Low-Stress Handling in the veterinary clinic

This book is intended as a practical guide to enable small animal clinical veterinary surgeons and their teams to improve various aspects of their everyday practice: how they understand and relate to patients and clients, how they manage their work, the handling of animals during different procedures, and the implementation of programmes to deal with behavioural issues. These aspects will have a highly positive impact on the wellbeing of the patient, the client, and the veterinary and support staff, with the implementation of smoother and effective procedures.

Authors:

ROSANA ÁLVAREZ BUENO

Degree in veterinary medicine, food science and technology, master’s degree in apllied animal behavoiur and AVEPA-certified in behavioural medicine.

GERMÁN QUINTANA DIEZ

Degree and PhD in veterinary medicine, master’s degree in small and exotic animal medicine. He undertakes his clinical activity in the Internal Medicine Department of the A Marosa polyclinic, focusing on animal behaviour and dermatology.

KEY FEATURES:

➜ Includes videos of the most relevant procedures.

➜ Contains the main handling techniques.

➜ Has a large number of images.

➜ Explains the ethological basis of low stress management.

Table of contents

1. Veterinary behavioural medicine

The advent of animal behaviour studies

Behavioural medicine

The role of the veterinary professional

How to identify a behavioural

problem

What is a behavioural problem?

2. The emotional world of cats and dogs and agonistic behaviour

Identifying emotions

Fear and anxiety

Agonistic behaviours

3. Communication

In dogs

In cats

4. Nonassociative learning

Habituation

Sensitisation

Exposure to new stimuli

5. Associative

learning

Classical conditioning

Operant conditioning

6. Behaviour modification techniques

Systematic desensitisation

Classical counterconditioning

Operant counterconditioning

Extinction

Flooding

7. Travelling to the clinic

Home treatment

Training to use a carrier

The car journey

Handling on the lead

Placing a muzzle

8. The reception and waiting room

Entrance

Reception

Waiting room

9. Consultations

Consultation room

Equipment

Protocols

10. Hospitalisation

The hospitalisation area

Intensive care unit (ICU)

Rest

Visits from owners

11. Pheromone

therapy

What are pheromones?

Pheromone release sites

Pheromone therapy

12. Psychopharmacology

Anxiolytics

Antidepressants

Mood stabilisers

Antipsychotics

α-2 Agonists

Practical sedation protocols

13. Handling techniques

Guiding or luring

Venipuncture

Examining the head

Towel techniques

Syringe extension

Ninja technique

Appendix

BIBLIOGRAPHY