Restraining of Animals 13

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Restraining of Animals

Introduction
Methods of restraining
Casting of animals
Restraining of dog and cat
Restraining of sheep
Restraining of pig
Crush
Chemical restraining

INTRODUCTION
Restraining of animals is performed using
physical force or chemicals or a combination
of both method. Physical restraining includes
handling of animal with the use of various
instruments/rope, etc. While the chemical
restraining is performed by inducing sedatives, or immobilization through administration of drugs. For the examination of animal,
veterinarian should first properly control the
animal. One thing should be kept in mind that
at the time of restraining, the animal should
be minimally disturbed. Animal handling
should require a quiet, quick and efficient job.
Veterinarian should decide about an
appropriate method of restraining required
to do the necessary job. One should avoid
the unnecessary handling of animal. Sometimes examination of animal can be
performed by only small restraining. Proper
restraining of animal before examination is
necessary for both the animal as well as the

examiner. If the animal is not properly controlled, it may bite, kick, or hit the examiner
and cause external as well as internal injury
to the handling persons. Through dog bite,
rabies can spread in man, so one should be
very careful while examining the canines.
Therefore, before examination, the animal
must be properly controlled.
METHODS OF RESTRAINING
1. Tail raising method: One can handle the
animal through holding the base of tail and
raise it in upward direction without
causing any injury. With this action, the
attention of animal is diverted and minor
jobs like injection or udder infusions can
be done. This method is useful in docile
animals.
2. Control of head: Animal is controlled by a
nose lead and control of head by holding
nasal septum with one hand or by bull

Fig. 3.1: Diagram of a bull holder to restrain cattle

14 Textbook of Veterinary Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

holder (Fig. 3.1) and horn or ear with other

hand. This method is used in docile
animals for minor works like injections,
artificial insemination or udder infusions.
Milkers restraint: This can be achieved by
applying a rope of about 1-1.5 meter. The
rope is used for preparation of a loop
around the hindlegs and the rope is pulled
tight to hold the legs tight. It prevents
kicking by the animal.
Raising of legs: Forelegs can be raised either
by hand or can be tied off with the help
of a rope. This method is particularly
useful in horses. One can support the leg
on his knee by bending the leg at pastern.
Hindlegs can also be raised for handling
of animal. This method is used in docile
animals.
Twitching: A loop of rope fastened in the
hole of a stick makes the twitch. It is used
to control the horse. The twitch can be put
around the ear or upper lip which is
twisted to control the animal.
Halters or moharas: A bight is formed in the
rope and pass the bight through the loop
and over the nose of animal. The loop has
been fastened around the neck of the
horse, a temporary mohara is formed by
making a half hitch in the standing part
of the rope and putting it around the nose
of animal. Permanent halters can be made
by forming a permanent loop at one end
of the rope having an eye. The loop is
passed around the nose of animal and its
free end is taken to the other side of the
face by taking it from behind the ears. The
free end is passed through the eye of loop,
such loops are routinely used by farmers
to control the vicious cattle and buffaloes.
Control of calves/foals: A young calf is
restrained by holding ear at the base with
one hand and holding the mandible with
other hand. The foal is controlled gently

by taking the animal in the lap through

keeping one hand under the tail and
another under the neck.
CASTING OF ANIMALS
For casting of animals, long rope of about
40-50 meter is used. The rope should be thick
and it should not have sharp edges/surface.
The animal should be casted at a place where
sufficient bedding is provided or a place
having soft soil. One should not cast the
animal on cemented floors, as it may cause
injury to animals. Surface of the floor should
be even and it should not be in slanted
position. All precautions must be taken to
ensure that animal does not lie down rapidly.
It should be supported so that animal falls
smoothly without having much injury.
1. Casting of cattle: The rope is used to make
a loop around the neck of animal by a
bowline knot and free end of the rope is
thrown over the back of the animal to the
opposite side. The free end of rope is used
around the animals body and form a half
hitch just behind the shoulder, the free end
is again thrown over the animals back and
another half hitch is formed just infront
of the udder or prepuce. The free end of
rope is then pulled by applying force of
2-3 persons to lie down the animal.
2. Casting of buffalo: For casting of buffaloes,
forelegs are tied off below the knee with
rope using a clove hitch. The forelegs are
brought together to tie the knot tight.
Similarly the hindlegs are also tied up with
rope using clove hitch then the rope is
pulled to lie down the animal.
3. Casting of horse: The rope is doubled and
a loop is made which should be loose
enough to fit well around the neck. The
loop is then fitted around the neck fixing
the knot in the area either behind the mane
or in the brisket region. The right side of

Restraining of Animals 15
the rope is passed through medial to the
right rear leg and bring it laterally from
behind. The rope is turned and the free
end is passed through the loop in the neck.
Similarly the left side rope is also taken
medial to the left hind leg and laterally
from behind and is taken to the loop in
the neck. One end of the rope is pulled
in front direction while other side in the
rear direction to lie down the horse.
RESTRAINING OF DOG AND CAT
1. Use of temporary muzzle: The dogs and cats
must be applied a temporary muzzle before
handling, which reduces the chances of bite.
A surgeons knot is prepared using a cord
or bandage, which should be applied over
the nose. The free ends of the bandage
are brought down under the chin and tied
with an overhand knot. The free ends are
then brought through each side of neck
and tied with a knot. The pressure on the
nose should not interfere with the process
of respiration.
2. Restraining of head: One should stand
behind the dog and using one hand,
control the mandible through palm and
fingers circling the lower jaw and the
thumb meeting on the forehead.
3. Restraining for oral cavity examination:
Veterinarian should give sedative to the
dog, then open the mouth with speculum.
If speculum is not available, hold the
mouth open with strips of cloth or
bandage. The cord loop is fixed over the
upper jaw and lower jaw separately. By
pulling the cords, one can open the mouth
of dog for examination.
4. Restraining for collection of blood: A temporary muzzle should be applied on dogs
mouth. One should hold the dogs head
with one arm by passing it under the neck
and hold the nape with fingers. It should

be tight enough so that dog cannot move

his head. The another person should hold
the forelegs and apply pressure on the vein
to make it visible. It can be done by holding the thumb over the vein and four
fingers around the arm.
RESTRAINING OF SHEEP
For the clinical examination, sheep should be
controlled in its sitting position. The left hand
is placed under the neck and the right hand
over the back to seize the wool of the
abdomen. Lift the forearms from ground and
twist the hindlegs to make the sitting position
of the sheep.
RESTRAINING OF PIG
Pig is very difficult to handle and restrain.
However, the piglets can be easily handled.
Piglets are held by hindlegs with hands, while
knees grip the dependent head. Adult pigs
are restrained by driving into a corner of the
house. A noose is dropped over its head and
pulled tight to its jaws and another is secured
to a hindleg above the hock. The rope ends
are pulled tight into a fence and pig is released from its corners.
CRUSH
Crush is made up of wood or steel pipes which
is constructed in such a way that it is used
for holding cattle, buffaloes and horses for
clinical examination, collection of blood and
other testing like tuberculin and Johnin
testing. The wooden crush is considered
better than metal one as it produces less noise
in comparison to the latter.
CHEMICAL RESTRAINING
The animals can be restrained by administering
certain chemical drugs intramuscularly or
intravenously. For the purpose, the sedatives

16 Textbook of Veterinary Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis

are used which causes calmness and quietness
in the animal. The tranquilizing drugs can be
used for control of furious animals. Such drugs
include acepromazine, chlorpromazine, promazine, xylazine, azeperone, morphine and its
derivatives and barbiturates, etc. The dose and
route of administration should be decided by
the clinician at the time of handling of animals.
In wild animals the use of dart gun is advisable
with these chemicals for restraining the
animals.
Both physical and chemical methods of
restraining are used only after taking the
animals history, temperature, pulse and respiration rate as these may change on handling
of animal.
A method of restraint is not always equally
effective in each case because there is individual variations among animals, who react
to these methods in a different way. It is,
therefore, advisable that one should know
more than one method of restraining to apply
them alternatively. Proper handling of animal
not only facilitates the clinical examination and
other tests but also gives a safe side to a veterinarian from any injury and nuisance of animal.
This also saves the time, as one can examine
many animals if properly restraint in a
comparatively less duration.
QUESTIONS
Q 1. Indicate whether the following statements are True or False.
1. ____ Physical restraining of animal is done
by inducing sedatives.
2. ____ Restraining of cow for udder infusion
is done by Tail raising method.
3. ____ Restraining by raising hindlegs is a
method of choice in horses.
4. ____ Tranquilizing drugs can be used for
controlling furious animals like dog.
5. ____ For casting of buffaloes hindlegs are

tied off below the knee with rope using a clove

hitch.
Q 2. Fill in the spaces below with most
appropriate word/words.
1. Use of temporary muzzle can be put in
practice for controlling small animals like ____.
2. ____ gun with desired chemical drug is
used to control wild animals.
3. ____ a young calf can be restrained by
holding ear at the base with one hand and
holding the ____ with other hand.
4. A loop of rope fastened in the hole of a
stick is used to make the____ for controlling
the horse.
5. ____ made up of pipes is used for holding
cattle, buffaloes and horses in standing
position for clinical examination, collection of
blood samples and giving injections.
Q 3. Select the most appropriate answer
from the four choices given in each
question.
1. Temporary muzzle can be used for
controlling:
A. Cow
B. Horse
C. Sheep
D. Dog
2. Restraining by twitching is preferred in:
A. Dog
B. Buffalo
C. Horse
D. Cat
3. The tranquilizer used to make the animal
calm and quiet is:
A. Penicillin
B. Ascabiol
C. Promazine
D. Calcitonin

Restraining of Animals 17
4. Restraining by Tail raising method is
advisable in:
A. Furious animals
B. Vicious animals
C. Docile animals
D. Small animals
5. Kicking by the animal especially cow
during milking can be prevented by:
A. Tying the forelegs
B. Tail raising method

C. Halters
D. Milkers restraint
Q
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

4. Define the following terms.

Casting of animal
Twitching
Crush
Tranquilizers
Bull holder