Transcript Adminstering Medications

Animal, Plant & Soil Science
Lesson C5-4
Administering Medication and Care
Interest Approach

Ask a veterinarian or a veterinary
technician to be a guest speaker and to
demonstrate (with tools) how to
properly administer medicine. The
veterinarian could also demonstrate
how to correctly dress a wound or how
to properly bandage an animal.
Objectives

Illustrate the methods (topically,
orally, and injected), and identify
the instruments (multi-dose
hypodermic syringe, hypodermic
syringe and needle, drench gun,
balling gun) used to administer
vaccines and pharmaceuticals.
Objectives



Describe the types of injections, and
determine the appropriate injection
sites.
Examine the components of a label
found on animal medication, and
interpret a veterinarian’s prescription.
Demonstrate the ability to
appropriately administer first aid and
apply bandages (pressure and
wound).
Terms






balling guns
drench guns
epidural
(intraspinal)
first aid
hypodermic
syringe and needle
injected/injectable







intradermal
intramammary
intramuscular (IM)
intraocular
intraosseous
infusion
intraperitoneal
(IP)
intravenous (IV)
Terms






multidose
hypodermic syringe
multiple injections
per os (PO)
subcutaneous
(SQ)
topical
tourniquet
What methods and instruments
are used to administer vaccines
and pharmaceuticals?
Methods and instruments used
to administer vaccines and
pharmaceuticals
 A. Methods
 1. Topical medicine is
administered externally rather than
injected or ingested.

a. It is usually in the form of a lotion,
cream, powder, or solution.
 b. It is commonly administered to the
areas around the ears, nose, or eyes.

What methods and instruments
are used to administer vaccines
and pharmaceuticals?

c. Topical lotions are water based, thin, and
absorbed quickly.
 They

are often undetectable after application.
d. Topical creams are thicker and are visible
on the skin after application.
 Creams
require more time for
medicine absorption.
What methods and instruments
are used to administer vaccines
and pharmaceuticals?

e. Ointments are the thickest form of topical
medication.
 The
medicine is suspended
in a greasy substance that
remains on the skin until
the medicine is absorbed.

f. When administering topical medicine,
gloves should be worn.
 Then
spread a thin layer of medicine over the
wounded area.
What methods and instruments
are used to administer vaccines
and pharmaceuticals?

2. Oral medicine is administered by the
mouth.
a. This is the most common way of
administering a medicine or drug to an
animal.
 b. Oral drugs can be prescribed to be
administered at different intervals and may
need to be given before or after food.

 They
can be in liquid or solid form.
 Questions about the frequency should be
addressed by the veterinarian.
What methods and instruments
are used to administer vaccines
and pharmaceuticals?

c. Oral medicine can be taken in the form of
a pill or a liquid through a syringe.
What methods and instruments
are used to administer vaccines
and pharmaceuticals?


3. Injected/injectable medicines are
administered into the body with a
hollow needle and a syringe.
The needle is sharp enough to
pierce through the skin, muscle, or vein and
allows the medication to exit the syringe
sterilely.

a. There are many different ways to administer a
medicine through injection: intradermal,
subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous,
intraosseous infusion, and intraperitoneal.
What methods and instruments
are used to administer vaccines
and pharmaceuticals?
b. Before administering the medicine to the
animal, make sure the needle is sterile.
 c. Also make sure the proper dose is given
because an overdose can hurt or potentially
kill the animal.
 d. The temperature of materials injected
into the animal should be at or below body
temperature.

 If
the medication has been chilled, you can roll
the syringe between your hands to warm it.
What methods and instruments
are used to administer vaccines
and pharmaceuticals?

e. When making an injection, make sure the
area around the injection site is clipped or
shaved to prevent the spread of germs into
the body.
 If
clipping is undesirable
or not possible,
thoroughly swab the
area with a clean
alcohol wipe before
injecting.
What methods and instruments
are used to administer vaccines
and pharmaceuticals?

B. Instruments used to administer
vaccines and pharmaceuticals
What methods and instruments
are used to administer vaccines
and pharmaceuticals?

1. Multidose hypodermic syringes—
These medical instruments are used to
inject fluids into the body or draw them
from it; they can be used multiple times.
a. Syringes consist of a plunder, barrel, and
various types and sizes of needles.
 b. Before filling syringes, the instructions on
the medicine bottle should be read
carefully.

What methods and instruments
are used to administer vaccines
and pharmaceuticals?

2. Hypodermic syringe and needles—
These small syringes are used with hollow
needles for injections of material into or
beneath the skin.


Hypodermic needles are often used to administer
insulin to animals with diabetes.
3. Drench guns—These are used to
administer calcium, niacin, de-wormers, and
other drenches.

They squirt liquid between the cheek and teeth so
the animals swallow it without the risk of liquid
entering the lungs.
What methods and instruments
are used to administer vaccines
and pharmaceuticals?

4. Balling guns—These are used to
administer oral medication by use of a
long barrel that places the medicine at
the back of the throat.

They are commonly
used in cattle to
deliver oral
medications in pill
form.
What are the different types of
injections and injection sites?
Types of injections and the appropriate
injection sites
 A. Types of injections and
routes of medication
administration
 1. Intradermal injections are given into
the skin and are used in animals when
administering an allergy test just like in
humans.

What are the different types of
injections and injection sites?

2. Subcutaneous (SQ) injections are
given under the skin.
They should be given in areas where there
is loose skin (e.g., half way up the neck in
front of the shoulder).
 Because of cancer forming at the vaccine
sites in cats that received routine vaccines,
it is now recommended to give SQ vaccines
on the limbs, as far away from the main
body as possible.
 Then if cancer forms, the limb may be
amputated to save the animal’s life.

What are the different types of
injections and injection sites?

3. Intramuscular (IM) injections are
given directly into the muscle.

a. In cattle, for example, IM
injections should always be given
in front of the shoulder instead of
on the rump because injections
leave scars that cause the meat to
be condemned at harvesting facilities.
 The
most valuable cuts from a cow are the areas
behind the shoulder, so avoiding these areas
will preserve the expensive cuts of meat.
What are the different types of
injections and injection sites?

b. These injections should be given deep
into a muscle.
 The
needle should be long enough to penetrate
skin, subcutaneous tissue, and fat to reach the
muscle.
 In addition, the needle should enter the skin
perpendicular to the skin’s surface.
 It is necessary to pull back on the syringe
plunger before injecting the drug to be certain
the syringe is in the muscle instead of in a vein.
 If blood is aspirated, the needle should be
redirected.
What are the different types of
injections and injection sites?

4. Intravenous (IV) injections are
given directly into the vein.
Most anesthetic drugs are
administered this way to allow a
quick response to the medication.
 a. The vein used depends on the
type of animal.
 b. The jugular vein is usually used
with horses, cattle, and sheep.

 The
jugular, cephalic, and saphenous veins are
used in small animals.
What are the different types of
injections and injection sites?
5. Intraosseous infusions are
injections directly into the marrow of a
bone.
 6. Intraocular injections are given
under the eyelid, into the cornea, or into
the anterior chamber of the eye.
 7. Epidural (intraspinal) injections are
given directly into the spinal canal to
provide pain relief to the hind region if a
painful surgery is being performed in
that region.

What are the different types of
injections and injection sites?

8. Intraperitoneal (IP) injections are given
in the peritoneal space or abdominal cavity.


These injections are sometimes used to treat dairy
cattle that are sick because of calcium depletion.
9. Intramammary injections are given into
the mammary glands.


These are common in dairy cattle with
infections of the udder (mastitis).
Antibiotics are given directly into the
mammary gland to provide the most direct
treatment route.
What are the different types of
injections and injection sites?


10. Multiple injections require using
different injection sites on the body (e.g.
opposite sides of the neck), especially when
repeating treatments over a number of days.
11. Per os (PO) is a medication that is given
orally.


Most medications in veterinary medicine are given
orally unless they taste bitter or the animal is
unable to eat due to intestinal disease, vomiting, or
diarrhea.
Another route is used when it will provide more
immediate or better relief.
What are the different types of
injections and injection sites?

B. It is important to remove
air from the syringe.
After filling the syringe with
the product to be injected,
the syringe should be pointed upward and
the barrel should be tapped to make air
bubbles move into the syringe tip.
 The plunger should be pushed slowly and
carefully to eject the air bubbles from the
syringe before injecting the product.

What are the components of a label
found on animal medication? How is a
veterinarian’s prescription interpreted?



It is important to read all of the components of a label
found on animal medication and veterinarian’s
prescriptions.
A. Label components
1. The label of an animal’s medication must clearly list
the name of the medicine, the dosage and duration,
the expiration date, the warnings (dangers to humans,
possible allergies), how to administer the medicine
(orally; topically; injection; with or without food; what
time of day to administer the medicine; and how
often), number of refills, quantity contained in the
prescription, the date of treatment, and withdrawal
times (if used in an animal raised for human
consumption).
What are the components of a label
found on animal medication? How is a
veterinarian’s prescription interpreted?

2. The prescription must be properly
labeled with the patient’s name, phone
number, and address along with the
name of the doctor who prescribed the
medicine.
What are the components of a label
found on animal medication? How is a
veterinarian’s prescription interpreted?
B. Veterinarian’s prescriptions
 1. Veterinary prescription drugs are
labeled for use only by or on
the order of a licensed
veterinarian.


Incidents involving the sale
and use of prescription drugs without a
prescription should be reported to the
proper state authority and the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration.
What are the components of a label
found on animal medication? How is a
veterinarian’s prescription interpreted?
2. Veterinary
prescription drugs
must be properly
labeled before being
dispensed.
 3. Appropriate
administration and
treatment records
must be maintained.

What are the components of a label
found on animal medication? How is a
veterinarian’s prescription interpreted?

4. When a doctor prescribes a medicine,
he or she should also schedule a followup appointment, if necessary.
In many cases the patient
would not need to return.
 However, after a major illness
or surgery, a veterinarian
takes precautions and
typically requests a recheck.

How do you administer first aid?
How do you properly apply
bandages?


The ability to appropriately administer first aid
and apply bandages (pressure and wound)
properly could save lives.
A. First aid is the immediate care or
treatment of sick or injured animals until a
veterinarian can be found to assist further.


1. Many types of dressings and bandages can be
used to cover wounds: gauze, tape, prepared
dressings, and cotton.
2. When animals are injured, the wounds must be
cleaned and protected so the areas of injury will
not become infected or further injured.
How do you administer first aid?
How do you properly apply
bandages?

3. If the animals could be in shock,
unconscious, or bleeding internally, they
should be handled with extreme care.
 Animals
in pain may become
frightened and try to bite.

4. Animals in shock are
very sensitive and should
be kept very still and in
areas that are free from distractions until
the veterinarian arrives to help.
How do you administer first aid?
How do you properly apply
bandages?
5. Animals with broken bones should be
kept still to reduce pain and further injury; a
temporary splint can be made to support
the broken bones.
 6. If animal eyes are protruding
from the eyelids, the eyes
should be kept moist with
sterile pads and distilled
water until the veterinarian
arrives.

How do you administer first aid?
How do you properly apply
bandages?
B. Applying bandages
 1. Bandages should
never be applied too
tightly, unless the
bandages are pressure
bandages.
 2. Tape should be applied to secure the
bandage and to help prevent the tape
from being removed.

How do you administer first aid?
How do you properly apply
bandages?

3. If animals are bleeding, use bandages
rather than a tourniquet, which is a
compressing device used to control
circulation to an extremity for a period of
time.

If a tourniquet is used, it must be loosened
for a few minutes every hour because total
loss of blood flow can cause the structures
below the tourniquet to die from a lack of
blood supply.
How do you administer first aid?
How do you properly apply
bandages?

4. Bandages need to be changed
regularly, and there are many signs that
will determine if a bandage needs to be
changed.


If the bandage is saturated with pus and
wound secretions, the bandaged area is
extremely swollen, or the original bandage
was improperly applied, a bandage change
is necessary.
5. It is also important that all materials
used to dress a wound are sterile.
How do you administer first aid?
How do you properly apply
bandages?

6. When applying a dressing to an
animal’s leg or foot, the gauze can be
wrapped around the leg.
However, it may need to be twisted,
depending on the contour of the animal’s
body.
 To keep the bandage on the animal, it is
best to split the gauze at the ends and tie it
around the animal’s leg.
 Tape should be used to secure the bandage
and gauze.

Review

What methods and instruments are used
to administer vaccines and
pharmaceuticals?

What are the different types of injections
and injection sites?
Review

What are the components of a label
found on animal medication? How is a
veterinarian’s prescription interpreted?

How do you administer first aid? How do
you properly apply bandages?