Small Animal Handling Flashcards
What does FAS stand for?
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Stress
What do you observe to assess body language?
- tail
- ears, eyes
- mouth (whiskers)
- posture
- any vocalization
What is anxiety?
emotional reaction of apprehension or uneasiness to an anticipated danger or threat
What is fear?
emotional reaction of apprehension and fright due to the presence or proximity of the specific stimulus
What is the number 1 reason for aggression?
fear
What are indicators of a cat being relaxed?
- almond shaped eyes
- soft face
- ears forward
- relaxed body position
- normal pupil size
- tail up
What are indicators of a cat experiencing anxiety and fear?
- hiding
- dilated pupils
- ears to side or back
- looks worried
- tense body
- crouched/curled up
- tail tightly tucked
What are indicators of aggression in a cat?
- dilated pupils and wide eyes
- ears flat
- hissing
- swatting
- piloerection of whiskers
- tense body-defensive
What are indicators of a dog being relaxed?
- lack of tension in face and body
- lips loose
- eyes blinking and soft
- ears forward, hanging, and relaxed
What are indicators of anxiety in a dog?
- puckered forehead
- dilated pupils
- eyes wide
- ears drawn back or sometimes in alert position
What are examples of displacement/calming behaviors in a dog?
- yawning
- scratching or licking themselves
- lip licking
- lifting a paw
- sniffing the ground
What are indicators of fear in a dog?
- cowering
- tail tucked or down
- trembling/shaking
- ears back or out to sides
- panting
- looking away
- pupils dilated
- muscles tense
What are indicators of agression in a dog?
- ears back
- dilated pupils
- teeth exposed
- mouth open
- lips tight and puckered forward
What are the pheromone products we can use on dogs and cats?
- adaptil for dogs
- feliway for cats
What are things we have in our behavior toolbox for patients exhibiting high FAS?
- pheromones
- treats
- muzzles
- cat masks
- towel neck wraps
- feline towel wraps
- leather gloves
- clam shell net for cats
- adjust environment
- fear free transport
What restraint device is only used in a situation where human safety is an issue?
rabies pole
What are the steps to applying a gauze muzzle to a dog?
- approach dog from behind
- make a loop in the gauze
- tie on top of the nose
- criss cross under the chin
- pull behind ears
- tie in a tight bow
Towel neck wraps are used for what types of dogs?
Brachycephalic and small breed dogs
What type of restraint technique will not work on an overstimulated cat?
towel wrap
Name a reason where a cat does not or should not travel in a carrier.
There is not one. A cat should ALWAYS travel in a carrier.
How to you transport a cat in a carrier within the clinic?
- cover carrier with towel
- carry carrier with two hands underneath the carrier holding it close
- do NOT swing carrier down at your side
- carry as if carrying something fragile
What is an alternate method of transporting a cat within the clinic if a carrier is not available?
towel wrap
What should you avoid when removing a cat from its carrier?
shaking and pulling
What can you do if a cat refuses to come out of its carrier despite being coaxed with treats, toys, catnip, etc?
Take off the top and do exam and other procedures while cat is inside
Training does not occur during times of what?
stress
What does touch gradient mean?
that every new touch stimulates the animal, so we want to avoid repeated hands on/off and repeated in/out of the kennel
What part of the animal should you always be in control of or know where it is?
head
If a cat freaks out while you are restraining it what should you do?
Let go
What should be the last resort method of handling a cat?
Scruff and stretch
When handling cats should you work in an open space or enclosed space or does it not matter?
Enclosed space
If a cat struggles for more than 2 seconds, what do you do?
adjust your method of handling
If a cat struggles for more than 2 tries, what do you do?
Stop, give the cat a break and develop a new handling plan
How do you safely meet a dog?
- kneel and turn to side
- keep your face up and away from dog’s face
- walk up slowly and speak softly
- allow dog to approach you
- pet gently for a few seconds then stop
- always ask before petting
How should you get a dog on a floor scale?
- face the direction you want your dog to walk
- lure with treats if needed
- walk briskly with a short leash in the direction you want the dog to go
- stop when dog is on the scale
Where should you work with larger dogs?
on the floor
How should you carry and lift a small dog?
hold under chest, control head
How should you carry and lift a medium dog?
two hands, one person
How should you carry and lift a large dog (greater than 40-50 pounds)?
2 people stand on the same side and lift together
squat and bend your knees, use your legs not your back
If a dog struggles for more than 3 seconds, what should you do?
adjust your method of handling
If a dog struggling for more than 3 tries, what should you do?
stop, give dog a break and develop a new handling or sedation plan
If you are attempting to restrain a dog on the table that is standing, what are your two options?
- use 1 arm to keep the dog close to your body and use the other to control the head. You can lean your head against the back of the dog’s head.
- use 1 arm under the abdomen to keep dog standing and use 1 arm to control the head snug and close under the neck
How would you restrain a dog for a cephalic blood draw in sternal recumbency?
1 hand is used to roll the cephlic vein from medial to lateral, the forearm keeps the dog close to your body
the other arm controls the head
How would you restrain a dog for a jugular blood draw in sternal recumbency?
dog’s head is tilted up while the handler’s forearm keeps the dog close to his body
Describe an FAS score of zero in a cat.
- sleeping
- neutral
- friendly greeting
Describe an FAS score of 1 in a cat.
- avoids eye contact
- turns head away without moving away
- partially dilated pupils
- head held just slightly down
- slight brow furrowing
- whiskers slightly back
- ears partially to side
- body shifted slightly away
- tail closer to body with possibly slight flicking
Describe an FAS score of 2-3 in a cat.
- ears further to side
- more pupil dilation but not completely dilated
- increase in respiratory rate
- brow furrowed
- looking at stimulus
- tail tight to body
- possible tip of tail moving some
- whiskers back
- body crouched and leaning away
Describe an FAS score of 4 in a cat.
- flight
- freeze/fret
Describe an FAS score of 5 in a cat.
- offensive aggression
- defensive aggression
Describe an FAS score of 0 in a dog.
- sleeping
- neutral
- friendly greeting
Describe an FAS score of 1 in a dog.
- lip licking
- avoids eye contact
- turns head away without moving away
- lifts paw
- partially dilated pupils
- slight panting but commissures of lips are relaxed
Describe an FAS score of 2 in a dog.
- ears slightly back or to the side
- tail down but not necessarily completely tucked
- furrowed brow
- slow movements or unable to settle
- fidgeting
- attention seeking to owner
- panting with tighter mouth
- moderate pupil dilation
Describe an FAS score of 3 in a dog.
- turning head away
- may refuse treats for brief moments or take treats roughly
- may be hesitant to interact but not compeltely avoiding interaction
Describe an FAS score of 4 in a dog.
- flight
- freeze/fret
Describe an FAS score of 5 in a dog.
- offensive aggression
- defensive aggression
