Procedure Steps 2025-2026

Restraint of the Cat in lateral recumbency for femoral venipuncture

1) Student Places the cat on an examination table

2) Student Gains control of the cat's head by placing a thumb on one side of the head by the jaw, the ring finger placed on the opposite side from behind the head, place pointer and middle finger on top of head and lifts it off the table enough to grasp both hind legs with his or her other hand and reaches under cat to grasp both hind limbs

3) Student lays the cat on its hind legs stretched rearward.

4) The student tucks top rear leg and tail while occluding with side of hand.

5) Student speaks to the patient in a calm and affectionate manner during the procedure

6) Communicative ability, professionalism, articulation, and customer relations

Microscope oil emission

1) Student secures glass slide onto stage and powers on the light source.

2) Student follows the "low to high rule" and chooses the lowest (scanning) objective first

3) Student keeps both eyes open and looks through the eye pieces, adjusting the distance until they see once circle of light.

4) Student controls the amount of light by adjusting the diaphragm and condenser.

5) Student uses stage controls to move the target specimen into the center of view.

6) Student adjusts the coarse focus to get the specimen into view, then the fine focus to achieve a sharper image of the specimen. Repeat these steps with each dry objective.

7) Student turns nose piece so it sets between the 40X and 100X (oil immersion) objectives and carefully places a drop of oil onto the slide over the specimen

8) Student looks from the side of the stage and uses the fine focus to make contact between the lens and the oil. The lens must not touch the glass slide. Looking through the eye pieces, the student uses the fine focus to achieve the sharpest image.

9) Student lowers the stage, removes the slide, and uses lens paper to clean oil lens

Fine Needle Aspiration

1) Student stabilizes the mass

2) Student inserts the needle into the mass

3) Student retracts the plunger on the syringe to create negative pressure

4) Student redirects the needle several times without removing the needle from the mass

5) While maintaining negative pressure, the student removes the needle from the mass. To maintain negative pressure, hold the plunger in place

6) Student removes the needle from the syringe for slide preparation

7) Communicative ability, professionalism, articulation, and customer relations

Applying standing wrap on a horse

1) Student assembles the correct material for applying a standing wrap. (No-bow wraps aka quilts and standing wrap.)

2) Student places the edge of the first layer along the inside of the cannon bone and wraps ensuring they do not create and restriction of the joints above.

3) Student continues around the lower leg of the horse making sure to apply even pressure with no wrinkles and keeps the proximal and distal edges of the wrap even.

4) Student starts the next layer halfway down the leg, in the same direction as the first layer, and ensures the wrap is even and lies flat.

5) Student pulls wrap snugly over the cannon bone and continues to wrap distally, applying steady and even pressure.

6) Student overlaps the bandage evenly, so no pressure points are created.

7) Student leaves 1/2" of the first layer showing when they reach the fetlock then continue to wrap the limb proximally

8) Once student reaches the proximal edge, they leave 1/2" of the first layer showing and wrap down the leg until the wrap can be secured with the Velcro strap

9) Communicative ability, professionalism, articulation, and customer relations

Applying a lead with chain on a horse under the chin

1) Without quick movements and loud noises, the student properly approaches the haltered patient at a 45-degree angle to the patient's left shoulder

2) Student runs the snap through the lower metal ring on the left side of the halter from the outside in

3) Student carefully guides the chain under horse's jaw

4) Student will continue up the cheekpiece of the halter and snap the lead onto the top ring of the halter

5) Student ensures the thumbtab is facing out on the snap

6) Communicative ability, professionalism, articulation and customer relations

How to apply a cat muzzle

1) Student opens the cage door and calls the cat by name

2) Student presents a closed hand to the cat to allow it to sniff her hand, strokes the cat on the head and neck, slides hand under thorax to lift the fore quarters and gently draws the cat towards them while using the other arm to support the cat's weight and drawing the cat close to your body in a kind and friendly manner to permit gentle restraint, not tight but enough to reduce wiggling.

3) Student cradles the cat's abdomen with their other hand and removes the cat from the cage.

4) With cat's head still controlled, the student places the cat under one arm close to his or her body and closes the cage door with his or her free hand.

5) Student places cat on the table

6) Student selects a muzzle of appropriate size for the cat

7) Student places cat in sitting or sternal position on exam table

8) Student positions muzzle properly in his or her hands

9) Student approaches cat from behind with the muzzle in both hands while another person restrains the cat

10) Student brings muzzle up to cat's face in one swift motion

11) Student secures muzzle behind ears

Surgical Site Prep

1) Student applies antiseptic scrub to clipped area.

2) Student preps clipped area with a clean surgical sponge beginning at incision site moving in circular motion and works toward edges

3) Student doesn't bring sponge back to incision site once it is moved away from the incision site

4) Student discards sponge once it reaches edge of clipped area

5) Student wipes clipped area with a rinse solution using a clean surgical sponge following same pattern as when scrubbing with antiseptic

6) Student reapplies the scrub and rinse a minimum of three times or until final rinse sponge was clean

7) Communicative ability, professionalism, articulation and customer relations

Placing a tail Tie

1). The student lays the rope over the tail at the tip of the tail bone.

2). The student folds all the tail hairs up over the rope.

3). The student passes the short end of the rope behind the tail, and makes a fold or bight in it.

4). The student passes the fold or bight over the folded tail and under the rope, which is looped around the tail.

5). The student pulls tight.

6) Communicative ability, professionalism, articulation and customer relations