Handling and Restraint
Handling and Restraint
Any dog, no matter how docile he may be, has the potential to bite when he
is severely injured, frightened, or in pain. It is important to recognize this and
take proper precautions to keep from being bitten.
An injured dog who growls, snarls, or raises his hackles is sending a clear
message. Do not approach or attempt to restrain this dog. Call your local animal shelter or animal care and control agency for help.
MUZZLES
All dogs should be muzzled for any handling or treatment that may be frightening or painful. Cloth muzzles are easy to store and can be slipped on easily.
Soft muzzles with Velcro closures in the back can be ordered through your
veterinarian or a pet supply store. An open cage muzzle is preferred for an
injured or sick dog. It allows the dog to breathe easily, and if the dog vomits
he will not aspirate the vomitus. Keep the muzzle with your Home Emergency
Medical Kit (see page 1).
If you don’t have a commercial muzzle, you can make an acceptable substitute using adhesive tape, a piece of cloth, a length of roll gauze, or a leash.
Wind the tape around the dog’s muzzle. Or make a large loop with the other
materials that you can slip over the dog’s muzzle. Then tighten this down
around the dog’s muzzle, bring the two ends under the dog’s ears, and tie the
ends behind his head. Make sure the muzzle is not so tight that the dog cannot open his mouth slightly to breathe.
There are circumstances in which a dog should not be muzzled. It can be
dangerous to muzzle a dog who is vomiting, coughing, having difficulty breathing, or aggressively resisting the muzzle. Never muzzle an unconscious dog.
RESTRAINING FOR EXAMINATION AND TREATMENT
For the cooperative dog, routine procedures such as grooming, bathing, and
even medicating seldom require restraint. Gentle handling and a soothing
voice will coax most dogs to accept such handling. Approach the task with
quiet confidence. Dogs are quick to sense anxiety in their owners and copy it.
For examinations and treatments that may excite or hurt the dog, it is
important to restrain the dog before attempting the treatment. Once a dog
is restrained, he usually settles down and accepts the procedure with little
complaint.
2 • DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
EMERGENCIES • 3
A cage muzzle should be
used if the dog is vomiting or breathing rapidly.
A cloth muzzle is convenient and can be slipped
on easily.
A strip of adhesive tape
makes an expedient temporary muzzle.
The headlock is an excellent restraint for a large dog. First muzzle the dog.
Then hold the dog securely against your chest with one arm around his neck
and the other around his waist. This is the most commonly used restraint for
a quick procedure such as giving an injection.
To restrain a small dog, support the abdomen with one arm and grasp the
outside front leg. Immobilize the head with the other arm. Hold the dog close
to your body.
4 • DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
The headlock is an excellent restraint for a large
dog. For treatment, the
dog should be muzzled.
This is a good way to
restrain and carry a small
dog.
An Elizabethan collar, named for
the high neck ruff popular during the
reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England,
is also an excellent way of restraining
dogs who are prone to bite. The collar
is also used to keep a dog from
scratching at his ears, removing
sutures, and biting at wounds and skin
sores. These collars can be purchased
from pet supply stores and some veterinarians (your veterinarian may also
be able to lend you one). The size of
the collar must be tailored to the dog.
For the dog to be able to eat and
drink, the outer edge of the collar
should not extend more than one to
two inches beyond the dog’s nose.
Most dogs adjust well to an
Elizabethan collar. If the dog refuses
to eat or drink with the collar on,
temporarily remove it.
A newer option is the BiteNot collar. This high-necked collar prevents a
dog from turning his head to bite. As with an Elizabethan collar, good fit is
important. The collar must be just as long as the dog’s neck.
Another way to restrain the dog is to lay him on his side by grasping the
inside front and back legs and then sliding the dog down your knees to the
floor. Hold his legs out straight and keep pressure with your forearms on his
chest and pelvis to prevent him from getting up.
EMERGENCIES • 5
An Elizabethan collar is an excellent
restraint for dogs who tend to snap.
A BiteNot collar is a
humane restraint
frequently used by
veterinarians. It may be
more comfortable for a
dog than the Elizabethan
collar.
CARRYING AN INJURED DOG
Incorrectly picking up or carrying a dog can make injuries much worse. Never
pick up a dog by his front legs, as this can result in a dislocated elbow or shoulder.
Carry a small dog cuddled in your arms with the injured side away from
your body. With a large dog, place one arm around his chest or between his
front legs. Place the other arm around his rump—or between his back legs if
you suspect a hind-limb injury. Hold the dog close to your chest so you can’t
drop him if he squirms.
6 • DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
To lay the dog down on his side, grasp
the inside front and back legs and slide
him down your knees.
Hold his legs out straight and use your
forearms to keep him on the floor.
Carry an injured dog with
one arm around his chest
and the other around his
back legs.
TRANSPORTING AN INJURED DOG
A dog in shock should be transported lying down on a flat surface or in a hammock stretcher to facilitate breathing and to prevent a sudden drop in blood
pressure.
Suspect a broken back or spinal cord injury in any dog who is unconscious
or unable to stand after a fall from a height or after being struck by a car.
These dogs require special handling. See Treating Head Injuries, page 358, and
Spinal Cord Injuries, page 375, for more on what to do in these cases.
Any dog, no matter how docile he may be, has the potential to bite when he
is severely injured, frightened, or in pain. It is important to recognize this and
take proper precautions to keep from being bitten.
An injured dog who growls, snarls, or raises his hackles is sending a clear
message. Do not approach or attempt to restrain this dog. Call your local animal shelter or animal care and control agency for help.
MUZZLES
All dogs should be muzzled for any handling or treatment that may be frightening or painful. Cloth muzzles are easy to store and can be slipped on easily.
Soft muzzles with Velcro closures in the back can be ordered through your
veterinarian or a pet supply store. An open cage muzzle is preferred for an
injured or sick dog. It allows the dog to breathe easily, and if the dog vomits
he will not aspirate the vomitus. Keep the muzzle with your Home Emergency
Medical Kit (see page 1).
If you don’t have a commercial muzzle, you can make an acceptable substitute using adhesive tape, a piece of cloth, a length of roll gauze, or a leash.
Wind the tape around the dog’s muzzle. Or make a large loop with the other
materials that you can slip over the dog’s muzzle. Then tighten this down
around the dog’s muzzle, bring the two ends under the dog’s ears, and tie the
ends behind his head. Make sure the muzzle is not so tight that the dog cannot open his mouth slightly to breathe.
There are circumstances in which a dog should not be muzzled. It can be
dangerous to muzzle a dog who is vomiting, coughing, having difficulty breathing, or aggressively resisting the muzzle. Never muzzle an unconscious dog.
RESTRAINING FOR EXAMINATION AND TREATMENT
For the cooperative dog, routine procedures such as grooming, bathing, and
even medicating seldom require restraint. Gentle handling and a soothing
voice will coax most dogs to accept such handling. Approach the task with
quiet confidence. Dogs are quick to sense anxiety in their owners and copy it.
For examinations and treatments that may excite or hurt the dog, it is
important to restrain the dog before attempting the treatment. Once a dog
is restrained, he usually settles down and accepts the procedure with little
complaint.
2 • DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
EMERGENCIES • 3
A cage muzzle should be
used if the dog is vomiting or breathing rapidly.
A cloth muzzle is convenient and can be slipped
on easily.
A strip of adhesive tape
makes an expedient temporary muzzle.
The headlock is an excellent restraint for a large dog. First muzzle the dog.
Then hold the dog securely against your chest with one arm around his neck
and the other around his waist. This is the most commonly used restraint for
a quick procedure such as giving an injection.
To restrain a small dog, support the abdomen with one arm and grasp the
outside front leg. Immobilize the head with the other arm. Hold the dog close
to your body.
4 • DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
The headlock is an excellent restraint for a large
dog. For treatment, the
dog should be muzzled.
This is a good way to
restrain and carry a small
dog.
An Elizabethan collar, named for
the high neck ruff popular during the
reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England,
is also an excellent way of restraining
dogs who are prone to bite. The collar
is also used to keep a dog from
scratching at his ears, removing
sutures, and biting at wounds and skin
sores. These collars can be purchased
from pet supply stores and some veterinarians (your veterinarian may also
be able to lend you one). The size of
the collar must be tailored to the dog.
For the dog to be able to eat and
drink, the outer edge of the collar
should not extend more than one to
two inches beyond the dog’s nose.
Most dogs adjust well to an
Elizabethan collar. If the dog refuses
to eat or drink with the collar on,
temporarily remove it.
A newer option is the BiteNot collar. This high-necked collar prevents a
dog from turning his head to bite. As with an Elizabethan collar, good fit is
important. The collar must be just as long as the dog’s neck.
Another way to restrain the dog is to lay him on his side by grasping the
inside front and back legs and then sliding the dog down your knees to the
floor. Hold his legs out straight and keep pressure with your forearms on his
chest and pelvis to prevent him from getting up.
EMERGENCIES • 5
An Elizabethan collar is an excellent
restraint for dogs who tend to snap.
A BiteNot collar is a
humane restraint
frequently used by
veterinarians. It may be
more comfortable for a
dog than the Elizabethan
collar.
CARRYING AN INJURED DOG
Incorrectly picking up or carrying a dog can make injuries much worse. Never
pick up a dog by his front legs, as this can result in a dislocated elbow or shoulder.
Carry a small dog cuddled in your arms with the injured side away from
your body. With a large dog, place one arm around his chest or between his
front legs. Place the other arm around his rump—or between his back legs if
you suspect a hind-limb injury. Hold the dog close to your chest so you can’t
drop him if he squirms.
6 • DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
To lay the dog down on his side, grasp
the inside front and back legs and slide
him down your knees.
Hold his legs out straight and use your
forearms to keep him on the floor.
Carry an injured dog with
one arm around his chest
and the other around his
back legs.
TRANSPORTING AN INJURED DOG
A dog in shock should be transported lying down on a flat surface or in a hammock stretcher to facilitate breathing and to prevent a sudden drop in blood
pressure.
Suspect a broken back or spinal cord injury in any dog who is unconscious
or unable to stand after a fall from a height or after being struck by a car.
These dogs require special handling. See Treating Head Injuries, page 358, and
Spinal Cord Injuries, page 375, for more on what to do in these cases.
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