4. Animal Perception: Smell
Sense of smell is highly developed in
all domestic mammals
When encountering an unusual / unfamiliar smell…
• Horses: snort, become alert, raise head & tail, position ears
forward
• Cattle: blow thru nostrils, paw @ ground
• Dogs: tuck tail, raise hackles
4
5. Animal Perception: Hearing
• Animals are sensitive to sound, minimize
loud or potentially disturbing sounds.
• Slight sounds elicit movement of the ears
and makes the animal aware of someone
new
• Use low, smooth, confident tones to allow
the animal to become comfortable
• Position of the ears is important to
assessing animal’s attitude
5
6. Animal Perception: Vision
• Most animals are not able to focus as well on
near objects as humans
– Dogs (& likely pigs) cannot focus closer then ~30cm
• Dogs’ ability to make out form and pattern is
poor compared to humans (beware fear-biters!)
6
7. Animal Perception: Vision
• Cats have excellent night vision and are
acutely aware of small movements,
allowing them to react quickly (tapetum
permits better vision in low light – all
domestic animals but pig have)
• Quick reactions allow fearful or vengeful
cat to strike out against humans during
restraint – beware when in close proximity
and do not make sudden motions
7
8. Animal Perception: Vision
• Herbivores have wide field of vision (to see predators from
various angles)
• Horses have sluggish accommodation – which makes them
seem fractious when they’re not…they’re just trying to see
what you are doing up close
8
9. Animal Perception: Touch
• Tentative, light touch or repeated patting makes many
species nervous
• Steady, firm strokes are reassuring
• Touch is important in
the communication
between animals
9
10. Animal Perception: Touch
• Physical correction for undesirable behaviors can create
fear, stress, and anxiety in animal
• Physical correction for undesirable behaviors can
damage the human-animal bond
10
11. Animal Behavior:
Agnostic Behaviors (Fight or Flight)
• Associated with conflict (being restrained)
• Range from passive avoidance to aggression and
fighting
• Varies within and between species
Understand the
NORMAL behavior
of the species in order
to effectively restrain
11
12. Animal Behavior:
Agnostic Behaviors (Fight or Flight)
• Each animal has a fight or
flight distance – when it’s
encroached animal goes into
state of alert (sympathetic
nervous system releases
epinephrine from adrenal
gland ↑ HR & ↑ blood
flow to skeletal muscles,
lungs, brain)
• Response can vary within
the same species and with
the same animal
12
13. Animal Behavior:
Agnostic Behaviors (Fight or Flight)
Individual
Herd Animals
Animals
Avoidance:
cow crashes thru
fence;
Bunch together with a dog runs away
defined flight distance
Aggression:
cow can run you over;
dog will bite you
13
14. Animal Behavior:
Agnostic Behaviors (Fight: Aggressive Behavior)
• Irritable / Pain Induced:
– High probability for aggression if animal is apprehensive/nervous
• Maternal Aggression
– Nursing domestic species are sensitized to interference with their
offspring by strangers
14
15. Animal Behavior:
Agnostic Behaviors (Fight: Aggressive Behavior)
• Territorial Aggression:
– Strangers in animal’s territory arouses suspicion,
which can lead to attacks
• Fear-Induced Aggression:
– When animal is terrified in environment and left
with no escape, it will become aggressive
– COMMON IN VETERINARY SETTING
15
16. Animal Behavior:
Agnostic Behaviors (Fight: Aggressive Behavior)
• Intermale Aggression:
– Esp. problematic when studs are
kept together
• Dominance Aggression:
– Typically a conflict between two
animals regarding resources (males
competing for breeding females,
competition for food)
16
17.
18. Restraint: EQUIPMENT
“Just because it worked before does not mean it will
always work again…”
• If using equipment, examine before use & have it ready
• Don’t always rely on a favored
restraint technique. Tailor the
restraint to each individual
animal.
18
20. Restraint Procedures & Equipment: VOICE
• Animals respond to tone & pitch
Your anxiety results in an anxious animal
• Always let animal know you’re approaching!
Start talking to it before you get close by
• 3 Tones of Voice: Soothing, Instructional &
Commanding
20
21. Soothing Voice
• Use when animal is behaving well
• Use “crooning” words
“good, good”
“it’s okay”
“hello <pet’s name>”
• Avoid speaking urgently when the
procedure is about to take place
21
22. Instructional Voice
• Used when animal balks
• Firm, abrupt, louder than Soothing
• BE DECISIVE!
• “SIT,” “NO,” “STOP,” “WHOA!”
22
23. Commanding Voice
• Voice of authority
• Used when animal is not behaving or
paying attention
• VERY FIRM, deep and much louder,
with different inflection
DON’T SCREAM
• “ENOUGHHHHH!!!” Screaming =
“STOP IT!” Lack of control
23
24. Transferring energy
• Animals can preseve your anxieties
physically and mentally.
1. Beware of grip or force in restraint
2. Mentally clear mind of negative, angry
thoughts
24
25. Transferring energy
• Be aware of your stress level
• Actively work to be mentally calm and
relaxed!
25
27. If unsure of an animal’s
temperament
• Muzzle / gauze muzzle
• Ask for help
Some images from:
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/resources/restraint/index.aspx
28. Difficult cats
• Sometimes less is more
• Stretch out
• Use scruff of neck
• Kitty burrito
• Cat bag
• Muzzle
• Ask for help
29. Difficult dogs
• Go slow, but do not
be hesitant
• Use your body, not just hands
• Muzzle
• Ask for help
30. If too fractious or excited
• Stop.
• Take a breath.
• Maintain control.
• Ask for help.
• Some animals require sedation.
Editor's Notes
Shape and size of ears – capture sound, scent
Position of eye on head Animals focus by muscle control – slow in horses
