Let’s talk handling: how to keep your canine patients’ tails wagging!

ABSTRACT

Veterinary visits can be stressful for canine patients, particularly during handling and restraint. Stress or fear can have a negative effect on measurable parameters, leading to inaccurate records of blood pressure and heart rate due to “white coat syndrome”. There are a variety of ways and means available in order to facilitate a smoother visit for both the patient and owner alike. The veterinary practice journey begins from the waiting room to consultation room, handling and restraint to hospitalisation. Each individual a patient encounters is vital to their care and can also be important in ensuring their visit is as stress-free as possible. There are numerous adaptations that can be made not only from a handling perspective but practice layout as well as food involvement in patient care. Involving the owners in clinical exams can make all the difference. Attention to body language indicators is essential as often patients tell us when they need a break long before we give them the chance to have one. Small adjustments to everyday handling techniques can make all the difference.

Keywords: :

• canine
• handling
• tolerance
• breaks
• owners
• stress-free

Acknowledgements

Nicola Ruedisueli for all her help and guidance. Dr Kendal Shepherd for her permission to share the Ladder of Aggression and Canine Commandments Book. To the owner of the two dogs for their permission to share the photo of them both enjoying their lickimats together.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Emma J. Campbell

Emma J. Campbell, MSc CAB, RVN Emma J. Campbell qualified as an RVN in 2015 from Edinburgh Napier University with a BSc (Hons). In 2019 she graduated with an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour from the University of Edinburgh. She currently works at a busy mixed animal practice in East Lothian and has a keen interest in behaviour, wildlife, inpatient care and radiography. Emma is a provisional member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) and owns her own business, Let’s Talk Behaviour, focussing on canine and feline behaviour problems while working towards becoming a full member of the APBC. Email: [email protected], [email protected]