Handling, Restraint and Enrichment Flashcards
Three types of restraint + example
Non-contact (voice, gesture)
Manual or physical (with body, devices)
Chemical (tranquilizers, anesthetics)
What are combination methods
Using two or more types of restraint
Why is handling required
Keep animals in good health (health checks, vaccinations, procedures, treatments)
Examples of restraint
Placed into chute/squeeze, weigh scale, crate, being held
How do you handle an animal safely
Be aware of stressors
Never put face directly into dogs face
Do not move behind/crowd dog
Do not get distracted
Do not sit on floor
Always be ready to move
First rule of thumb when handling animal.. BUT…
Least restraint is often best restraint BUT do not give up control
Before restraint, a person should…
Allow the animal to become comfortable with you
- crouch down
- avoid direct eye contact
- talk in soothing tones (not excited)
- pat leg or ground
Examples of physical restraint tools
Leash
Your hand
Towels
Come-along/control pole (aggressive dogs)
Nets (aggressive cats/wildlife)
Muzzles (snappy dogs)
Drugs used in combination (chemical restraint)
How do you restrain a cat
Left arm/hand cradle body, control hindquarters, press cat into restrainers body
Right can be used to scruff, or rested on neck
Restraint of small birds
Head between forefinger and middle finger
Birds back to palm
Thumb, ring finger and pinkie loosely holding body
Restraint of large birds
Towel
Tuck head under left armpit, left hand under birds body holding legs
Right hand on birds back
Restraint of snake
Place index finger and thumb under mandible, other hand supports body
Maximum length of snake that can be managed by one person
2-3 feet
Restraint of ferrets
Scruffing (grasping skin over neck with index and thumb)
Support body weight
Restraint of guinea pigs
Grab animal around the shoulders with one hand, supporting rear with other hand
Restraint of rabbits
Grasp scruff, place other hand under tail supporting rear legs
Or bunny burrito
Why don’t we hold a rabbit by its ears
What happens if the hoppers kick out
It can break their crown
Hoppers are very strong and if they kick out they can hurt themselves or break their back
Three criteria to be considered enrichment
- Novel/new
- Can be manipulated or destroyed (keeps it new)
- Satisfies a behavioural or biological need (has biological relevance)
Environmental enrichment is defined as
improvement in the biological functioning of captive animals resulting from modifications to their environment
Is environmental complexity considered enrichment?
No, in fact, complexity can cause frustration or stress to the animal
Examples of behavioural needs in birds, cats, horses
Birds = preening, flight
Cats = scratching
Horses = companionship
What can enrichment help prevent or reduce
incidence of aberrant behaviours
cannot fix stereotypie once fixed action pattern is established
e.g. environmental enrichment in zoos
Tools, feeding, elaborate enclosures, landscaping, companionship
What does knowledge of the behavioural repertoire of a species help us do
Design environments that prevent or reduce the incidence of behavioural vices
Ineffective enrichment often leads to
Higher incidences of vices and stereotypies
