Medication Administration

Question 1

What is a typical mixer used when giving oral medications to a horse?

Answer 1

Molasses.

corn syrup, apple sauce, peanut butter are used too

Question 2

What is the desired consistency for oral medications for a horse?

Answer 2

Viscousy syrup (not too watery or will dribble out, and not too viscous or will be spit out)

Question 3

Despite its rare use, how would you go about mixing drugs directly into the feed?

Answer 3

Mix the drugs with a handful of feed and “binder” (binds it together). Feed directly out of hand

Question 4

T/F: Balling guns are typically used to administer oral medications to bovine and NOT equine.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

What anatomical location would you want to place your syringe when giving oral meds?

Answer 5

The diastema. (careful of the rubber stopper falling into the mouth)

Question 6

What is the main regulatory purpose of IV injections?

Answer 6

To avoid the carotid artery.

Question 7

What is the most recommended needle size for IV injections in a horse?

Answer 7

18 G 1 1/2” needle

Question 8

T/F: As you move caudally from the neck, the jugular vein and common carotid artery separate via the omohyoideus muscle.

Answer 8

False. As you move cranially.

Question 9

What is a disadvantage of placing the needle up when injecting a horse?

Answer 9

It can easily slip off (gravity) if the horse reacts to the poke

Question 10

T/F: When placing the needle faced down in a jugular stick, you want to make sure your fingers are curled in and away from the needle to avoid contamination.

Answer 10

True.

Question 11

T/F: You always want the needle to be entirely in the vein when performing injections

Answer 11

True

Question 12

T/F: If you can only aspirate blood when the jugular vein is held off, keep the vein held down when administering the medication.

Answer 12

True. The expansion of the vein from hold-off is the reason why the needle enters the vein. Depression of the vein may displace the needle back out

Question 13

What is a side effect that can be noticed if an inadvertent intra-carotid injection were to occur?

Answer 13

An intra-carotid injection associated seizure.

Question 14

What are some things to do before sticking a needle in an IM injection?

Answer 14

Tap near the area first, and pinch the skin of the desired injection area.

Question 15

Name the 3 landmarks for IM neck injections.

Answer 15

1. ) Ventral to the ligamentum nuchae
2. ) Dorsal lateral processes of the cervical vertebrae
3. ) leading edge of the shoulder

(try to aim at the base of the triangle)

Question 16

Name the 3 landmarks for IM back leg injections.

Answer 16

1. ) one hand width below the tuber ischia
2. ) one hand width above the proximal gastrocnemius tendon
3. ) outside thigh

Question 17

What are some potential problems with perivascular injections?

Answer 17

Sloughing of the skin, infections, inflammation, fibrosis

Question 18

What are some potential problems with IM injections?

Answer 18

myositis, lameness, inflammation/pain