular control through the use of chemicals such as tranquilizers, sedatives, and general anesthetics.

Answer 3

Animals aren't smart enough to know that we're trying to help them.

When an animal is in pain, they work on instinct, and that instinct says to get away from the pain.  They will do ANYTHING to get away -- like even chew off their own leg.

So if an animal is in pain it will attack anything close to it, even its owner or a veterinarian.  Because of this, you shold NEVER approach an aniaml that is in pain, even your own pet, because they WILL bite.  If your pet is in pain, call the vet FIRST to see  how to handle it.

Sometimes, it is not possible to use an anesthetic to calm the animal down.  More chemicals might injure the animals, or casue it to have a heart attack.

Restraints are necessary to prevent the vet and helpers from getting bitten or clawed.