Handling an Injured Animal
Any animal injured or in pain can BITE or SCRATCH you. Even the friendliest of pets MUST BE HANDLED WITH CARE for safety of all involved. If you are accidently bitten or scratched seek medical attention. Both dog and cat bites can become infected quickly!
RESTRAINT METHODS
If your animal is injured you must restrain him/her for your safety as well as your pet’s. Muzzle your pet to restrain it unless it is unconscious, has difficulty breathing or has a mouth injury.
DOGS-Muzzle
- Speak and move calmly and quietly.
- Have someone restrain the dog with a leash
- Approach the dog from the side or behind its head; do not attempt to put muzzle from the front
- Quickly slip a nylon or wire cage muzzle over nose, secure snugly behind ears.
- If a muzzle is not available, you can make one from a strip of gauze, rag, necktie, belt or rope about 3 feet long. Make a large loop in the center. Quickly slip loop over dog’s nose. Bring ends under chin. Tie snuggly behind ears.
CATS-Muzzle
- Speak and move calmly and quietly.
- Have someone restrain the cat by holding the scruff of it’s neck firmly. This does not hurt the cat; it just prevents him/her from moving.
- Working from behind the cat, quickly slip a nylon muzzle over the cat’s face. The muzzle will cover most of his/her face, including the eyes. Secure snuggly behind head.
- If you are alone, scruff the cat with one hand and put the muzzle over the cat’s face with the other. Slide both hands along the muzzle straps and secure behind the head.
- If a muzzle is not available, one can be made with a rag or a strip of gauze. Make sure that it is carefully placed around the cat’s mouth and securely fastened, as cats can escape from these temporary muzzles.
CATS-Body Restraint
- Most cats can be restrained by holding the scruff of the neck.
- The “cat sack” can be used for fractious or very frightened cats.
- Slip sack over cat from tall to head, zip up appropriate zippers.
- Wrap cat in a towel, making sure his/her front legs are covered and against the body.
- Gloves can be used, gloves do reduce the handlers dexterity when handling always support the bottom of the animal, in case you lose your grip from the glove.