How to make an injection to a dog

Animals are sick no less often than humans. And they need treatment, including injecting drugs. It is not worthwhile to engage in self-treatment, but sometimes, even before visiting the veterinary clinic, it is necessary to inject an analgesic or, on the recommendation of a doctor, to make injections at home. Therefore, every owner should know how to inject a dog.

General recommendations for injection therapy

Dogs put injections subcutaneously and intramuscularly. Recommendations for the introduction of drugs gives a veterinarian or this information is indicated in the instructions. The owner of the animal should carefully follow the recommended dosage and type of administration.

How to choose the right syringe

In order to put the injection as gently as possible, the correct volume of the syringe and the diameter of the needle should be chosen. Small breed dogs and puppies can be given an insulin syringe. The diameter of insulin needles in syringes of different manufacturers is 0.3, 025, 0.23 mm. Needle length also varies (4-8 mm).

In some syringes for tuberculin injections, the needle length is 13-25 mm with a diameter of 0.3-0.5 mm. This allows almost painless to enter the drug into the subcutaneous fatty tissue. But such a syringe has a small volume. A standard insulin syringe holds 1.0 ml of the solution and it is impractical to use it when a large dose of the drug is injected.

In addition, the sharp tip of the insulin needle quickly deforms, especially if the injection is placed in the dense skin on the withers. It bends in the form of a hook, which is clearly visible with a strong optical zoom. Such deformation requires the application of greater force for the introduction of the needle during repeated use and severely injures the tissue during extraction.

For medium and large breeds of dogs, larger volume syringes are required, as the dose is calculated depending on the body weight of the animal. Apply a syringe of medium volume (2 or 5 ml). In order to less traumatize the tissue, it is possible to put a needle of smaller diameter with a suitable base to the cylinder of a large syringe.

When choosing the length of the needle should be guided by the place of delivery of the drug. If it is necessary to deliver the injection subcutaneously, then the insulin syringe will successfully cope with the task. The length of the insulin needle does not require tracking the depth of immersion when the drug is administered to medium and large dogs. It is just enough to not get into the muscle. But if an intramuscular injection is needed, an insulin syringe will not work and a longer needle is required.

In addition, when choosing a syringe, and especially the needle diameter, the viscosity of the preparation should be taken into account. Many veterinary drugs, especially of prolonged action, are prepared on an oil basis. The high density of the drug does not allow the use of needles of small diameter. For their introduction it is recommended to use needles with a diameter of 0.5-0.7 mm.

The needle diameter, its length can be found in the information on the packaging of the syringe. To assist in the choice of needle diameter, their plastic base is made in different colors.

For staging, 8 types of syringes with a colored base are recommended for dogs:

• orange (0.5 mm);
• blue (0.6 mm);
• black (0.7mm);
• dark green (0.8 mm);
• yellow (0.9 mm);
• pink (1.2 mm).

And also require insulin.

How to calculate the amount of medication

Before you take medicine into a syringe, you need to familiarize yourself with the scale on its body. In order to correctly calculate how much medication to take, it is recommended to determine the value of one division. For this, a smaller value is subtracted from a larger value and divided by the number of “risks” between two large divisions.

So, for example, in a 5 ml syringe, the calculation formula is as follows: (3-2) / 5 = 0.2. Therefore, one division of a 5-cc syringe is 0.2 ml. The exception is insulin syringes. Since their flask holds only 1 ml of solution, between large divisions, for example, between 1 and 2, only 0.2 ml are contained.

The ability to correctly calculate the "price" of the divisions on the syringe will allow not to lose a single drop of an expensive drug or to avoid complications with the introduction of extra milliliters of dangerous drugs. After the needle diameter and the volume of the syringe is selected, you should familiarize yourself with the rules of how to inject the dog subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

General rules for drug recruitment

Regardless of the type of drug, there are general rules for recruiting a solution into a syringe:

1. Before the procedure, hands should be washed with soap and wiped with alcohol or disinfectant liquid.
2. The needle of the syringe must be sterile, so do not touch it with your hands.
3. The neck of the ampoule can also be treated with alcohol.
4. Notch at the mark with a special nail file and, holding a cotton swab, gently split.
5. Insert the needle into the ampoule and, slowly pulling the plunger, collect the required amount of medicine.
6. Turn the cannula upwards with a syringe and, tapping the other hand with the finger on the flask, ensure that air bubbles accumulate at the base of the needle.
7. Pressing on the plunger, squeeze out air until a drop of medicine appears at the needle tip.
8. If it is necessary to prepare the dog for drug administration, the needle is closed with a sterile cap and set aside.

It should be remembered that the medicine should be at room temperature. The introduction of a cold solution causes pain and can cause inflammation of the tissues. The easiest way to warm the medicine is to hold and roll an ampule with medicine or a syringe between your palm.

If the ampoule is opened, but not all of the medication is used, then you can draw another syringe and store it with a closed needle in the refrigerator. You cannot store an open ampoule and use the medicine out of it the next day. The medicine can be stored in the syringe for no longer than 3 days.

You can only use clearly labeled ampoules that show the name of the medicine and the expiration date. Before taking the medication in the syringe, you must read the instructions - you should mix some drugs before the kit and inject by shaking the vial. Worn marking containers should be discarded, even if the owner remembers what kind of medicine it is. Do not put at risk the life and health of your pet.

The drug must necessarily be instructions to know exactly the route of administration. For example, diphenhydramine can be administered only intramuscularly or intravenously. Calcium chloride is injected exclusively into the vein, and Essentiale N - only intramuscularly. An improperly selected drug delivery site may cause an abscess or tissue necrosis. If the owner is not sure how to put the injection correctly, the pet needs to consult with a veterinarian.

It is not necessary to collect in the reservoir a few drugs, if this is not specified in the instructions or was not recommended by a veterinarian. Not all drugs can be combined. Some weaken the action of each other, others enter into chemical reactions with the formation of toxic substances.

Method of drug administration under the skin

The most commonly used area for subcutaneous injection is the withers - the place of the shoulder blades of the front paws. There are few nerve endings here, and even an inexperienced host can be sure that it does not hurt the animal. But keep in mind that the skin in this area is thicker, and the needle of small diameter can be deformed or broken. Enter it should be slowly, carefully.

Subcutaneous injection can be done between the lower part of the side surface of the abdomen and the convex part of the thigh. The skin is caught in the fold with the fingers, a little is pulled up, the fur is pushed apart with the fingers and the needle is inserted at an angle of 45 °. The needle in the thick skin comes with resistance. Only when the needle “falls”, you can be sure that the tip is under the skin and the drug should be injected.

Pre-treat the epidermis with a degradation solution is not necessary. Dogs on the surface of the skin have their own antibacterial barrier. Putting injections is only necessary in place with intact epidermis.

Method of injection into the muscle

The technique of intramuscular injection is somewhat more complicated, since there is a risk to get into the capillary or nerve. The injection is placed in the withers or large muscle on the thigh. In the withers it is better to introduce painful drugs. In the thigh prick in the area on the side of the knee, above the knee fold. To more clearly mark the muscle, you can bend the dog's foot in the knee.

For intramuscular injection, the needle is inserted at a right angle into the relaxed muscle. If the muscle is tense, it can be gently massaged, the dog calmed down with a voice, stroked.

For dogs up to 10 kg, a needle is inserted into the muscle by 0.7–1.5 mm. Representatives of medium and large breeds are given an injection at a depth of 1.5-3.5 mm. Rapid drug administration can cause pain to the dog. Therefore, you should put the injection confidently, insert the needle slowly, tracking resistance and not allowing the needle to be too deep into the tissue.

It is necessary to cauterize the injection site with alcohol if blood appears when the needle is removed. It is not necessary to force an animal by force. It is necessary to calm him down, to prepare him for the injection morally. It is easier to perform manipulations together, when one holds the dog, calms him, and the other calmly makes an injection.

With the right injection site and the observance of all the rules of complications does not happen. But for some time the owner should monitor the condition of the dog after the injection, and if the animal behaves unusually - lame, whining, nervous, then it is necessary to show the animal to the veterinarian. Every dog ​​owner should be able to do injections, because the life of a pet may depend on his skill and determination.