Injection sites for canines, felines and equines

Question 1

What are the type of injection sites for a canine?

Answer 1

• Subcutaneous - between shoulder blades
• Intramuscular - lumbar, cervical region and quadriceps
• Intravenous - jugular, cephalic and saphenous
• Others - intraosseous - illum, intraperitonal - caudal abdomen

Question 2

What are the type of injection sites for a feline?

Answer 2

• Subcutaneous - between shoulder blades
• Intramuscular - lumbar, cervical region and quadriceps
• Intravenous - jugular, cephalic and saphenous
• Others - intraosseous - illum, intraperitonal - caudal abdomen

Question 3

What are the type of injection sites for a equine?

Answer 3

• Intravenous - jugular
• Intramuscular - gluteals, cervical region and pertorals

Question 4

What is the technique for a subcutaneous injection?

Answer 4

• Raise a fold of skin from a suitable area
• Insert the needle under the skin and withdraw the plunger slightly. If blood appears, then venepuncture has occurred and an alternative injection site must be chosen
• If no blood appears then slowly inject the drug and withdraw the needle
• Massage the injection site gently to disperse the drug

Question 5

What is the technique for a cephalic vein injection?

Answer 5

• Ask your assistant to restrain the patient’s head with one hand and with the other hand extend the leg and apply pressure around the elbow to raise the vein
  = Stabilise the vein and then insert the needle through the skin into the vein
• Blood should flow into the syringe. If no blood flows in to your syringe reposition your needle
• If blood does flow back ask you assistant to release the vein and the administer the drug gently.
• Remove the needle and apply pressure to the vein for a minimum of 30 seconds (ideally 2 minutes)

Question 6

What is the technique for a IM injection?

Answer 6

• Ensure that the patient is adequately restrained
• Indentify the muscle
• Introduce the needle slowly at right angles to the skin
• Withdraw the plunger slightly to check for venepuncture if blood is draw back into the syringe reposition your needle
• If no blood is seen, then inject slowly
• If the patient moves draw back again to check for venepuncture
• Remove the needle and massage the injection site