Handling and restraint are parts of our daily lives as veterinary nurses. We think nothing of bringing a dog into the treatment area on a leash, or removing a cat from its carrier; but, have we really considered what effect our handling is having on that particular animal? Will the animal associate the car and the carrier with its experience? How will its experience affect its behaviour the next time it enters the clinical environment?
If you talked to any practicing veterinary nurse around the world, you would likely hear that they commonly see patients with challenging behaviours. It may be the dog who won't hold still for a nail trim, or it may be the cat that refuses to come out of its cage. We all have seen these patients, and they are arguably one of the factors that make our job less enjoyable. How we deal with these patients defines our success in what we are trying to accomplish, but more importantly, it shapes the patient's behaviour and sets the stage for continued undesirable behaviour within the veterinary practice, and potentially at home as well.
Animal behaviour has come a long way since I first qualified. What used to be punishment for bad behaviours is now making way for more reinforcement of desirable behaviours. Our role in the clinic is no longer just advising clients on how to modify behaviours, it is now about teaching our patients that being handled is not a bad thing, and, teaching clients how to reinforce that in their own homes. But how many of us use low-stress handling on all of our challenging patients? Do we muzzle and pin down an aggressive dog so that we can finish the blood draw and move on to the next task or do we take a few minutes to counter condition it so that it sits quietly while we finish?
We are lucky to be in a profession where knowledge is advancing at a rapid rate. While this can be overwhelming at times, it also provides great opportunities to make a difference to the lives of our patients and our clients. Last month I attended a seminar by veterinarian and applied behaviorist, Sophia Yin. I have read her books before and have enjoyed watching her DVDs on low-stress animal handling in the clinical environment, but it was during her 3 day seminar that my experience and underpinning knowledge came together in a way that I did not expect. Not only did I gain new tools for handling my own pets, but I also came away inspired with new ways to incorporate low-stress handling in many of the courses that I teach so that my students can be inspired to use these techniques every day in their practices.
Perhaps one of the keys to making patients easier to handle in clinic, is being aware that low-stress handling doesn't have to take longer than traditional methods. The time spent struggling with a big dog to trim its nails can be redirected to counterconditioning and next time the dog comes in for a nail trim, it will take even less time. So why don't we routinely employ these techniques?
Some of the challenge for us may be in gaining competency in techniques that shape animal behaviour. Timing the reward, and/or consistency in applying a punishment, are key, and they take some practice. Finding the animal's greatest motivation is not just useful, it is essential in providing an effective reward. It is worth the time to gain these skills though. Not only is it less brutal on our patients, but it is more beneficial for our patients in all areas of their lives. Clients that understand their pet's behaviours, and who have skills to modify those behaviours, are better established to enjoy pet ownership. Ethical treatment of animals should incorporate their psychological needs and if we are truly advocates for our patients’ well-being, then we must apply strategies to minimize negative impact of our handling while also enhancing the likelihood that they will enjoy rewarding interactions with people in general. We hope you enjoy this issue.