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.

Cont… 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. The bolus should weigh about loz. 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 drooped, 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 The right hand is quickly withdrawn and the tongue is released.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 claves a balling 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.

Cont… 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. The pill can also be placed in between chocolates and given to the animals. 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.

Cont… 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 s 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.