Health and Safety Around Animals Flashcards
Generally accepted rules for working with any animal
- Most animals will respond to routine
- Avoid quick movements or loud noises.
- Be patient; never prod an animal when it has nowhere to go.
- Respect livestock — don’t fear it.
- Move slowly and deliberately around livestock; gently touch animals rather than shoving or bumping them.
- Always have an escape route when working with an animal in close quarters.
Proper handling minimizes
stress for animals and lowering the risk of injury.
Good restraint is all about
empathy and technique – it has little to do with strength.
• Important to remember that what matters is whether the animal finds an interaction threatening — not whether the handler does.
Health and safety risks of dealing with animals
- Physical injuries
* Zoonotic diseases
Safe working with animals
• Appreciate the “flight zones” typical of a species
• Understand basic animal behaviour in relation to their
interactions with people during handling
• Understand how to communicate with the animal
• Appropriate restraint techniques
• Proper use of restraint equipment
• Identify any animals that may be unpredictable
• Appropriate PPE
• Appropriate vaccination status
Direct Transmission
Direct contact Secretions Blood Urine or faeces Droplets
Indirect Transmission
Food or water Aerosol Animal vectors Fomites Medical devices and treatments
Transmission rout and prevention for Brucellosis aerosol
Direct contact, aerosol
Vaccines for sheep, cattle and goats; PPE; good hand hygiene
Transmission rout and prevention for Campylobacter
Faeces; bodily discharges; contaminated food and water; swimming in lakes; flies can be a mechanical vector
Good hand hygiene and disinfection protocols; control of flies and rodents; prevention of faecal contamination into water and feed sources
Transmission rout and prevention for Leptospirosis
Contaminated food, water, equipment and surfaces; spread in aerosolized urine or water; direct contact with contaminated urine
PPE; face shields should be worn if there is a risk of urine splashing; good hand hygiene; vaccines for some species, e.g. dogs and cattle
Prevention of zoonotic diseases
• PPEmustbeworntoreducethetransferofhair,allergensandexcretaonclothing.
• Longsleevedclothingshouldbeworntopreventscratchesonarmsfromsharpclaws.
• Flat,enclosedtoe,non-slipshoesshouldbewornwithcompanionanimalsandanimalshoused indoors to prevent trips and falls.
• Leathergauntletscanprovideprotection.
• Steeltoe-cappedsafetybootsshouldbewornwhenhandlinghorsesanddonkeys,andsteeltoe-
capped wellington boots should be worn when working with farm animals.
• Eyeprotectionisstronglyrecommendedwhenhandlingbirdswithsharppointedbeaks
• Wearing a suitable facemask when working in aviaries, particularly those with large numbers of birds, or where ventilation is reduced.
Effects of stress on animals
Immune function and susceptibility to disease
̶ Increase in the prevalence of mastitis in dairy cows as a result of chronic fear.
̶ The function of the natural-killer cells could be impaired as a result of stress and this in turn could lead to an increased susceptibility of the mammary gland to infectious agents
• Reduced feed intake, rumination, milk production and increased incidence of lameness.
• The inhibitory effect of stress on appetite results from a complex interplay among leptin, glucocorticoids and the Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF).
• Smaller litters, decreased growth rate and delayed age of first oestrus in sows
• Reduced reproductive function, and impaired growth and wool production has been reported in sheep (Chastain, 2017).
Restraint equipment for Cats
Choice of equipment will depend mostly on temperament and experience of the handler.
Towels
̶ Provide a hiding place for the cat, calm by reducing stimuli and afford protection from bites and scratches.
̶ Towel wraps include back wrap, scarf wrap, burrito wrap and half burrito wrap.
Restraint Bag
̶ For non-violent containment of small animals
Muzzles
̶ Designed to cover the eye in order to reduce stimuli and also prevent bites.
Crush cage.
̶ Afford a means of superficial examination, sedatives, drug admin etc.
Gloves and gauntlets.
̶ May protect arms and hands
Cat grabber/snare
̶ Should only be used as a last resort in emergency situations
Nets
̶ Used for a quick procedure e.g. containment of a feral cat
Equipment for dogs
Collar & Lead
̶ A simple collar and attached lead is required to afford adequate restraint.
Slip Lead
̶ May be used for additional security in conjunction with collar and leads or harnesses.
Harness
̶ Worn around the body of the dog.
̶ Used in combination with a slip lead or collar and lead
̶ Particularly useful if the dog has head or neck injuries.
Muzzles
̶ Mainly used for the safety of personnel or other animals.
̶ Nylon “Mikki” muzzle - not suitable for prolonged use particularly in hot weather given that the restraint is such that the dog is unable to pant properly
Catchers pole
̶ Not commonly used but may occasionally be useful for restraining stray dogs of uncertain temperament, or aggressive dogs
Halters
̶ Use is extremely controversial and have been largely superseded by the introduction of halter restraints
Stretchers, Trolleys and Blankets
Restraint equipment for cattle
A rope halter
• Race/Chute - consist of a headgate, a tailgate/back bar and
removable side panels
• Roping/Casting
