Injections
Anesthetic Administration
Veterinarians are responsible for evaluating anesthesia
requirements for every animal. This protocol must be
documented on each patient record by the veterinarian or by
animal health technicians under the direct orders of the
veterinarian, prior to the start of surgery. Pre-anesthetic,
anesthetic and anesthetic reversal agents will be administered
only on the order of the veterinarian. The person who
administers the medication (gives medication to the animal) will
initial the medical record, next to the name of each drug given,
at time of administration.
SQ, IM and IV Injections
A new, sterile syringe and needle will be obtained and used for
every injection. Never re-use or re-autoclave any syringes or
injection needles.
Read the label of every medication at the time you are obtaining
medication and again before you administer the medication to
ensure the administration of proper medications. Double check
the patient’s medical record and the patient’s ID neckband prior
to medication administration.
All new employees will be observed by an experienced animal
health technician or veterinarian in their medication injection and
blood collection technique and cleared for performance of both
procedures after their level of competency is assessed. Any
technician who is unable to administer medication as prescribed
or successfully collect blood after two attempts will ask for
assistance from another technician or the attending veterinarian.
SQ: Used to administer medication into the subcutaneous space
between skin and muscle.
With the free hand, raise a fold of skin over the area near the
shoulder blades behind the neck. This prevents irritation and
scratching at the injection site by the animal. Next, clean the
injection site by swabbing with alcohol and clean cotton ball.
(This is particularly important during public vaccination clinics.)
Place needle and syringe closely perpendicular to the fold and
roughly parallel to the animal’s trunk. Pull the skin fold back over
the tip of the needle until it has penetrated to the center of the
fold. Aspirate slightly to confirm that the needle is not in a blood
vessel prior to giving any SQ injection. After aspirating slightly,
inject medication. If blood is present in the needle hub after
aspiration, remove the needle and syringe and select another
injection site.
IM: Used to administer medication into the muscle mass.
After selecting the injection site, clean the site by swabbing with
alcohol and clean cotton ball. Grasp the muscles between thumb
and fingers and insert the needle perpendicularly. Aspirate
slightly to confirm that the needle is not in a blood vessel prior to
giving the injection. Absence of blood in the hub of the syringe
after aspiration indicates the syringe is not in a blood vessel.
Inject the medication and withdraw the needle. If blood is
present in the needle hub after aspiration, remove the needle
and syringe and select another injection site.
IV: Used to administer medication directly into the vascular
system by a venous structure.
Before using this method, check your medication to confirm that
it is compatible with this route of administration. In general, it
will be helpful to have an assistant help restrain an animal for an
IV injection.
Distend the cephalic vein with a tourniquet or digital pressure
provided by the assistant. Wet the dorsal surface of the foreleg
with alcohol to help visualize the cephalic vein. Stabilize the
vessel with the thumb of your free hand. With the needle of your
syringe parallel to the vein and beveled side up, smoothly pierce
the vein from the side opposite your thumb in a smooth forward
movement. Check your location by aspirating a small amount of
blood into the syringe. Release tourniquet or digital pressure,
stabilize the syringe with your thumb to prevent needle from
exiting vein, then slowly depress the plunger to inject the
medication. NOTE: IN GENERAL IT IS MUCH SAFER TO GIVE ALL IV
MEDICATIONS AT A SLOW AND MEASURED PACE. THIS IS CRITICAL IN
THE ADMINISTRATION OF SOME MEDICATIONS SUCH AS KETAMINE
AND YOBINE IN WHICH CASE FAILURE TO INJECT SLOWLY MAY
INDUCE SEIZURES OR CAUSE CARDIAC ARREST AND DEATH.
After administration of an IV injection and withdrawal of the
syringe and needle from the injection site, it is necessary to
apply pressure to the injection site for hemostasis. Pressure may
be applied with a free hand or finger or a small bandage made
from a cotton ball and a piece of 1" tape. Blood seepage on an
animal’s coat should be promptly cleaned with hydrogen peroxide
and gauze sponges.
Any technician who is unable to successfully locate a vein
and administer an IV injection after two attempts will ask
for assistance from another technician or the attending
veterinarian.
Blood Withdrawal
Begin as with an intravenous injection. At the point of aspiration,
simply continue to fill your empty syringe with blood. Release
pressure distending the vein before withdrawing your needle.
Place slight pressure over site of venipuncture after withdrawal
for hemostasis.
When collecting most blood samples, it is helpful to coat the
inside of your syringe with heparin prior to obtaining blood. The
presence of heparin will prevent the sample from clotting in the
syringe. Care should be taken to discard all heparin from the
syringe prior to blood withdrawal into the syringe. Too much
heparin will dilute the blood sample thus altering some lab
results. The amount of heparin that remains in the needle hub is
sufficient to prevent the blood sample from clotting in the
syringe.