Handling and Administering Medications

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Handling and Administering Medications

• 4-H Veterinary Science
• Extension Veterinary Medicine
• Texas AgriLife Extension Service
• College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical
  Sciences
• Texas AM System
• http//aevm.tamu.edu

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Objectives

• Discuss the measurement of calculated dosages of
  medication
• Define routes of administration of medications
• Describe the instruments used in administration
  of medications

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• Handling Medication
• Storage
• Dispensing
• Measuring
• Administering Medication
• Instruments
• Routes

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Storage

• Very important
• Store products at
• Room temperature
• 60- 80F
• Refrigeration temperature
• 35- 45F
• Dry environment
• Dark environment
• READ THE LABEL!

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• Product distribution
• Non-transparent containers
• Do not
• Translucent containers
• Direct sunlight
• Indirect sunlight

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• So why is the sun bad?
• Reduces effectiveness
• Vaccines
• Antibiotics
• Hormones

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• Guidelines
• Refrigeration or room temperature
• Dark environment
• Sanitary conditions
• Prevent contamination
• Loose effectiveness
• Source of infection
• Do save remaining products
• Dried products
• Expiration date
• Seal

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Dispensing

• Properly labeled
• Manufacturers
• Veterinarian
• Types of dispensing
• Over-the-counter (OTC)
• Veterinarian
• OTC
• Prescription
• On-label
• Extra-label

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• Regulations
• FDA
• State boards of veterinary medical examiners
• TVMA

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• A label needs

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• Example

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Measuring

• Drugs and chemicals
• Body weight determines dose
• Biologicals (vaccines, etc)
• Same dose for all

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• Dose is on the label
• Quantity measurements
• Liquids
• Cubic centimeters (cc)
• Same as ml
• Ounces (oz)
• Solids
• Milligrams (mg)
• Grams (g)
• Ounces (oz)
• Pounds (lb)
• Pills
• Tablets (tab)
• Boluses

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• Animal weight
• Kilograms (kg)
• Pounds (lb)
• Remember
• 1 kg 2.2 lb
• 1 lb 0.45 kg

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• Conversions
• Pounds to kilograms

or
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• Conversions
• Kilograms to pounds

or
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• Convert mg/kg to mg/lb

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• Calculate Total Weight Dose

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• Convert Weight Dose to Total Volume Dose
• (concentration x total weight dose)

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• For example
• A drug concentration is 25 mg per cc, the total
  dose of the liquid drug at the rate of 5 mg per
  kg for a 44 pound dog.

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• Calculate Dose (method a)

Convert lb to kg
Total weight dose
Total volume dose
Convert mg to cc
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• Calculate Dose (method b)

Convert lb to kg
Total weight dose
Total volume dose
Convert mg to cc
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Instruments

• How we get the drug into the animal
• Instrument depends on
• Drug
• Dose quantity
• Route of administration

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• Syringe and needle
• Syringes
• Measured in
• cc
• ml
• 1 to 60 cc in size

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• Needles
• Measured
• Gauge
• 24 14 G
• Length
• ¼ - 5 inches
• Higher the gauge the smaller the caliber
• Common
• Dogs and cats
• 20 x ½
• Horses
• 18 x 1
• Cattle
• 16 x 1 ½

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• Drench syringe
• Large syringe with a nozzle instead of a needle
• Administer
• Liquids
• Oral
• Rectal

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• Balling Gun
• Administer
• Bolus
• Pills

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• Paste
• Administration
• Oral
• Anus
• Intra-mammary

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Route

• Parenteral route
• Clean aseptic conditions
• Sterile instruments
• Clean surface
• Remove debris

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• Types

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• Enteral routes
• Disinfect instruments between animals
• Clean conditions

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• Types