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Chapter 8 Restraint of Animals 137

FIGURE 8.35 Arm’s reaching over the top and grasping legs.

FIGURE 8.33 Examining the head using a towel.

FIGURE 8.36 Holding the patient down with wrist and arm.

FIGURE 8.37 Offering treats while in lateral recumbency.

FIGURE 8.34 Positioning for lateral recumbency.
Only apply a light pressure in these areas to keep the
animal in the down position.
takes two people working in tandem with the legs. Once If the animal should struggle, lift the legs up slightly
in position the person on the front end will take over towards the ceiling and apply a bit more pressure to the
holding the animal in position. neck and flank. The instant the patient stops struggling,
For lateral recumbency, start by positioning the body release the pressure and lower the legs back to the table.
of the patient length‐wise on the table and perpendic- This is a reward for lying still. Another technique is to
ular to your body (Figure 8.34). Reach both arms over use treats while the patient is lying down to keep them
the patient’s back and grasp both front legs with one occupied. Cheese on a stick or the soft chewy treats work
hand and both back legs with the other hand very well with both dogs and cats (Figure 8.37). If this
(Figure 8.35). Lift and move the legs away from your hold is being done for an IV injection or blood draw, the
body, allowing the patient’s back to slide down your hand holding the back legs releases both, while the hand
chest. Keep hold of the legs, position the wrist holding holding the front leg raises them towards the ceiling just
the front legs over the neck and the arm holding the back a bit, so the patient is resting on its shoulder blade. Keep
legs over the flank or along the rear end (Figure 8.36). the wrist of the hand holding the front legs on the neck.