CVA Animal Handling and Restraint 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the safest position for a veterinary assistant when working near the hindquarters of a horse?
- Directly behind the horse at arm's length
- Close to the horse's hindquarters with a hand on the hip (Correct answer)
- Standing to the side at the level of the flank
- Kneeling behind the horse
Correct answer: Close to the horse's hindquarters with a hand on the hip
Standing close to the horse with a hand on the hip reduces the force of a kick because there is no room to develop full kicking momentum.
Question 2: When is it appropriate to use a muzzle on a cat in a veterinary setting?
- Routinely on all cats to prevent biting
- Only when a cat has already bitten during the visit
- When a cat displays aggression that poses a risk to staff, as a last resort (Correct answer)
- Only with owner permission regardless of risk
Correct answer: When a cat displays aggression that poses a risk to staff, as a last resort
Muzzles should be used on cats when they display true aggression posing a bite risk and other calming techniques have been insufficient.
Question 3: Which of the following describes the correct technique for carrying a small dog?
- Hold under the armpits with the body hanging freely
- Support the chest with one hand and the hindquarters with the other (Correct answer)
- Grasp firmly by the scruff of the neck
- Carry by the collar with the body hanging
Correct answer: Support the chest with one hand and the hindquarters with the other
Supporting both the chest and hindquarters distributes the dog's weight and prevents injury to the spine, joints, and organs.
Question 4: A cat that is displaying 'Halloween cat' posture — arched back, piloerection, and turned sideways — is communicating:
- Playful energy and readiness to engage
- Defensive aggression and fear (Correct answer)
- Territorial marking behavior
- A medical emergency
Correct answer: Defensive aggression and fear
The 'Halloween cat' posture is a defensive display combining piloerection and lateral positioning to appear larger when the cat feels threatened.
Question 5: When restraining a reptile such as an iguana for examination, the handler must be particularly cautious of:
- The reptile's vocalizations
- Tail whipping and sharp claws (Correct answer)
- Venomous saliva in all species
- Respiratory disease transmission
Correct answer: Tail whipping and sharp claws
Iguanas use tail whipping as a primary defense and have sharp claws that can cause significant lacerations to handlers.
Question 6: The 'hood' technique for calming a fractious cat involves:
- Placing a towel over the cat's entire body
- Covering the cat's eyes and head with a small towel or hood to block visual stimuli (Correct answer)
- Placing the cat in a dark box
- Applying pressure to the top of the skull
Correct answer: Covering the cat's eyes and head with a small towel or hood to block visual stimuli
Covering the eyes and head reduces visual stimulation, which can significantly calm an anxious or fractious cat during handling.
Question 7: After a needle stick injury occurs during animal restraint, the FIRST action the veterinary assistant should take is:
- Complete the procedure before addressing the injury
- Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Apply a bandage and continue working
- Report to the veterinarian before doing anything else
Correct answer: Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water
Immediate thorough washing of a needle stick wound with soap and water is the first and most critical step to reduce infection risk.
CVA Animal Handling and Restraint 5
What is the safest position for a veterinary assistant when working near the hindquarters of a horse?