VET 270 Equine Restraint Flashcards

Flashcards for Equine Restraint, Sample Collection, and Medication Administration

Equine Restraint Dangers

Strike with the front legs, kick with the hind legs/sideways, can step on your feet, throw their heads violently. Assume they are all capable of these behaviors.

Equine Blind Spots

Poor near vision; blind spots directly in front and behind them. Verbally announce your presence before interacting

Two Types of Equine Restraint

Physical and Chemical (drugs)

Key Points of Equine Restraint

Treat each animal as an individual, be flexible, and remember horses use flight as their primary defense.

Horses are Herd Animals

Avoid quick sudden movements and gain trust by speaking softly.

Working with Horses Safely

Do not work in blind spots. Use the least amount of restraint. Approach from the left side when possible. There should always be two people—one handler, one doer.

Maintain Control of the Head

Avoid hazards. Take care of yourself and the horse. Be patient

Haltering and Leading - First Step

First step in gaining control of the animal’s head. Approach left side-at the safety position (shoulder). Place lead rope around neck and apply halter-nose first, then behind ears. Attach lead rope once halter is securely in place.

Leading Position

Stand on the same side as the person performing the procedure. Never coil or drag the lead rope. Lead from the poll.

Leading a Horse

Stand to the left side (at head level) with right hand at snap of lead rope (not on halter). The rest of the lead rope is held in the left hand folded in large loops (Never loop or coil the rope. You don’t want your hand to get stuck in it). Walk with intention.

Safe distance when leading a horse

Maintain a couple of feet distance away from your horse. Don’t have a lot of excess in your rope. It shouldn’t drag the ground. Walk along the side of the horse, not the front.

Tying Horses

Horses should be tied at shoulder level or higher on a short lead with a slip knot(quick release knot) using roughly two feet of rope.

Tying Horses - DO NOT

Do not tie below shoulder level or leave the lead long as the horse may step over the rope and injure itself. Do not leave tail dragging on the ground

Chain Lead Rope Use

A chain lead rope can be used for horses that require more restraint when performing procedures. The chain is at the horse’s end of the lead rope and can be placed over the bridge of the nose, under the chin or in the mouth. Never tie a horse with a chain lead rope in any position!

Twitch Restraint Types

Ear twitch, shoulder twitch, nose twitch. The purpose of a twitch is to distract the horse from the procedure that is being done.

Shoulder Twitch

Also called a shoulder roll or skin twitch. The skin of the lateral side of the neck is grasped vertically with both hands and pinched or rolled (like a motorcycle accelerator).

Elevating a Leg

Horses can still kick on three legs! Using a set of hobbles is safer than trying to hold the leg with just your hands, but hobbles should only be used on a front leg. Generally, you will not cradle the horse’s foot if using for restraint

IM Injection Sites

Intramuscular injections can be given in the lateral neck, pectoral muscles, triceps muscle, gluteal muscles, or semitendinosus muscle

Lateral Neck Landmarks

A hand’s width ventral to the crest of the neck (below nuchal ligament ). A hand’s width dorsal to the jugular groove. A hand’s width cranial to the cranial border of the scapula

Gluteal Muscle Landmarks

A hand’s width lateral to the dorsal midline (spine). A hand’s width caudal to the tuber coxae. A hand’s width dorsal to the greater trochanter of the femur

Semitendinosus Injections

Well suited for volumes <10 mL. Helpful to inject on leg opposite from where you stand. Avoid the groove which is where the sciatic nerve is located

Jugular Vein Venipuncture

Distend the jugular vein with opposite hand to build up pressure before venipuncture. Use the cranial half of the jugular groove, insert needle first, without syringe-should flow freely but have no pulse if in the correct location and is usually darker red in color

IV Injection Vein

The jugular vein is most commonly used, 14-22 ga needles and 1-1.5” length. Lies just below the skin in the jugular groove along with the carotid artery and vagosympathetic trunk

Oral Medications

Convert solid tablets/pills to powder form. Add dosage to something sweet to mask the taste. Use dose syringe or catheter syringe to administer medication. Use opposite hand to hold halter and open lips with thumb. Place syringe near the commissures of the lips. Push syringe towards interdental space(diastema) and administer medication

Oral Medications - DO NOT

Do not place any syringe into the mouth over the incisors (use the corners of the mouth). Avoid delivering medication across the interdental space (in one side and out the other!)

Fecal Collection

Feces can be collected from the ground with a glove (if fresh and know which horse defecated) or from the rectum with a glove or OB sleeve. Turn the glove inside out. Place in sealed plastic bag with patient’s name, owner’s name and date