Okay so hear me out. I saw this video on Instagram where a vet clinic applied a small ice pack on a cats head to get them to sit still. After seeing the video but not having a small enough ice pack, I found some mayo packets and threw those into the freezer just to try it out. My vet and I were both confident there was no way it would work, but I thought it couldn't hurt to try.
We've all had the wiggly cats that you need blood or a blood pressure reading on, etc but they just won't sit still. I'm a big fear-free advocate and cat whisperer so I usually work with the cat to do whatever makes them the most comfortable so we can get what we need (I refuse to scruff since it causes cats so much stress and anxiety). Sometimes the cat refuses to cooperate no matter what we do, and it's frustrating.
It took about two weeks until the perfect candidate came in to try the mayo packets out, but I can't stress enough how absolutely magical it has been. Several cats that wouldn't sit still for anything in the world just froze and didn't move an inch after applying the frozen mayo packet to their head. It's been a game changer.
So here is where I'd like to discuss with my fellow vet techs: is there something I'm missing? Is this cruel in any way? Are we potentially causing more fear and stress?
I can't find any information on this other than the typical, "don't do it for very long" type things but the application on the cats head is only for 2-4 minutes tops while trying to get samples for diagnostics. Not to mention the mayo packet melts incredibly quickly since it isn't meant for that type of application, so it isn't like it's applying freezer temps for more than a minute tops.
What are our thoughts?