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134 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

Restraint for Examinations,
Medications, and Procedures

Exam tables are used to elevate smaller patients to per-
form physical exams, draw samples, or give medications.
Tables are slippery and can cause anxiety in the patient.
Prevent this by placing a towel or cushion covered with a
towel on the table before putting a patient on it. Almost
all sized patients can be examined on a table; however,
dogs over 50 lb are usually examined on the floor. The
exam table rarely accommodates their size and if it wob-
bles because of their weight it is even more nerve‐racking
for the patient.
While on the table your main job is to keep the patient
from falling off, but not clamping them down to the table
for the entire length of the examination. Let the patient
stand or sit as they see fit while the veterinarian is listening
to heart, lungs, and gastrointestinal sounds (Figure 8.26).
Note the hand positions in Figure 8.26, gentle without
clamping hard onto any one part of the body. If a patient
should fall off the exam table they can sustain substantial
injuries. This would be an example of an iatrogenic injury
and can be the basis for a malpractice suit!
While the patient is sitting on the table you may be
asked to provide access to examine the eyes, ears, or
mouth. The patient can either be in sitting position or in
a sternal position. Snuggle the patient’s body up to your
body. Reach one arm over the patient’s body and using
that forearm to gently pin the patient’s body against
yours. Use both hands to steady the head for whatever
body part the veterinarian needs to examine. Figure 8.27
shows holding the head for an examination of eyes, but
a slight adjustment can be made for an ear exam. This
FIGURE 8.25 Blocking the door to the kennel. usually involves flipping the pinna over the head and

(a) (b)

FIGURE 8.26 Sitting table restraint for general examination and procedures.