ANIMAL RESTRAINT DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20130233253A1
• Filed: 04/26/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Craig E. Ritchey, Grant A. Ritchey
• Original Assignee: Grant A. Ritchey
• Inventors: Ritchey, Grant A., Ritchey, Craig E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,782,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/821
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/04 Devices for impeding movement; Devices for impeding passage through fencing , e.g. hobbles or the like; Anti-kicking devices impeding passage under fences A01K15/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 2003/003 with head or neck restraining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 3/00 Appliances for supporting or fettering animals for operative purposes fettering in slaughter houses A22B1/00

Abstract

An animal restraining device and method provide dual capability for restraining an animal and administering medications. A first embodiment provides an administration tube connected to a body with handles which can be grasped by user to position the device either for restraining or administering medications. A second embodiment is a continuous hook-shaped member having a hollow passageway in order to introduce medications. The second embodiment is reversible to place either end of the device in the animal'"'"'s mouth for restraining or administering medications, depending upon the size of the particular animal. The method of restraint includes positioning the device in the animal'"'"'s mouth and applying a force to elicit a natural response by the animal which causes the animal to pause or remain motionless for a period of time while a caregiver may treat or examine the animal. Third and fourth embodiments of the device include opposing hook portions that can be used to hook or secure the leg of an animal prior to administering medications. The opposing hook portion has an end opposite curvature as opposed to the hook or curved form between the administration tube and body of the first embodiment, and an opposite curvature as compared to the hook shaped second embodiment.

Claims

1. A method of restraining an animal for purposes of treatment, evaluation or observation, said method comprising:

providing a device having a curved body, at least one handle disposed on said body, an administration tube having proximal and distal ends, and connected to said curved body between said proximal and distal ends, said administration tube being offset from said curved body at an angle;

grasping said at least one handle;

placing the distal end of the administration tube in the mouth of the animal;

applying a forced in a rearward direction thereby lodging the distal end of the administration tube in a first position between the lip and back teeth in a corner of the animal'"'"'s mouth; and

adjusting an amount of force to obtain the animal'"'"'s attention and to occupy the animal while the device is within the animal'"'"'s mouth.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further including:

adjusting a location of the device from within the animal'"'"'s mouth from the first position to a second position where the distal end of the administration tube is placed at the base of the animal'"'"'s tongue, thereby enabling administration of a solid or liquid medicament through the administration tube into the animal'"'"'s mouth.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

administering a solid medication by placing solid mediation within the administration tube, and transporting the medication through the administration tube into the animal'"'"'s mouth by a push rod inserted through the proximal end of the administration tube and pushing the medication out the distal end of the tube.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further including:

administering a liquid medicament to the animal by providing a syringe with a flexible tube connected to a dispensing end of the syringe, placing the flexible tube through the administration tube, and activating the syringe to deliver the fluid through the flexible tube and into the animal'"'"'s mouth.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said distal end of said administration tube during use remains in the mouth of the animal and is not placed within the esophagus of the animal.

6. A method of restraining an animal for purposes of treatment, evaluation or observation, said method comprising:

providing a device having a hollow u-shaped body;

grasping the body;

placing an end of the device in the mouth of the animal in a first position;

applying a forced in a rearward direction thereby the end of the device in a first position between the lip and back teeth at a corner of the animal'"'"'s mouth; and

adjusting an amount of force to obtain the animal'"'"'s attention and to occupy the animal while the device is within the animal'"'"'s mouth.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 6, further including:

adjusting a location of the device from within the animal'"'"'s mouth from the first position to a second position where the end of the device is placed at the base of the animal'"'"'s tongue, thereby enabling administration of a solid or liquid medicament through the body of the device into the animal'"'"'s mouth.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said end of said device placed in the mouth of the animal during use of the device remains in the mouth of the animal and is not placed within the esophagus of the animal.

9. A method of restraining an animal for purposes of treatment, evaluation or observation, said method comprising:

providing a device having a hollow curved body, at least one handle disposed on said body, and an opposing hook portion formed at an end of the device opposite said curved body, said opposing hook portion including a curved portion having a curvature opposite to a curvature of said curved body;

placing the distal end of the device in the mouth of the animal;

applying a forced in a rearward direction thereby lodging the distal end of the device in a first position between the lip and back teeth in a corner of the animal'"'"'s mouth; and

adjusting an amount of force to obtain the animal'"'"'s attention and to occupy the animal while the device is within the animal'"'"'s mouth.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, further including:

adjusting a location of the device from within the animal'"'"'s mouth from the first position to a second position where the distal end of the device is placed at the base of the animal'"'"'s tongue, thereby enabling administration of a solid or liquid medicament through the hollow curved body of the device into the animal'"'"'s mouth.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 9, further including:

administering a solid medication by placing solid mediation within the body of the device, and transporting the medication through the device into the animal'"'"'s mouth by a push rod inserted through a proximal end of the body of the device and pushing the medication out the distal end of the device.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9, further including:

placing the opposing hook portion around a leg of the animal to temporarily hold the animal in place; and

removing the hook portion from around the leg of the animal.

13. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said distal end of said device during use remains in the mouth of the animal and is not placed within the esophagus of the animal.

14. A method, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said distal end of said device is placed at the base of the animal'"'"'s tongue at the entrance to the throat of the animal, but not placed within the esophagus of the animal.

15. A method of restraining an animal for purposes of treatment, evaluation or observation, said method comprising:

providing a device having a hollow u-shaped body and an opposing hook portion formed at an end of the device opposite of said u-shaped body, said opposing hook portion including a curved portion having a curvature opposite to a curvature of said u-shaped body;

placing an end of the u-shaped body in the mouth of the animal;

applying a forced in a rearward direction thereby lodging the end of the device in a first position between the lip and back teeth at a corner of the animal'"'"'s mouth but not placing the end of the device within the esophagus of the animal;

adjusting an amount of force to obtain the animal'"'"'s attention and to occupy the animal while the device is within the animal'"'"'s mouth.

16. A method, as claimed in claim 15, further including:

adjusting a location of the device from within the animal'"'"'s mouth from the first position to a second position where the end of the device is placed at the base of the animal'"'"'s tongue, thereby enabling administration of a solid or liquid medicament through the device into the animal'"'"'s mouth.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, further including:

administering a liquid medicament to the animal by providing a syringe with a flexible tube connected to a dispensing end of the syringe, placing the flexible tube into hollow u-shaped body, and activating the syringe to deliver the fluid through the flexible tube and hollow body and into the animal'"'"'s mouth.

18. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

said distal end of said device during use remains in the mouth of the animal and is not placed within the esophagus of the animal.

19. A method of restraining an animal for purposes of treatment, evaluation or observation, said method comprising:

providing a device having a hollow u-shaped body and a hollow opposing hook portion formed at an end of the device opposite of said u-shaped body, said opposing hook portion including a curved portion having a curvature opposite to a curvature of said u-shaped body;

placing the opposing hook portion around a leg of the animal to temporarily hold the animal in place;

removing the hook portion from around the leg of the animal;

placing an end of the u-shaped body in the mouth of the animal;

applying a forced in a rearward direction thereby lodging the end of the device in a first position between the lip and back teeth at a corner of the animal'"'"'s mouth; and

adjusting an amount of force to obtain the animal'"'"'s attention and to occupy the animal while the device is within the animal'"'"'s mouth.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, further including:

adjusting a location of the device from within the animal'"'"'s mouth from the first position to a second position where the end of the device is placed at the base of the animal'"'"'s tongue, thereby enabling administration of a solid or liquid medicament through the device into the animal'"'"'s mouth.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19, further including:

administering a liquid medicament to the animal by providing a syringe with a flexible tube connected to a dispensing end of the syringe, placing the flexible tube into hollow u-shaped body, and activating the syringe to deliver the fluid through the flexible tube and hollow body and into the animal'"'"'s mouth.