Administration of medicines
Introduction
Medicines are administered in two ways
Oral administration – through mouth
Parental administration – any another route other than oral route.
By oral method the medicines can be administered in the liquid, solid
and semisolid form.
Drenches
Drenches are medicines given in liquid form.
Horses
May be given by the mouth or through a stomach tube. For administration of fluid
medicines to horses, the stomach tube is used, then a drenching bottle or a
drenching – bit.
Cattle
The head is raised and the drencher is introduced in to the mouth, allowing medicine
to pass little at a time.
Pigs
The head is raised with the help of a rope. The medicine is administrated through a
drenching horn or through a funnel with a curved spout.
Sheep
A drenching –gun is used to administer medicine to large numbers of sheep. The
does squirted into the back of the mouth by trigger action.
Dogs
Make a pouch on one side of the dog’s mouth by drawing out the cheek and pour the
medicine into the pouch and compress the nostrils with fore fingers and thumb.
Drenching spoons and bits are also used.
Cats
Both ears or the scruff is held and the head is forced back, then the cat will open its
mouth. The medicine is poured slowly in.
Birds
Fountain-pen filler may be used. Care must be taken not to compress the chest.
Boluses and pills
Bolus can be administered either by hand or by balling-gun.
Horses
The tongue is held outside of the mouth between the cheek teeth and the right hand is
introduced into the side of the horse’s mouth as far back as possible and the bolus is
dropped, in the throat.
The right hand is quickly withdrawn and the tongue is released.
Cattle
Bolus can be used for administering certain medicine to cattle.
If given by hand a gag must be used. For young cattle and calves a balling gun may be
used to administer bolus.
Pigs
Boluses are not usually given to pigs.
Pills and capsules may be given with a pair of curved forceps, and a gag. The mouth should
be opened by a gag and the pill can be deposited on the back of the tongue.
Sheep
Tablets, pill and small boluses are dropped on the back of the tongue by hand or by a
balling-gun.
Dogs
The pill can be administered in a bit of meat or butter.
Otherwise the mouth can be opened and the pill can be dropped as far back in the throat
and then the mouth should be closed and held tight till be animal swallows the pill.
Cats
A specially designed forceps known as Kirk’s pill forceps may be used for cats. Otherwise
the animal’s ears are held by and the head is pressed forward and when the animal opens
its mouth the pill can be dropped into the animal’s throat.
Electuaries
These are thick semisolid mixture prepared with treacle and placed on the back of the
tongue. Powders are often given by this method. This is a common way of giving
medicines for respiratory complaints.
Horses: the tongue is drawn out and the electuary is smeared on the back of the tongue.
Cattle: The nostrils are held by assistant and the operator opens the mouth of the
animal. The electuary is smeared on the tongue.
Sheep: The sheep is held as for drenching and the electuary is placed on the tongue.
Pigs: The animal is secured as for drenching. It is better to administer medicine as
electuary than as a drench.
Dogs and Cats: after opening the mouth of the animals, a bone and teaspoon is used to
administer the viscid mixtures.
Injections
Subcutaneous or hypodermic
Medicine is injected under the skin with a sterilized hypodermic needle and syringe.
The rate of absorption is slow. This injection is given in the neck region for equines and
bovines, in the flank for dogs, in the wing for poultry and in the back of ear or inside the thigh
for pigs.
Intramuscular
It is administered directly into a muscle.
A longer and stouter needle is required. The needle is introduced into the muscle by a
sudden stab, near the neck or triceps or the buttock muscles. Brisket is also suitable.
Intravenous
The medicine is injected into the jugular vein of horses and cattle at a constant slow speed.
In the pig an ear vein or femoral vein may be used. In the dog, the radial or the external
saphenous vein may be used. In most animals the jugular vein is the most suitable and
convenient.
Intraperitoneal
The drug is injected into the peritoneal cavity in large animals by means of trocar and
canula inserted into the upper part of the left flank.
Intratracheal
The drug is injected directly into the trachea with a specially made intratracheal needle
or canula in certain conditions in sheep eg. Parasitic bronchitis.
Intramammary infusions
A special syringe (Teat siphon) is used, and the infusion made into the teat canal in the
mastitis. First the fore milk in the udder is removed and then the antibiotics are infused.
Intrauterine
Antiseptic solutions are injected into the uterus to irrigate the uterine cavity.
