Читать книгу Textbook for the Veterinary Assistant - Lori Renda-Francis - Страница 69

Physical restraint of rabbits needs to be carefully performed to avoid injury to the animal. Because rabbits have a well‐developed muscular system and thin cortical bone, they are subject to vertebral and long bone fractures if restrained incorrectly. Because most skeletal injuries associated with incorrect restraint occur in the lumbar vertebrae, it is important to firmly restrain the hindlegs.

Rabbits should be handled in a manner similar to cats; place one hand under the forelimbs and use the other hand to hold the rear legs against the body. Always place the rabbit onto a nonslip surface to ensure that it has good footing. To restrain the animal, lightly scruff it and support its dorsum with the same arm. The opposite arm is used to support the body and rear legs.