Small Mammal Restraint Techniques

FIGURE 1A Rabbits can experience high levels of stress but may not always exhibit an overt struggling response. Rabbits should be manually restrained by holding the thoracic and pelvic regions. Restraint can be achieved by placing one hand over the pelvic region and holding the head with the other (A), or the rabbit can be gently lifted and placed against a staff member, with one hand over the cranial body and the other holding the pelvis, to evaluate the patient’s caudal and ventral sides (B).

Figure 1B Rabbits can experience high levels of stress but may not always exhibit an overt struggling response. Rabbits should be manually restrained by holding the thoracic and pelvic regions. Restraint can be achieved by placing one hand over the pelvic region and holding the head with the other (A), or the rabbit can be gently lifted and placed against a staff member, with one hand over the cranial body and the other holding the pelvis, to evaluate the patient’s caudal and ventral sides (B).

Figure 2 Rabbits can be enveloped with a towel for a less traumatic head and oral cavity examination. The patient’s head should be exposed and secured with a staff member’s fingers placed behind the rabbit’s ears and under the mandibles to allow for oral, ocular, and otic examinations.

FIGURE 3 Gentle, lateral restraint can be helpful for lateral saphenous venipuncture in rabbits. One hand can hold the thorax while the other restrains the pelvis and holds the pelvic limb above the knee. 

FIGURE 4 Rabbits that need to be briefly transported can be wrapped in a towel or held in a football carry position, in which the rabbit’s head is tucked in the crook of a staff member’s elbow, the body is supported underneath, and the pelvic end of the patient is controlled.

FIGURE 5 Many ferrets in North America are tame, and physical examination can be performed without manual restraint. A ferret can be briefly immobilized by firmly grasping the scruff with a full palm; the loose part of the dorsal thoracic region and the head are held and the entire body is suspended.

FIGURE 6 For venipuncture or other procedures, some ferrets may allow manual restraint to be performed by 2 staff members, with one grasping the scruff of the extended neck and pulling the thoracic limbs down and the other controlling the pelvic limbs. Sedation is often required for a thorough oral examination, venipuncture, and/or imaging.

FIGURE 7 Many chinchillas will not struggle and can be handled gently during physical examination; however, some may jump, bite, vocalize, and/or spray urine. Trauma caused by handling (eg, fur slip, tail degloving, long-bone fractures) can be avoided by having a staff member restrain the patient with a full-palm grip with both hands over the dorsal thoracic and pelvic regions while avoiding fur and limb pulling during examination.

FIGURE 8A Myomorph rodents (eg, mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils) can be fractious and may inflict a painful bite in response to being handled. Some patients may allow gentle cupping, although grasping the scruff may be needed for others. These animals can be restrained by grasping the scruff of the dorsal thoracic region with a full palm (A). An alternative method is to use the index and middle fingers to grasp the animal’s entire body along the sides of the head, with the thumb and remaining fingers placed under the axillae and the other hand holding the pelvic region and the tail (B).

FIGURE 8B Myomorph rodents (eg, mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils) can be fractious and may inflict a painful bite in response to being handled. Some patients may allow gentle cupping, although grasping the scruff may be needed for others. These animals can be restrained by grasping the scruff of the dorsal thoracic region with a full palm (A). An alternative method is to use the index and middle fingers to grasp the animal’s entire body along the sides of the head, with the thumb and remaining fingers placed under the axillae and the other hand holding the pelvic region and the tail (B).

FIGURE 9 Guinea pigs are typically docile and can easily be restrained by grasping the entire body with fingers placed around the neck and the other hand placed over the pelvic region to support the body. For oral or ocular examinations, the guinea pig can be restrained using a towel, similar to the technique used in rabbits (see Figure 2).

FIGURE 10 Sugar gliders can be fractious and exhibit serious fight-or-flight responses when examined. These patients are good at escaping and have thin skin and fragile limbs. However, it is possible to manually restrain these patients for a limited physical examination. Because they have long, piercing incisors, a firm dorsal palm grip on their body, small towels, and thick protective gloves should be used. Inhalant anesthesia may be indicated, as manual restraint may not fully eliminate most associated risks.