Small Animal Injections Flashcards
What is the proper way to hold a syringe?
hold syringe between thumb and index finger
What is the proper way to work a syringe?
work the plunger with middle or ring finger
True or false: you should hold a syringe like a dart or cigarette.
False
True or false: you should not have to readjust your fingers to perform the task.
True
How should we always insert a needle?
with the bevel facing ceiling for injection ot venipuncture that way the sharpest part of the needle puntures the skin and the bevel up allows for immediate blood flow from vein
What is the standard syringe size for vaccinations?
3mL
How do we determine the size of our syringe?
based on medications being administered ot amount of blood needed
The diameter of the needle _______ as gauge size increases.
decreases
How do we select needle size?
based on patient size and viscosity of drug
Most of the time in small animal, what gauge needle is used for premedication or vaccinations?
22g
Since carprofen is a thicker drug, what gauge do we generally use instead of 22g?
20g
What length needle do we generally use in small animal?
1 inch
What length needle do we use for deep IM injections during heartworm treatment?
1.5 inch
2mL of whole blood with yield approximately how much serum?
0.5-1mL depending on the hydration of the patient
What gauge needle do we use for dog cephalic or lateral saphenous blood draws?
22g
What gauge needle do we use for dog jugular blood draws?
20 or 22g
What gauge needle do we use for cat jugular blood draws?
22g
What gauge needle do we use for cat medial saphenous blood draws?
25g
What length needle do we use for blood draws?
1 inch
A lavender top tube has what additive?
EDTA
What blood tube is used for a CBC?
lavender top
A tiger top / yellow top tube is what?
serum separator
Which tube has no additives?
red top
A green top tube contains what additive?
sodium heparin
A blue top tube contains what additive?
sodium citrate
What tube do we use for a clotting profile?
blue top
For all blood chemistry, what is preferred over plasma?
serum
Serum has essentially the same composition as plasma, excet that what has been removed and it has a higher what?
- fibrinogen and clotting factors II, V, and VIII have been removed
- higher serotonin content
How do we combine medication in a syringe?
- first determine if the medications can be combined
- once we have determined they can be combined, remove the needle on the largest syringe or get a new syringe that all medication will fit into
- pull the plunger back on the syringe that medication is going into
- place needle of syringe with smallest amount of medication into the large syringe tip
- press down on plunger of smallest syringe so medication gets deposited into the larger syringe
How do we draw up injectable medications?
- hold bottle upside down
- stick needle into rubber stopper
- draw fluid into syringe then push any air back into bottle
- flick syringe to remove any air bubbles
Why do we want to avoid injecting air bubbles into patient?
avoid injecting air bubbles, especially IV as it can cause an air embolus in vessels
Do we change the needle before injecting our patient?
You can, but its optional
What should we always do prior to giving an injection, regardless of substance being injected?
aspirate
What do we do if we get blood back on aspiration?
- STOP
- pull syringe out and begin again
- can be a complication depending on the substance being injected
What should we do in the live patient before restraining and attempting to perform and task?
have all supplies ready:
- blood tubes
- syringes
- alcohol or disinfectant
- treats
- muzle
- clippers
- anything else you think you may need
Where do we give SQ injections in small animals?
under loose skin
Where do we give vaccines in dogs?
- AAHA guidelines exist but no specific site
- site is clinic dependent:
LMU required on the right (dhpp in front and rabies in rear) and lifestyle on the left (lepto, lyme, bordetella, flu, rattlesnake)
MAKE SURE YOU DOCUMENT WHERE YOU GAVE IT
Where do we give vaccines in cats?
specific AAFP guidelines:
- administer in the distal limb below the elbow or hock
- right front = FVRCP
- right rear = rabies
- left rear = feline leukemia
DOCUMENT LOCATION GIVEN EVEN THOUGH STRICT GUIDELINES
Why do cats have specific guidelines for SQ/vaccine injections?
- vaccine induced sarcomas
- to remove you need 5cm in all directions and 2 fascial planes
How do we give a SQ injection?
- tent the skin with your non dominant hand and give the needle with your dominant hand
- remember to aspirate (pull back) before giving medication
What are the most common sites for IM injection?
- semimembranosus/semitendinosis
- epaxials (deep IM)
What do we use IM injections for?
premedication, sedatives or treatments such as for heartworm disease
What are the alternate sites for IM injection?
- quadriceps
- triceps
What do we need to be aware of when using semimembranosus/semitendinosus for IM injection?
sciatic nerve
How do we give an IM injection in semimembranosus/semitendinosus?
- place non dominant hand on rear leg with the thumb over the femur
- use your dominant hand to give the injection
- point the needle caudally or away from the sciatic nerve
- remeber to aspirate before giving medication to ensure you are not in a vessel
How do we give an IM injection in the epaxial muscles?
- place your thumb on the iliac crest and your index finger on the dorsal spinous processes with your non dominant hand
- inject with your dominant hand in the middle of the triangle about 1 inch off midline to miss the transverse processes
- insert the needle perpendicular to the skin
- sink needle to the hub
- aspirate before injecting
How do we give an IM injection using the quadriceps muscle?
the quadriceps muscle is located cranial to the femur. Place the non dominant hand on the femur. With your dominant Hand insert the needle pointing cranial into the muscle belly (away from sciatic nerve), aspirate, and inject into muscle.
How do we give IV injections?
- choose vessel wisely - will an IVC be placed?
- hold syringe properly, insert needle into vein through the skin at about a 10 degree angle
- then flatten the needle and syringe so it is parallel to the vein
- pull back on syringe with ring finger to retrieve blood
- if injecting medication once you see the flash inject medication into vein slow and steady (do not forget to tell restrainer to “let up” on their roll off)
What are complications of phlebotomy and injections?
- hematoma formation
- abscess formation from injection
- injection into the sciatic nerve
- hemorrhage if patient has coagulopathy
- placement of drug in wrong location
- decreased absorption rate
- adverse reaction
- patient, handler, or veterinarian getting injured
If you need to recap a needle, what method do you use?
scoop technique
After giving an injection, what should you immediately do with the syringe and needle?
drop the syringe with uncapped needle directly in sharps container
How do we remove the cap from the needle?
with our hands, NOT our teeth
True or false: you shoudl put loaded or used syringes in your pocket.
False
What should we label on all syringes?
drug name
True or false: Whenever possible, do not disconnect syringes from used needles.
True
Whose responsiblity is safe sharps management?
Mine
You are presented with a 20lb Yorkie that has been limping for one week and the owners are concerned. After your physical exam and radiographs you diagnose the dog with luxating patella and wish to send home Gabapentin for pain management. Please calculate and identify how many milligrams this patient will need per dose to send home with your client.
*Gabapentin Dosage: 10mg/kg
90mg
After seeing one of your favorite clients and her cat “Reese” you decide the patient needs an antibiotic injection. You select an antibiotic injection called Convenia that lasts for 14 days to help clear Reese’s upper respiratory infection. How many milliliters of Convenia will you need to pull up into the syringe?
*Convenia 80mg/ml
*Dose: 8mg/kg
*Reese’s Weight: 10lbs
0.45mL
