This chapter revises basic handling techniques, which are essential for the safety of both patient and personnel during general animal care and nursing procedures. In addition, the chapter covers kennel and cattery construction and management, quarantine kennels and the cleaning of kennels - all extremely important in the prevention of the spread of infectious disease.

Additional information is supplied with regard to the PETS travel scheme. Although this is not a part of the Veterinary Nursing Syllabus (yet!), it is nevertheless relevant to student veterinary nurses (particularly those with reception duties, since a large number of clients are making enquiries concerning this subject).

You may also find further useful information in later chapters of this book:

• Book Two - Chapter One - General Nursing (for basic veterinary terms and definitions).
• Book Two - Chapter Five - Infectious Diseases & the Prevention of the Spread of Infection.

Jon Bowen BVetMed DipAS (CABC) MRCVS has very kindly allowed the following advice sheets to be published on www.vetnurse.co.uk:

• How do dogs learn?
• Training with food rewards.
• Clicker training.
• Environmental enrichment for dogs.

Jon is a behavioural therapist based in Chichester, West Sussex. He sees behavioural cases by veterinary referral.