Why Dr. Laura Catena developed the ArmOR Hand Glove

Dr. Laura Catena, founder of the ArmOR Hand Glove, is no stranger to the risks that come when working with animals. While caring for a feline patient as an emergency veterinarian, Dr. Catena was bitten on her hand. Despite thoroughly cleaning the wound, by the next morning, the infection had spread up her arm and neck. Ultimately, Dr. Catena required extensive surgery, followed by seven months of physical therapy. While recovering – and still unsure if she could continue her career – Dr. Catena had time to think.

With about two-thirds of veterinarians and a whopping 98% of veterinary technicians suffering from animal-related injuries at some point in their career, she knew that her experience was one that countless colleagues shared. So how could her injury have been avoided? This thought grew, taking on a life of its own until the idea of ArmOR Hand Gloves was born. 

Designing the Perfect Protective Glove 

Why are animal caregivers often without effective protective equipment? This was Dr. Catena’s exact question – and she set out to design an animal handling glove that would provide the solution. She knew that her protective glove would have to be extremely durable, yet also provide a great deal of flexibility, so as to allow for proper and effective animal handling. “The protective equipment available at the time of my injury consisted of bulky and inflexible welding gloves,” she recalls. “A common misconception is if the glove is bulky that it provides adequate protection, and this is not the case.” Instead, Dr. Catena chose to make the ArmOR Hand Glove out of the highest grade, hand-sewn materials, reinforcing the glove with a double layer of knit Dupont Kevlar™. As a result, this one-of-a-kind glove provides both maximum dexterity and maximum protection. As the only protective glove developed by a veterinarian, anyone who handles animals can be confident that this product was made with their professional safety as a top priority. 

Taking her invention one step further, Dr. Catena even created a second version of the ArmOR Hand Glove:  The Procedure-Palpation Glove. While the original version of the glove has protection on all fingers, this version has the first three fingertips exposed for fine motor control, allowing for maximum dexterity when performing more delicate tasks.

Testing the Puncture Resistance of the ArmOR Hand Glove

It may be hard to believe, but the job of a veterinarian is often listed as one of the most dangerous professions, even when compared to construction workers and police officers. So, after developing the ArmOR Hand Glove, Dr. Catena wanted to make sure her product would provide proper protection and in turn limit danger associated with handling animals. Confident about the effectiveness of her invention, she put the ArmOR Hand Glove through the ANSI/ISEA puncture test – the only nationally recognized puncture resistance test for protective equipment. It’s no surprise that the ArmOR Hand Glove received a 5, the top score for puncture resistance! With her product proven to be effective, Dr. Catena set out to spread the word about this revolutionary animal handling glove with the goal of helping any and all of us who work with animals stay protected.

The Animal Handling Glove That Makes Patients Happy, Too.

Dr. Catena invented the ArmOR Hand Glove not just to help vets, but patients, too. Before her injury, she had tried to wear welding gloves to handle animals, as animal handlers commonly do.These thick, bulky gloves made it very difficult to properly handle patients, which in turn caused more stress for both the patient, the client, and Dr. Catena herself. When investigating the many reasons why injuries are common among those who work with animals, Erin Spencer, MEd, CVT, VTS (ECC), finds that reducing a patient’s fear and anxiety are key for creating a safe environment at work: “as far as the thrashing animal, low-stress handling and making their experience a little better is key,” she tells DVM360. Dr. Catena is all-too familiar with the complications that can arise from handling a stressed-out or fearful patient. She kept this in top of mind when developing the ArmOR Hand Glove. It’s no surprise then that this unique protective glove has been named a Fear Free Preferred Product – meaning it has been shown to minimize fear or stress patients might experience at the clinic. 

What Are You Waiting For?!

Revolutionizing the way professionals protect themselves, its no wonder why the ArmOR Hand Glove has been named the number one animal handling glove by both veterinary professionals and wildlife organizations. So, what are you waiting for? Try the ArmOR Hand Glove today!