Читать книгу Medicine and Surgery of Camelids - Группа авторов - Страница 40

Blood can be taken from the neck, ear, tail, or front leg. In the author's experience, the easiest location to draw blood without restraint is from the jugular vein. Always work inside a catch pen or a trailer. To assist the person drawing blood, stand on the left side of the animal, with the person drawing blood in the front and a bit to the right. Standing on the left side of the animal, the author prefers to put one hand on the handler helper (high and snug on the neck) and the other hand under the jaw. When a halter is used, there is a tendency to rely on it to hold rather than balance the head. Balance the animal and turn the head to the left, which helps the person drawing the blood to find the vein. Ask the person drawing blood to let the handler know when he or she is going to push the needle in. When the animal reacts, try to rebalance it but do not attempt to hold it down or still. It is important for both parties to remember to breathe.

Figure 2.34 In this photo, a helper is balancing the animal for an IM injection.

Figure 2.35 This photo illustrates using a handler helper, along with a balancing hand under the jaw, as the alpaca receives a subQ injection. Notice that the handler injecting the medication is using the wool to lift the skin away from the body, distracting the animal from the entry of the needle.

Figure 2.36 An intramuscular injection into the triceps muscle is done easily by reaching over the body when the needle enters. If the animal moves, he will move toward the person and away from the needle making it easier to stay with the animal without using restraint.

If the animal rears up, let him, and do not try to hold him down; this only turns a startle reaction into a panic reaction (Figure 2.37). The skin of the neck is very thick and once the needle is in, the person drawing blood can let go of the needle; it will not fall out. The person drawing blood can wait until the animal is steadied. Once the animal is standing quietly again, the person drawing blood can continue, adjust the needle placement if necessary and draw the blood. If this approach is undesirable, a chute can be used as described earlier. Shoulder neck supports and a rear barrier make drawing blood easier. Make sure that the butt board is adjusted so that the animal has minimal front‐to‐back movement. The animal should be up against the shoulder supports, and do not tie the animal in the chute. To assist, stand on the left side of the chute to steady and turn the head to the left following the same procedure as outlined above. Food can be offered as encouragement and reward to make the animal feel less anxious.