Veterinary Nursing school ‘Silver Low Stress Handling’

Media Alert – Otago Polytechnic

For immediate release, Friday 4 December

Otago Polytechnic Veterinary Nursing school - first NZ educational provider to be awarded ‘Silver Low Stress Handling’ certificate

If your pet is treated by an Otago Polytechnic Veterinary Nursing graduate, they can expect some special treatment.

OP has now gained a silver certificate in ‘low-stress handling’, becoming the first education provider in New Zealand to do so. Now, these industry leading techniques are being embedded in all programmes.

The Low Stress Handling course is part of a professional development resource for veterinary professionals and animal handlers, developed by American veterinarian and applied animal behaviourist Dr Sophia Yin.

“Dr Yin was passionate about using evidence-based techniques to train animals, including positive reinforcement and counter-conditioning against undesirable behaviours. She was a pioneer in developing activities that helped share these techniques with anyone wanting to learn how to handle animals more effectively,” says Jennifer Hamlin, Programme Manager Diploma in Veterinary Nursing.

“In essence, Dr Yin found an animal is much easier to handle if it is motivated by praise, toys or treats and bad behaviour goes unrewarded. In a high stress environment like a veterinary clinic, Dr Yin’s ‘pet friendly’ low stress handling techniques can make the patient more compliant, happy to come back and reduces the risk of injury to veterinary staff and the patient.”

“By making sure our veterinary nursing students have these skills, they’ll graduate knowing the best possible way to handle an animal,” says Ms Hamlin.

“We’re hoping other veterinary nursing education providers and veterinary practices in New Zealand will follow Otago Polytechnic’s lead and incorporate Dr Yin’s Low Stress Handling techniques into their programmes, eventually helping these techniques to be incorporated into all veterinary clinics.”

ENDS

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