Better Animal Handling
Humans have domesticated and handled animals for 14,000 years. Modern times have brought urbanization and technology which have caused a drastic decline in human-animal interactions. As a result, the knowledge of how to properly handle, restrain, and house animals is in decline. In Better Animal Handling, C.B. Chastain, veterinarian and professor emeritus, describes effective, humane animal handling with emphasis on safety measures to prevent injury and the transmission of zoonotic diseases.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 12 minutes
- Episodes
- 308
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
Approaching, Catching, and Handling Companion Birds
Join Dr. Chastain and Abby this week to hear about:
- How to approach and catch companion birds
- Routine handling of companion birds
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to show …
Diseases Transmitted by Companion Birds
This week's episode brings Dr. Chastain and Abby to:
- Diseases transmitted from companion birds to humans
- Sanitary practices when handling birds
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.co…
Domestication and Behavior of Companion Birds
Join Dr. Chastain and Abby this week to learn about:
- History of Companion Birds
- Bird Behavior
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Handling Ferrets
Join Dr. Chastain and Abby this week to learn about:
- Ferret behavior
- Approaching and catching ferrets
- Handling ferrets
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to show notes: Bette…
Handling Hedgehogs and Rabbits
In this episode, Dr. Chastain and Abby explain:
- The natural behavior and proper handling of hedgehogs
- Rabbit behavior and how to handle rabbits
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.co…
Handling Chinchillas, Degus, and Sugar Gliders
This week Dr. Chastain and Abby talk about:
- The behavior and handling of chinchillas
- Degus behavior and how to handle them
- Handling sugar gliders and their natural behavior
Link to show not…
Handling Hamsters, Gerbils, and Guinea Pigs
In this episode, Dr. Chastain and Abby explain:the behavior and methods of catching and handling:
- Hamsters
- Gerbils
- Guinea pigs
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to show note…
Handling Mice and Rats
In this episode Dr. Chastain and Abby describe:
- Behavior and handling of mice
- Behavior and handling of rats
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHa…
Transmissible Diseases of Small Mammals
This week, Dr. Chastain and Abby review zoonotic diseases of small mammals (pocket pets), including:
- Systemic, respiratory, digestive, skin, and vector-borne diseases of small mammals
- San…
Domestication and Behavior of Small Mammals other than Dogs and Cats
This week Dr. Chastain and Abby tell about the domestication and behavior of small mammals other than dogs and cats. Topics include:
- Domestication of small mammals, aka "pocket pets"
- Nat…
Transporting Cats
Dr. Chastain and Abby explain transporting cats in this episode, including:
- Travel regulations
- Car travel
- Air travel
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to show notes: BetterA…
Special Equipment for Handling Cats
In this episode, Dr. Chastain and Abby describe the use of:
- Cat restraint bags
- Cat muzzles
- Gloves with gauntlets
- Loops on flexible rods
- Nets
- Capture tongs
- Cage shields
- Squeeze cages
- Head movemen…
Moving Cats and Going In or Out of Cages
This week Dr. Chastain and Abby talk about:
- Carrying cats
- Using cat crates
- Inserting cats in cages
- Removing cats from cages
- Trimming cat nails
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Lin…
Approaching, Catching, and Routine Handling of Cats
In this week's episode, Dr. Chastain and Abby describe:
- How to approach and catch cats
- Routine handling and handling equipment for cats
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link t…
Transmittable Diseases of Cats
In this episode, Dr. Chastain and Abby cover the topics of:
- Diseases transmitted from cats to humans
- Preventive measures for transmittable diseases of cats
Link to show notes: BetterAnima…
Domestication and Behavior in Cats
This week, Dr. Chastain and Abby describe the domestication and behavior of cats, including:
- The history of domesticating cats
- Natural behavior of cats
- Safety measures for cat handlers
- Prom…
Transporting Dogs
This week, Dr. Chastain and Abby discuss the topics of:
- Traveling with dogs by car or truck
- Air travel for dogs
Link to show notes: BetterAnimalHandling.com
Link to show notes: BetterAnima…
Special Equipment for Handling Dogs
In this week's episode, Abby and Dr. Chastain explain:
- Head collars
- Compression jackets
- Capture poles
- Leather gloves with gauntlets
- Head movement limiting devices
- Shock collars
- Vibrating, spra…
Walking Dogs, Lifting and Carrying Dogs, and Placing Dogs in Cages and Runs
This week, Dr. Chastain and Abby cover the topics of:
- How to walk dogs
- Weight limits on lifting and carrying dogs
- Placement and removal of dogs in cages and runs
- How to trim a dog's nails
Li…
Basic Equipment for Handling Dogs
Dr. Chastain and Abby describe the proper use of:
- Leashes, including
- Slip leashes
- Snap leashes and retractable leashes
- Collars, including
- Flat and rolled collars
- Choke (attention) collars
- Mart…