Introduction To Vet Technology

Front 1

Explain the need for humane restraint of animals in a veterinary setting.

Back 1

1. allows vet and vet tech to do their job more easily and perform proper vet care
2. ensure the animal don't escape or injure themselves, their owner, or handlers
3. provide the physical reassurance that animal needs in an unfamiliar, potentially frightening environment

Front 2

Discuss the fundamentals of animal restraint.

Back 2

1. manual: using your hands to hold the animal in desired position; distresses animals the least; works well for most species during physical exam or minor technical procedures; always use minimal force required
2. mechanical: employs equipment such as leashes, collars, restraint bags, and poles; tend to upset animals so only used when absolutely necessary; most are designed for one species only; make sure you check animal for injury after removing restraint and clean the device thoroughly
3. chemical: sedatives, tranquilizers, and anesthetics; least desirable method; can interfere with diagnostic testing and complicate diagnosis by masking particular symptoms

Front 3

Identify the retraint techniques and equipment used for a dog.

Back 3

equipment: collars, leashes, training collars, muzzle (applied around nose and mouth- to prevent biting; should be kept on as short as possible bc it prevents dog from panting and it may overheat or it may vomit and aspirate the vomit; do not put on dog with signs of breathing difficulties or chest injury)--you can make a muzzle for the leash or long piece of bandage and put the loop over the nose and tie behind the neck with slipknot, head snares; standing restraint for routine exams--1. place one hand in front of dog's neck 2.place other hand under abdomen just in front of rear legs 3. gently pull dog towards until snug against body; standing restraint-appr. for injections and some teechnical procedures--1. one arm around hindquarters 2.gently tuck the dog into sitting position 3.place other arm around neck so head rests in crook of your elbow 4. pull dog snugly against body; reclining restraint--1. place dog on side 2. stand behind dog so dog's spine is against the front of your body 3. grasp the dog's forelegs with oen hand, placing one finger between the legs 4.press down slightly with forearms on base of neck and use other hand to grasp the rear legs; restraint for cephalic venipuncture--dog is placed on exam table on its sternum with forelegs extending slightly over table's edge 1.stand at side of table, facing same direction as dog 2.grasp dog under its neck so head rests in crook of elbow 3. place other arm across back and pull dog snugly against your body 4.extend same arm to grasp dog's opposite forelimb at elbow level with your right hand 5. hold forelimb at elbow and use your thumb to occlude vein by pressing in and slightly to the side 6. after the injection, apply pressure to allow the blood to clot and continue to hold the dog firmly 7. slowly loosen grip while maintaining moderate restraint;
lateral recumbency for saphenic venipuncture, some x-ray exams and technical procedures -1.grasp upper rear leg just below knee so skin over vein is pulled tight 2.release vein when directed 3. apply pressure to allow clotting 4.maintain moderate restraint;
restraint for jugular venipuncture: 1. position the dog on its sternum with forelegs extended off table 2.place right hand under its muzzle 3.point dog's head towards ceiling; may have to hold dog's mouth closed with hand 4. with left hand, grasp the front legs just above the feet and hold them together and place finger between them 5. pull the feet slightly to align them with the nose 6. after procedure, apply pressure to site

Front 4

What should you always use to keep an animal in position?

Back 4

proper animal restraint

Front 5

When should a dog not wear a muzzle?

Back 5

When it shows signs of breathing problems or chest injury

Front 6

What does occluding a vein for venipucture do?

Back 6

allows sufficient blood to pool in venipucture site

Front 7

Name two reasons for leading dogs on leashes in veterinary office.

Back 7

1. prevent animal-animal contact
2. aid in restraint

Front 8

What is the minimum weight of a dog requiring 2 people to lift it?

Back 8

50 lbs

Front 9

Identify the equipment and restraint techniques for cats.

Back 9

Equipment: collars and leashes, muzzles, head snares, restraint gloves (heaving gauntlet-type gloves made of leather--limit use but reduce sensetivy of how tight your holding it, cat bags (made of nylon with velcro, zipper, or snaps along the type with extra closures for access along its length--you can also use a towel or thick blanket); restraint for rountine exams: 1. allow cat to stand or sit on table 2. place one hand directly in front of it 3. lightly stroke and pet cat with other hand; for cat that doesn't stay in position: place one hand on cat's shoulders and other hand on hips and gently press it down against table using minimum pressure--both used for exam and minor tech procedures like nail trimming and subcut injx; restraint for intramusc injx--lateral recumbency: 1. grasp cat by scruff with rt hand 2. grasp its back feet with left hand, placing 1-2 fingers between feet 3. lay cat on its side with back resting against your right forearm 4. gently extend cat's body or 1. Place right forearm across cat's neck 2. gently press cat down against table and grasp front paws btwn fingers 3. grasp back feet with left hand and place 1-2 fingers between feet 4. gently extend cat's body; restraint for cephalic venipucture: 1.grasp cat's head firmly under jaw with rt hand 2. extend left arm around cat's body and grasp cat's left leg around the elbow 3. hold forelimb at elbow and use thumb to occlude vein; if cat struggles: 1. grasp cat by scruff with one hand 2. pull cat tightly against your body with free arm while pressing cat down firmly against table 3. grasp cat's elbow and gently extend its leg 4. use thumb to occlude the vein; restraint for jugular venipucutre: 1. wrap a towel around cat's rear legs 2. place cat on its sternum at edge of table with forelegs extending off the table's edge 3. stang alongside the cat and place one hand under its nose and point its head towards the ceiling 4. with other hand, grasp cat's legs just above the feet, securing grip by place finger btwn the feet 5. pull feet slightly to align them with cat's nose

Front 10

What is the best distracting technique for a cat who is undergoing jugular venipuncture?

Back 10

tapping its nose

Front 11

What is the most common cat venipuncture site?

Back 11

cephalic vein-located along the front of cat's foreleg

Front 12

Identify the equipment and restraint techniques for small animals.

Back 12

Bird: before handling, make sure you have a net or towel handy to recapture if it escapes its cage and make sure all windows and doors are closed and the ceiling fans are off; restraining small birds (finches and parakeets): 1. block open cage door with hand or towel as you reach in 2. grasp the bird by placing palm against its wings and securing its hand between your thumb and index finger; cradle bird in your palm and place pointer finger gently against bird's leg
Restraint for large birds: 1. Block opening of cage with towel-place towel lengthwise across palm of hand 2. reach into cage and grasp the bird from behind by placing hand behind bird's head-position bird's lower jaw btween thumb and index finger 3. drape towel around the bird as you lift it slightly toward the door of cage-for larger birds, fold its wings and pull bird close to body 4. place your other hand on bird's feet and hold them firmly in place
rodents: equipment for venipuncture--1acrylic rodent restrainer (clear plastic tube with access ports drilled into it)-allow rodent to climb up into deive and place small plastic gate behind animal 2. rubber-tipped forceps (transport small rodents from one cage to aonther)-grasp either base of tail near its body or loose skin on back of its neck; don't dangle for more than few secs; hamster-never try to pick up a sleeping or hibernating hamster bc often bites if awakened; rabbit: reach into cage and lightly grasp a small amount of loose skin behind the rabbit's ears; facing animal away from you, slide other hand under its rear legs; lift animal towards you and press it gently against your body; snakes: grasp behind the head support its body on your arm; use clear plastic or Plexiglass half the length of snake and open at one end; turtle: grasp its shell and use tongs to pull its head or legs back out; lizards: grasp them around the shoulders and use other hand to restrain and support hindquarters

Front 13

What is your goal when holding a bird?

Back 13

that the bird can't fly, bite, scratch, or become injured

Front 14

Identify the equipment and restraint techniques for horses.

Back 14

equipment: halter and lead, lip twitch (composed of a long wooden handle with a loop of rope or stainless steel chain at one end--designed to stimulate horse's neves and distracts a horse undergoing vet procedures), hobble (leather strap fastened around horse's legs to restrict movement), stock (narrow enclosure that partially immobilizes a horse for treatment), blindfodl (calm frightened or otherwise unmanageable horse making them easier to lead); approach horse from its left side at its shoulder or near its neck; techniques: 1. Halter and lead rope 2. twitches: a. hold twitch handle in right hand b. with left hand, place ends of your fingers thru loop of chain or rope c. grasp horse's upper lip with left hand and slide rope or chain high up around the lip d. tighten the twitch by twisting the handle e. slightly tighten the chain, loosen it, and then tighten again-repeat bc steady pressure numbs horse's lip which would make the twitch ineffective; 3. Chain shank (long leather lead/rope with about a 2-ft length of chain and a snap hook on one end): a. attach chain to cheek rings and pass the chain across the upper lip between the lip and gum; 4. cross-tying (restricts horse's side-to-side head mvmts): attach two ropes to halter and tie them to cross-tie ring secured in place in barn; 5. Tail tying: a. locate end of the last vertebra in tail b. lay piece of rope across tail at site and fold the rest of tail up and over the rope c. pass one end of rope behind tail, making a long, sharp loop in the rope d. bring loop over the folded tail and pull it tight thru the rope that's looped around the tail e. use the other end of rop to tie tail to horse's front leg or neck

Front 15

Identify restraint techniques and equipment used on cattle.

Back 15

equipment: cattle chute, halter, nose lead (large metal tongs with large ball-shaped ends to control head when halter is sufficient), hobbles (prevent them kicking), tail jacking and tying, casting rope (places animal on its side)

Front 16

Identify restraint techniques and equipment used on sheep.

Back 16

equipment: shepherd's crook (immobolize an individual animal by placing hook high up on back leg and grabbing and holding animal to prevent it from struggling); most exams and minor procedures can be performed with sheep placed on its rump

Front 17

What is the correct way to approach a horse?

Back 17

from its left side, speaking reassuringly in low tones, and carefully observing the horse's body language

Front 18

Why must you be careful to prevent injury when handling sheep?

Back 18

they have fragile skeletal systems and thin, delicate skin

Front 19

Identify restraint techniques and equipment used on goat.

Back 19

equipment: neck chain or heavy, flat leather collars and leads; you can keep a goat still by lifting one of its front legs or holding onto the goat's chin or beard; if firmer restraint is required, you can put the goat on its side by grasping the legs closest to your body and gently lifting; for venipuncture, restrain goat as you would a dog

Front 20

Identify restraint techniques and equipment used on a pig.

Back 20

equipment: pig catcher (long handled, large clamp with rope that holds the ends of the clamp shut and applies to one of the rear legs), snare (place loop over the pig's snout), v-trough (restrained on its back in trough), snubbing rope (a rope with a loop at one end, tied with a slip know so that the loop can be tightened, helps restrain a captured pig's head by putting loop around the top of snout), hobbles (restrain a pig on its side);for oral medication, hold piglets on its rear legs remaining on the ground and for injections and tech procedure, hold piglet by rear legs

Front 21

Identify restraint techniques and equipment used on fowl.

Back 21

equipment: catching net (remove individual birds from flock), catching hook (used to catch chickens and turkeys; hook is about 5 inches long and attached to long-handled pole and hooks around bird's leg); restrain by holding them against a solid surface and hold the head loosely in one hand and restrain its feet with other;

Front 22

Name two reasons for restraining fowl.

Back 22

For vaccinations or for blood collection purposes.

Front 23

What is the flat, shieldlike pieces of plastic or plywood that direct pigs into an enclosure?

Back 23

a hurdle

Front 24

When holding a horse for exam, what side of the horse should you always stand on?

Back 24

the same side as the vet

Front 25

What should you do to break a biting ferret's grip?

Back 25

place the ferret under running wate

Front 26

Describe the role of the vet tech and each of the vet health care members in routine vet exams.

Back 26

Vet tech are permitted to perform physical exams as well as 1. interviewing client for presenting problem 2. taking its body systems history 3. interpreting the animal's body systems review 4. prepare any supplies and equipment necessary to perform the exam; the vet usually reviews and confirms the findings; a vet assistant may assist the vet tech in performing exam or vet tech may assist the vet

Front 27

Explain the importance, components, and process of taking a good history.

Back 27

b

Front 28

Describe appropriate small animal restraint for rountine exam procudures.

Back 28

c

Front 29

Describe appropriate large animal restraint for rountine physical exam procedures.

Back 29

d

Front 30

Identify the supplies and equipment required to perform a physical exam.

Back 30

e