Low-Stress Snake Handling (Touch Gradient)

For those times when there is care or a procedure that must be done for the snake's immediate health and wellbeing, something the snake cannot opt out of or that cannot wait until later, how do you accomplish that while minimizing stress? Managing snakes in a way that mitigates stress is safer for the snake and handlers. Low-stress handling or management techniques focuses on use of the least intrusive most effective and humane ways to manage care, specifically when the snake must be handled for veterinary or other necessary care. This improves animal wellbeing and builds a more trusting animal-human relationship by continually assessing body language and behavior, both the animal's and our own. Considerate approach is the interaction between the keeper or care team and the snake not only during initial approach and contact but throughout the interaction while paying attention to inputs from the environment and outputs from the animal while care is being completed. Use of touch gradient means initiating and maintaining hands-on contact with the animal throughout the interaction or procedure using a gliding touch as the hands move to different parts of the animal's body, from the least to the most invasive that will be required that day.

Notte: This is for things that MUST be done, usually veterinary procedures or prescribed medical care. These techniques can be used in conjunction with choice-based interactions as well. Forced handling and interactions should not be used for routine management like cleaning, watering, rearranging furnishings, or just because you want to hold your snake; these things are not urgent, they are things that can wait.

Featured Snakes: Tau Ceti (TC) and Boba Pfett

You can learn more about Low-Stress Handling and Fear Free by visiting https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/beh...
https://fearfreepets.com/
https://www.behavioreducation.org/
https://fearfreeshelters.com/
https://www.spiritkeeperanimalsanctua...