Medication Administration

Question 1

What are the alternatives for oral medication administration in the Horse?

Answer 1

• Cut Syringe

- Mix drugs directly in feed (rare)

Question 2

What are the disadvantages and advantages of mixing drugs directly in feed?

Answer 2

Disadvantages: powder settles to bottom, lost and not eaten
Advantages: Technique can be used if horse is more difficult (mouth/head shy)

Question 3

What is the best way to administer drugs by mixing them directly in feed?

Answer 3

mix with handful of feed and “binder”, and feed directly out of hand.

Question 4

True or False? Balling guns are typically used for equines.

Answer 4

False. May damage structures in the mouth

Question 5

What is the proper way to use a syringe to administer medications to a horse?

Answer 5

Cut syringe, smooth edges, and mix medication with molasses, corn syrup, etc until you get a consistency between watery and balled. Insert syringe between the lip and teeth, facing the back of the mouth, administer meds, wipe rubber stopper of syringe along upper lip as removing.

Question 6

What needle size(s) is/are recommended for Intravenous injections?

Answer 6

• Typically 18G, 1 1/2’ needle (even in foals/donkeys)

- no less than 19G, 1 1/2 needle

Question 7

What technique is used while performing IV injections?

Answer 7

• always seed needle to the hub
• Hold off jugular
• Can either point needle towards the head (feels more natural at first) or towards the heart (catheters)
• attach syringe to needle hub, hold syringe by leaning fingers on neck to stabilize ( prevent touching needle), Aspirate, remove hold on vein. Inject full amount rapidly.
• Remove needle and hub together, hold off vessel for a minute

Question 8

What color are the needle hubs used during an IV injection?

Answer 8

usually pink, sometimes green

Question 9

What syringes are used during an IV injection?

Answer 9

• Luer Slip Tip
• Luer Lock Tip
• Catheter Tip
• Eccentric Luer Slip Tip

Question 10

What must you be careful to avoid when doing an IV injection?

Answer 10

The common carotid artery is very close to the jugular vein at the distal portion of the neck, the veins separate as you move further up the neck.
- Inadvertent intra-carotid administration -> may lead to seizure

Question 11

What is the proper needle size to use during an IM injection?

Answer 11

• typically 18-19G 1 1/2’ needle

- No less than 21G 1 1/2 needle

Question 12

What technique should be followed while performing an IM injection?

Answer 12

• tap near injection area first (first few times), then pinch skin in area, quickly insert needle without syringe attached.
• attach syringe and aspirate to ensure no blood, redirect if there is blood.
• Hold needle + syringe at hub area to stabilize
• Inject full amount rapidly.
• Remove needle and hub together, hold off vessel for a minute

Question 13

What are the landmarks observed for an IM injection on the neck?

Answer 13

• Ventral to ligamentum nuchae
• Dorsal lateral processes of cervical vertibrae
• Leading edge of shoulder
  Avoid fascial planes

Question 14

What are the landmarks observed for an IM injection on the semi-tendinosus/membranosus?

Answer 14

• One hands width below the tuber ischia
• One hands width above the start of the gastrocnemius tendon
• Outside thigh
  Avoid fascial planes

Question 15

How much fluid can be injected IM on the neck of a Horse?

Answer 15

10-15cc max per site

Question 16

How much fluid can be injected IM at the semitendinosus/membranosus?

Answer 16

Max 15-20cc per site, can have 2 sites in same limb at one time.