• Vetiranary Medicine
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

AVMA positions itself on physical restraint

March 1, 2002

Following a DVM's animal abuse conviction, the country's largest veterinary group publishes statement on humane restraining methods

Schaumburg, Ill.-The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)recently issued its first position statement on proper physical restraintof animals.

The position was enacted in response to publicized cruelty cases againstveternarians such as the case involving Dr. Howard Baker, of Pella, Iowa.

Baker, who was exonerated of all charges, had his license yanked in July1999 on an animal cruelty conviction. Evidence against him included an undercoveranimal rights operative's testimony that Baker beat patients while restrainingthem.

An appeals court has since cleared the veterinarian, but the incidentalerted the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to public misconceptionson how to handle animals.

Cruelty or restraint?

"This case proves that there are situations where veterinariansface accusations because members of the public do not have a clear understandingof what proper restraint should be," says Dr. Gail Golab, AVMA assistantpublic affairs director and human-animal bond expert. "It's also away of drawing to a veterinarian's attention the appropriate methods forphysical restraint."

Advertisement

For six months, a panel of experts worked to draft the document, whichis just a paragraph in length. But as Golab explains, it was virtually impossibleto divide restraint guidelines among species "because there was somuch in the way of species differences and situational dependence."

As it reads, the position statement justifies restraint for purposesof examination, sample collection, drug administration, therapy and manipulation.It adds that restraint "should protect both the animal and personnelfrom harm" and should be "planned, formulated and communicatedprior to its application."

The proper uses of chemical restraint are not outlined in the positionbut mentioned as a "preferred method" in some situations.

Golab says that while an AVMA position statement on pharmaceutical restraintis desirable, it's also a separate issue.

Related Content:

Association
ABVS approves full recognition for shelter medicine practice
ABVS approves full recognition for shelter medicine practice
Pet Advocacy Network honors outstanding contributions to the pet care community
Pet Advocacy Network honors outstanding contributions to the pet care community
Q&A with AVMA treasurer Dr Arnold L. Goldman
Q&A with AVMA treasurer Dr Arnold L. Goldman

Advertisement

Latest News

Spectrum of care: protocols to support pet owners’ budgets

How to support women while still running a successful business

The Vets expands to Raleigh, NC

Two pups find their forever homes while at Fetch Charlotte

View More Latest News
Advertisement