RESTRAINT OF EXOTIC ANIMALS

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RESTRAINT OF EXOTIC ANIMALS

• Elizabeth Dingwell
• Alyson Plank

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Avian Restraint

• Observe from a distance and make sure the bird is
  well enough to withstand the stress of restraint.
  Advise the owner of possible effects if the bird
  is very ill.
• Darken the room just before reaching for the
  bird.
• Use a towel for larger birds.

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Small Birds

• Grasp with head between index and middle finger,
  allow bird to grasp thumb and pinky finger.
• Careful not to squeeze too hard or completely
  encircle the bird!

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Small Birds

• Or grasp the bird with only thumb opposed and use
  thumb and index finger to control the head.

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Larger Birds

• Use a towel to capture them.
• Restrain head with thumb and forefinger around
  the neck, pressing up against the mandible.
• Use the other hand to hold the body, feet, and
  one wing.

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Physical Exam Considerations

• Listen to respiration, palpate sternum for body
  condition.
• Check the eyes for clarity and discharge, look
  for nasal discharge (or growths) and mites around
  head/feet.

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Geese and Ducks

• Yes! These are peoples beloved pets.
• Grasp neck to control the head, if lifting,
  support the weight of the body with the other
  hand.

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Geese and Ducks

• Also may grasp the wings with one hand, placing a
  finger between the two wings.

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Snakes

• Grasp behind mandible with thumb and forefinger
• Or place thumb and middle finger behind occiput
  with the index finger on top of the head.
• Support the body with the other hand

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Lizards

• When picking up a lizard, pin down the head first
  then wrap fingers around the neck and pectoral
  girdle.
• With the other hand, near the pelvis, hold the
  legs and tail.

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Lizard Handling

• Restraint of a bearded dragon

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Physical Exam- Lizards

• Lizards also have no diaphragm, careful not to
  squeeze the breath out of them.
• Gila monster and beaded lizards are poisonous.
• Examine rostral end of animal for evidence of
  damage due to leaping against glass or nasal
  discharge. Feel the jaw for softness (evidence of
  osteodystrophy). If skeletal or soft tissue
  abnormalities are found- do radiographs.

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Vago-vagal response

• Used to temporarily restrain most small lizards
  and some turtles and tortoises.
• Apply gentle digital pressure on eyes for a few
  moments- induces a 20-30 second drop in blood
  pressure and heart rate. Will remain quiet and
  motionless for a few minutes.
• Loud noises or other external stimuli can abolish
  the effect. Can be repeated.

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Chelonians- Turtles and Tortoises

• Grasp turtles or tortoises by the shell laterally
  just cranial to the hind limbs
• Be very careful with snapping and soft-shelled
  turtles- very long necks.
• Tend to relax when turned upside down.
• Soft-shelled- use cloth or gloves for a secure
  hold.

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Chelonians

• To examine the head- can remove with a large pair
  of forceps and then place thumb and forefinger
  behind the occipital condyles.
• Better way- to examine either end, Can push on
  the opposite end desired into the shell to cause
  the desired end to leave the shell due to space
  limitations.

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Chelonians

• Handling of a large turtle or tortoise

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Chelonians

• Small turtle

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Physical exam - Chelonians

• May have to anesthetize to examine head closely.
  Observe for nasal discharge, and check tympanic
  membrane for concavity. Convexity may be due to
  otitis media.
• Can check for dehydration as in small animals

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PE- cont.

• Check shell for hemorrhage or softness- can be
  due to nutritional deficiencies, bacteria or
  trauma.
• Palpate extremities
• Check cloaca for swelling or discharge. If feces
  are available, can perform a fecal float.

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Amphibians

• These animals have a very delicate and sensitive
  epidermis and mucous covering skin.
• Handle only if needed and use wet hands.
• Picture to right is how most toads are handled

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Amphibians

• African clawed toads- sharp claws, be careful.

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Frogs

• However, its not as easy as it looks, Frogs are
  extremely slippery.
• Larger frogs may be held by the back legs if the
  body is supported.

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Chemical Restraint of Amphibians (and fish)

• Tricaine Methane Sulfate- 2g/L of water for
  frogs, toads and fish
• Tadpoles and salamanders- .5g/L

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Physical Exam- Frogs and Toads

• There is a sub-Q space for injections over entire
  dorsal and ventral aspect.
• Unless animal is large enough to have visible
  veins, blood is collected from the heart. The
  sternum is pushed to one side and blood is
  collected with a 22-26 g needle.

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FERRETS
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Most are docile and can be examined with little
restraint
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Assistance will be needed with

• Rectal Temperature
• Injections
• Oral Meds
• Biters
• Nursing females
• Infrequently handled
• Young
• Scared

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Two basic restraint methods

• Very active or tendency to bite
• Scruff at back of neck and suspend with all four
  legs off the table
• Well mannered
• Lightly restrain on exam table
• Pick up with one hand for support under body

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Hint

• Distract with food

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RABBITS
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Pick Up

• Grasp by scruff with one hand
• Support Hind quarters with other hand
• NEVER
• Pick up by ears
• Let rear legs dangle

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Transport

• Tuck head under arm

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Placing back into cage

• Put back end into cage first

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Restraint for Physical Exam

• One handed palpation-Hold with forearm and tuck
  into abdomen
• Two handed palpation- tuck hindquarter into
  abdomen and face nose away

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Wiggly Rabbits

• Bunny burrito
• Rabbit restraint devices
• Cat bag

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GUINEA PIGS
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Restraint for Physical Examination

• Minimal restraint
• Owner or assistant places hand on rump to keep
  from backing away

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Transport

• Support weight in one hand
• Cup dorsum with other hand

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CHINCHILLAS
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CHINCHILLAS

• Generally dont bite, but be cautious
• If it doesnt come out of the cage on its own
  be fast and on target
• Lift out of cage
• One hand under abdomen or around scruff of neck
• Hold base of tail with other hand

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Full Restraint

• Two person hold
• One person restrains the chinchilla on the table
  with one under the thorax and one hand holding
  base of tail
• Examiner holds the scruff with one hand

Thanks to Jennifer Periat and Skylar
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MICE
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• Escape easily
• Very likely to bite

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Picking up a mouse

• Grab at base of tail
• Allow forefeet to grasp edge of cage or table
• Approach from behind and place forefinger and
  index finger on either side of neck, exerting
  pressure on body of mandible
• Hold rest of animal against palm with remaining
  fingers

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Full Restraint

• Scruffing Technique
• Hold by tail base
• Use forefinger and thumb to gently pin down the
  head
• Using the same fingers, grasp a sufficient amount
  of loose skin over the neck
• Hold the tail with the little finger of the same
  hand for additional support

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GERBILS
Thanks to Jillian Mancini, baby Rumen and Colic
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GERBIL

• Can usually pick up and hold loosely in a cupped
  hand to examine
• Signs of an angry gerbil
• Rhythmic thumping of hind limb
• General and full restraint same as with mice

Thanks to Jennifer Periat and Chronic
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HAMSTERS
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HAMSTERS

• More likely to bite
• Signs of an angry hamster
• Roll on back
• Stand on hind limbs
• Vocalizing

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General Restraint

• Scoop up in palm of hand

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Full Restraint

• Modified Scruffing Technique
• Grasp skin between the tips of all fingers and
  base of the thumb lower palm of hand

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RATS
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RATS

• Usually very friendly and accept handling and
  gentle manipulation
• Rarely bite

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GENERAL RESTRAINT

• Grab over neck and shoulders
• Place forefinger just below mandible on one side
  of head and thumb on opposite side either above
  or below forelimb
• Provide additional support by holding tail and
  hind limbs with opposite hand

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• Scruffing Technique
• Same as in gerbils and mice

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Full Restraint

• Wrap in thin towel or stockinette
• Syringe case with air hole
• Cone shaped polyethylene bag with tip cut off

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CHEMICAL RESTRAINT

• SEDATION AND TRANQUILIZATION

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ACEPROMAZINE

• Mild tranquilizer
• DO NOT use in gerbils - seizures
• Dose 0.5 2.5 mg/kg IM or SQ
• Lower dose for IM
• Higher dose for SQ
• Hamsters may need up to 5 mg/kg SQ
• Guinea Pigs and Chinchillas need less
• 0.5 1.5 mg/kg
• Ferrets
• 0.1-0.3 mg/kg Im or SQ
• Rabbits
• 0.25-1.0 mg/kg Im or SQ

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DIAZEPAM

• Mild sedation
• Safe in gerbils
• Dose 3-5 mg/kg IM
• IM injection may be irritating to muscle

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FENTANYL/DROPERIDOL

• Excellent sedative
• Can see narcotic induced respiratory depression
  with higher doses
• Primarily used in rats and mice

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• Doses
• Rats
• 0.13 0.33 ml/kg IM
• Provides sedation and anesthesia for minor
  procedures
• Mice
• Make a 110 dilution
• 0.0002 0.0005 ml/g IM
• Guinea Pigs
• 0.08 0.44 ml/kg IM
• Caution may predispose to self-mutilation
• Ferrets
• 0.13 0.22 ml/kg IM or SQ

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ANTICHOLINERGICS

• Used as a premed
• Decrease salivation (Ketamine, inhalants)
• Maintain heartrate
• Atropine
• 0.05 mg/kg SQ
• Rabbits
• 0.8-1.0 mg/kg SQ
• Glycopyrrolate
• 0.01 0.02 mg/kg SQ

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COMBINATIONS

• Guinea Pigs and Chinchillas
• Midazolam 0.3 mg/kg
• Ketamine 5 mg/kg (up to 10 mg/kg for G. Pig,
  Ferret Rabbit)
• Atropine 0.04 mg/kg IM
• Ferret 0.02-mg/kg IM
• OR
• Acepromazine 0.05 mg/kg (0.1 mg/kg for G. Pig)
• Ketamine 10 mg/kg
• Atropine 0.04 mg/kg IM

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CHEMICAL RESTRAINT

• INJECTABLE ANESTHESIA

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XYLAZINE/KETAMINE

• Short duration of action (30 minutes)

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• Rats
• Xylazine 3-5 mg/kg Ketamine 40-90 mg/kg IM or
  IP
• Mice
• Xylazine 5-10 mg/kg Ketamine 50-200 mg/kg IM
  or IP
• Hamsters
• Xylazine 5-10 mg/kg Ketamine 50-150 mg/kg IM
• Gerbils
• Xylazine 2-3 mg/kg Ketamine 50-70 mg/kg IM or
  IP
• Guinea Pigs
• Xylazine lt 5 mg/kg Ketamine 20-40 mg/kg IM
• Ferrets
• Xylazine 1-2 mg/kg Ketamine 10-30 mg/kg IM

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KETAMINE/ACEPROMAZINE

• Adequate restraint for minor surgical procedures
• DO NOT use in gerbils
• General Rule the smaller the species, the
  greater the dose needed for adequate effect
• Rats, Mice and Hamsters
• Acepromazine 2.5-5 mg/kg Ketamine 50-150 mg/kg
  IM or IP
• Guinea Pigs and Chinchillas
• Acepromazine 0.5 mg/kg Ketamine 20-50 mg/kg IM
  or IP

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TILETAMINE-ZOLAZEPAM

• For minor surgical procedures
• Dose
• 50-80 mg/kg IM or IP
• Guinea Pigs and Chinchillas 20-40 mg/kg IM
• Ferrets 22 mg/kg IM
• Rabbtis 5-25 mg/kg IM
• Can have prolonged recovery
• Used in combination with xylazine
• Decrease dose to 10-30 mg/kg
• Better effect and faster recovery

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INHALANT ANESTHESIA

• Use for any major surgical procedure
• Induce with gas alone or with injectable
  anesthetics
• Isoflurane is the agent of choice

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The End
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REFERENCES

• Birchard, S.J., Sherding, R.G. (2000).
  Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice, Second
  Edition. Phildephia, PA. WB Saunders Company.
• Fowler, M.E. (1995). Restraint and Handling of
  Wild and Domestic Animals, Second Edition. Ames,
  IA. Iowa State University Press.
• Frye, F.L. (1994) Reptile Clinician's Handbook a
  compact clinical and surgical reference. Krieger
  Pub Co.
• Beynon, P.H. (1992) Manual of reptiles.
  Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. British Small Animal
  Veterinary Association.
• Hillyer, E.V., Quesenberry, K.E. (1997).
  Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents Clinical Medicine
  and Surgery. Philedephia, PA. WB Saunders
  Company