Download Parenteral Administration of Medication in Small Animals

Oral (PO)
 Sublingual
 Via feeding tube

› Esophagostomy
› Gastrostomy
› Jejunostomy
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Aural
Topical
Topical ophthalmic
Transdermal
Intranasal
Inhalation
Orogastric intubation
› Nebulized or volatilized
 Nasogastric
 Intratracheal
intubation
 Rectal (PR)

o Intradermal (ID)
o Subcutaneous (SC or SQ)
o Intramuscular (IM)
o Intravenous (IV)
o Intraosseous (IO)
o Intraperitoneal (IP)
o Epidural/subdural
o Intracardiac (IC)
o Intramammary
Patient Factors
 Health conditions
› Symptoms
› Absorption rate of
drug required
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Temperament
Ease of administration
for client
Drug Factors
 Formulation of drug
 Cost
 Systemic vs. local
effect desired

Does the medication require any special
precautions to be followed during
administration?
› Examples:

Potential side effects of drug?
› Pain at injection site
› Vomiting/GI upset/constipation
Gather supplies
 Needles
 Syringe
 Medication to be injected
For venipuncture only:
 Cotton ball with alcohol

Needle gauge is determined by:
› Route of administration
› Consistency of drug
› Patient size

Two needles are required:
› One to draw up the medication
› One to administer the medication
Why is this?

Draw up exact amount of drug
› May use a small gauge needle

Aspirate all drug into the syringe (out of needle)
› This prevents _______ _________
Remove needle and replace with
appropriate needle
 Carefully ensure all air is out of the syringe
by slowly depressing the plunger
 Ensure accurate amount of medication
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Supplied as:
› Sterilized solutions
› Sterilized suspensions
› Powders that must be mixed, or _______________
with sterile solution

May be stored in:
› Vials (single or multi-dose)
› Ampules
› Fluid bags

Indications for:
› Desensitize skin/local nerve block
› Allergy skin testing
Skin is usually shaved
 Animals are usually sedated
 Drug does not go systemic

› Only effects localized area

Skin is pulled taught and a 25 to 27 gauge
needle is attached to a syringe and
inserted with the bevel up into the dermis.
› If allergy testing: A 0.1 ml volume of allergen is
injected.
› If locally anesthetizing skin: dose of drug based
on weight
 What two drugs commonly used?

The injection site will look like a translucent
lump if the injection is performed correctly
› Referred to as a _________

Indications for IM injections:
› Anesthetics/sedatives
 Convenient route of administration for
____________ animals
› Pain medications
› Heartworm treatment
Appropriate route for injection of _______
volumes of medication
 Generally, more painful for animals than
SC or IV.

› Why?
1. Lumbosacral region
 Epaxial muscles
___________ to the dorsal
spinous processes
2. Hind limb
 Semimembranosus/
semitendinosus muscles
 Quadriceps muscle

Deep IM injection into the
third to fifth lumbar region
of the epaxials are used to
administer ______________
heartworm treatment
(Immiticide®).

Quadriceps: most
cranial aspect of limb

Semis: small strap of
muscle belly on the
caudal aspect of limb

Needle should always
be directed away
from the ___________
____________.



Isolate the muscle between the fingers and thumb
of non-dominant hand.
A 22 to 25 gauge needle attached to a syringe is
embedded in the muscle at a ______ angle.
Aspirate
› What should you feel?
› What do you do if you see blood in needle hub?


Once in the muscle, inject the medication.
Massage the site for a few seconds after the
injection to help distribute the liquid.
› Exception:
Tissue trauma
 Nerve damage

Drugs and/or fluids may be injected directly
into a vein.
 IV route produces an ______________ response
 Indications for IV injections:
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Inducing anesthesia
Chemotherapeutic agents
Anti-convulsant drugs
Vesicants
Emergency/resuscitation drugs
Large amounts of _________ needed
Requires new needle for administration

Cephalic is most common
› Saphenous may be used if needed

Jugular is never used unless a ________
________ catheter is placed
**If multiple drugs are prescribed or
repeated access is needed, an
intravenous catheter should be placed
Pull up the drug (same as for IM injection)
 Expel all air bubbles from the syringe prior
to inserting into the vein.

› Prevents ________ ___________
Restrainer should occlude the vessel
 Swab the skin with an alcohol-soaked cotton
ball (go with the fur).
 Insert a 20- to 25- gauge needle, bevel up into
the vein.

› Only go in until a flash is seen
› Confirm placement by gentle aspiration

Venipuncturist: communicate to restrainer
“I’m in” or “ready to inject”

Restrainer: release pressure from the vein
› VERY IMPORTANT STEP

Inject the medication into the vein
› If large volume of drug or movement of needle:
re-aspirate to confirm placement in vein
Communicate with restrainer and remove
needle
 Apply firm digital pressure to the injection site
until hemostasis/coagulation occurs

Hematoma formation
 Air-embolus
 Septicemia
 Perivascular injection of drug

› Skin ____________
› Incorrect absorption rate