Stress-Relieving Animal Treatment and Handling Device

Abstract

An animal treatment and handling device and method includes a fabric bag sized and shaped to receive the animal's torso and legs therein, with dorsal and ventral surfaces extending longitudinally from an anterior to a posterior end. The bag includes an adjustable collar at the anterior end, and a first zipper extending along the dorsal surface from an anterior end portion to a posterior end portion. An integral, elongated outer wrap extends transversely with a length sufficient to be wrapped around the bag and the animal therein to impart a uniform, calming pressure to the animal's thorax. A plurality of alternately openable and closable doors provide physician access to the animal through the bag and through the outer wrap.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An animal treatment and handling device comprising:
 a bag fabricated from a fabric material, the bag being sized and shaped to receive the animal's torso and legs therein, the bag having dorsal and ventral surfaces, each extending in a longitudinal direction from an anterior end to a posterior end;   the bag having an adjustable collar disposed at the anterior end;   the collar being adjustable between an open position in which the collar forms an open loop to enable the animal's neck to be moved transversely into the collar, and a closed position in which the collar forms a closed loop around the animal's neck;   a first zipper extending along the dorsal surface from an anterior end portion to a posterior end portion, the first zipper configured for closing the bag around the animal;   an integral, elongated outer wrap having a length extending transversely to the longitudinal direction, and a width, wherein a central portion of the wrap is secured to the ventral surface of the bag so that opposite wrap end portions are extendable transversely on opposite sides of the bag, while being wrappable around the bag with the opposite wrap end portions being disposed in overlapping engagement and secured to one another to apply thoracic pressure to the animal;   a plurality of doors being alternately openable and closable to provide physician access to the animal through the bag and through the outer wrap;   wherein the device is configured for:
 (a) being placed on a surface with the opposite wrap end portions extending transversely on opposite sides of the bag; 
 (b) the bag being opened by unzipping the first zipper and placing the collar in the open position; 
 (c) the animal being placed in an upright/ventral recumbency position on top of the open bag; 
 (d) the collar being placed in the closed position around the neck of the animal; 
 (e) the first zipper being zipped to enclose and retain the animal in the bag; 
 (f) the opposite wrap end portions being lifted from opposite sides of the bag to wrap the outer wrap around the bag and the animal therein to apply thoracic pressure to the animal; and 
 wherein said (d), (e), and (f) are effected while maintaining the animal in the upright/ventral recumbency position without lifting the device off the surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first zipper extends from the collar to the posterior end portion. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first zipper is zippable from the collar to the posterior end portion to enclose and retain the animal in the bag. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , the collar having a first hook and loop fastener configured to adjustably secure the collar about the animal's neck, and wherein upon the collar being secured to the animal's neck and the animal being received within the bag, the first zipper is zippable from the collar to the posterior end portion to enclose and retain the animal in the bag. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said length extends between opposite wrap end portions, and said width extends within a range of from about one-third to two-thirds of a distance from the anterior end to the posterior end of the bag. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein a central portion of the wrap is secured to the ventral surface of the bag at a location closer to the anterior end than the posterior end, with the opposite wrap end portions extending transversely to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the wrap is wrappable around the bag and the animal therein with end portions being disposed in overlapping engagement with one another and secured to one another with second hook and loop fastener portions to apply thoracic pressure to the animal. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a second zipper extending along a posterior end portion of the ventral layer, that provides physician access to the posterior of the animal. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of doors are alternately openable and closable with third hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of doors include first and second doors extending through a posterior end portion of the dorsal surface on opposite sides of the first zipper. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of doors include a third door extending through the central portion of the wrap and through the ventral layer. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of doors further include fourth and fifth doors extending through a posterior end portion of the ventral surface on opposite sides of the second zipper. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of doors and said second zipper are configured for providing said physician access to perform one or more procedures selected from the group of: blood draw, cystoscentesis, abdominal ultrasound imaging, vaccine and medication administration, grooming, nail trim, IV catheter placement, rectal temperature assessment, enema administration, anal gland assessment, palpating the abdomen and bladder, obtaining sterile urine samples with a needle, cleaning wounds, drawing blood at the medial saphenous vein, taking blood pressure, conducting a physical exam, and/or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . An animal treatment and handling device comprising:
 a bag fabricated from a fabric material, the bag being sized and shaped to receive the animal's torso and legs therein, the bag having dorsal and ventral surfaces, each extending in a longitudinal direction from an anterior end to a posterior end;   the bag having an adjustable collar disposed at the anterior end;   the collar being adjustable between an open position in which the collar forms an open loop to enable the animal's neck to be moved transversely into the collar, and a closed position in which the collar forms a closed loop around the animal's neck;   a first zipper extending along the dorsal surface from the collar to a posterior end portion, the first zipper configured for closing the bag around the animal;   the collar having a first hook and loop fastener configured to adjustably secure the collar about the animal's neck, and wherein upon the collar being secured to the animal's neck and the animal being received within the bag, the first zipper is zippable from the collar to the posterior end portion to enclose and retain the animal in the bag;   an integral, elongated outer wrap having a length extending between opposite wrap end portions and a width, the width being within a range of from about one-third to two-thirds of a distance from the anterior end to the posterior end of the bag;   a central portion of the wrap being secured to the ventral surface of the bag at a location closer to the anterior end than the posterior end, with the opposite wrap end portions extending transversely to the longitudinal direction;   wherein the opposite wrap end portions are extendable transversely on opposite sides of the bag, while being wrappable around the bag and the animal therein with the opposite wrap end portions being disposed in overlapping engagement with one another and secured to one another with second hook and loop fastener portions to apply thoracic pressure to the animal;   a second zipper extending along a posterior end portion of the ventral layer, that provides physician access to the posterior of the animal;   a plurality of doors being alternately openable and closable with third hook and loop fasteners to provide physician access to the animal through the bag and through the outer wrap;   the plurality of doors including first and second doors extending through a posterior end portion of the dorsal surface on opposite sides of the first zipper;   the plurality of doors including a third door extending through the central portion of the wrap and through the ventral layer;   the plurality of doors further including fourth and fifth doors extending through a posterior end portion of the ventral surface on opposite sides of the second zipper;   wherein the device is configured for:   (a) being placed on a surface with the opposite wrap end portions extending transversely on opposite sides of the bag;   (b) the bag being opened by unzipping the first zipper and placing the collar in the open position;   (c) the animal being placed in an upright/ventral recumbency position on top of the open bag;   (d) the collar being placed in the closed position around the neck of the animal;   (e) the first zipper being zipped to enclose and retain the animal in the bag;   (f) the opposite wrap end portions being lifted from opposite sides of the bag to wrap the outer wrap around the bag and the animal therein to apply thoracic pressure to the animal; and   wherein said (d), (e), and (f) are effected while maintaining the animal in the upright/ventral recumbency position without lifting the device off the surface.