CHAPTER III 



METHODS OF SECURING 



In securing canine or feline patients, the principal objects of 

 the operator are to place the patient in the safest and best 

 possible position for the operation to be done, and at the 

 same time to insure the minimum amount of risk for his 

 assistants and himself. Especial care on behalf of the 

 operator or his assistants must always be taken where an 

 animal is known to be vicious, and on behalf of the patient 

 when the latter is known to be nervous, fat, or aged, par- 

 ticularly in those breeds (such as pugs, bulldogs, Blenheim 

 spaniels, etc.) where the nasal bones are short and depressed, 

 as sudden death from asphyxia has been known to occur. 

 With a quiet animal the head and eyes can be examined by 

 allowing an assistant to hold the patient while the operator 

 lightly grips the throat between the thumb and the forefinger 

 of the one hand, pushing them firmly under the angles of the 

 jaws, the other hand being placed on the top of the head 

 (Fig. 6) ; all attempts at biting are thus prevented by press- 

 ing the head and jaws between the two hands. When the 

 animal is at all inclined to be vicious, the plan to adopt is to 

 request the owner to grip the patient firmly by the back of 

 the neck, whilst the operator places a tape round the jaws in 

 such a manner as to keep them tightly closed. This tape is 

 best affixed in the form of the clove hitch, having the loose 

 ends underneath, and afterwards passing them under the 

 ears to tie in a bow at the back of the poll. 



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