Hospital Procedures
Terms
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Active immunity – the animal’s own immune system produces antibodies in response to an
antigen by either natural or artificial means
Anaphylactic shock – an exaggerated allergic response
Antibody – proteins produced by the lymph system in response to a foreign organism or
substance
Antigen – any substance that induces an immune response by the body
Calculus – a mineralized brown or yellow deposit on the teeth caused by the build up of
plaque over time
Gingivitis – the swelling and inflammation of the sensitive gums around the teeth
Immunity – having resistance to a disease due to the presence of antibodies
Neuter – the common term used to describe the removal of the male reproductive organs
Orchiectomy (neuter) – the removal of the testes
Ovariohysterectomy (spay) – the removal of the ovaries and the uterus
Passive immunity – antibodies are received from another individual such as the mother before
birth
Plaque – a slippery white film on teeth that is composed of bacteria, food particles, and saliva
Spay – the common term used to described the removal of the female reproductive organs
Vaccine – a suspension of killed or modified microorganisms that stimulate an immune
response when introduced into the body
Introduction
This unit focuses on some typical procedures that
occur almost daily in a veterinary hospital such as
spaying/neutering, dental care, bandaging,
vaccinations, and dispensing medication. In most
cases it is the responsibility of the technician or
assistant to perform or assist with these tasks. Pet
owners often have questions about the procedures or
must be able to perform some tasks on their own, so
the vet tech must be knowledgeable and able to
clearly explain each procedure.
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Spay/Neuter:
Spaying or neutering is an operation that removes the
reproductive organs of an animal. In the past spaying
and neutering was done when the animal reached six
months of age, but today the operation can be
performed as early as six weeks. Spay is the common
term for an ovariohysterectomy, which means to cut
and remove the ovaries and uterus. When a female
animal has this operation she is spayed, not “spade” or
“spaded”. Neuter is the common term for
orchiectomy which means removal of the testes.
A male animal is neutered.
Spaying & Neutering Truths
There are many reasons to spay or neuter an animal,
just one of those being to prevent overpopulation.
There are people, however, who do not have their
animals fixed for various reasons. Below is a list of
excuses and a list of truths about spaying and
neutering.
The Excuses
1. It’s cruel to spay or neuter.
2. My pet will become fat and lazy.
3. It costs too much money.
4. I have a male.
5. It’s better for her to have one litter.
6. I have a purebred animal.
7. I want my children to witness the miracle of birth.
8. I will sell the puppies/kittens and make money.
9. My pet’s personality will change.
10. I am concerned
The Truth
1. Spaying and neutering contributes to a longer
and healthier life.
2. Spaying and neutering prevents overpopulation.
3. An altered pet is better for your family.
4. An altered pet is cleaner – no spraying or
bleeding.
5. Spaying and neutering may prevent pets from
roaming and getting into fights.
Dental Care
Dental care is just as important for pets as it is for
humans.
Both cats and dogs are susceptible to gingivitis and
periodontal disease as well as other dental problems.
Gingivitis is an inflammation and infection of the sensitive
gums surrounding the teeth.
Periodontal disease is an advanced stage of gingivitis
where the gingiva separates from the tooth and decay
of the tooth sets in.
Signs of Poor Oral Health
• Persistent bad breath
• Difficulty eating
• Loss of appetite
• Inflamed or bleeding gums
• Tartar
• Excessive pawing at the mouth
• Loose or missing teeth
Keeping Teeth Clean
Veterinary dentistry is very common in today’s
veterinary hospitals. Dentistry is most often performed
by the technician and is accomplished like human
dentistry; the teeth are cleaned, polished and examined
for abnormalities and disease. The main difference is
that the patients are anesthetized for the procedure.
The technician is responsible for educating clients on
the process of brushing their pet’s teeth.
Home Dental Care
• Begin by handling your pet’s mouth. Get them to accept a
finger being rubbed along the teeth and gums.
• Next, use a small toothbrush or a specially designed finger
brush to scrub your pet’s teeth. Only the outside of the
tooth needs to be brushed.
• There are several types of flavored pet toothpaste that your
pet will enjoy. NEVER USE HUMAN TOOTHPASTE! It may
make your pet sick if swallowed.
• Brush your pet’s teeth at least twice a week. Develop a
routine and make it fun for your pet. They will think they
are getting a treat!
• Feeding dry food and rawhide chews will cut down on the
amount of tartar buildup.
Bandaging
• There are dozens of different bandaging
methods
• designed for specific areas of the body or
specific
• purposes. The two areas most commonly
bandaged
• are the abdomen and the legs.
Abdominal Bandage
The abdominal bandage is commonly called the bellyband. It is used after abdominal
surgery to prevent the animal from licking the incision and to keep it clean. It is
also used if an injury has occurred in the abdominal area. Its purpose then is to
control fluid leakage, keep medication on the wound, and keep the wound as
sterile as possible.
The main goal when applying a bellyband is to keep it snug and smooth so that it is
comfortable and less
likely to slip loose. It is important not to apply it too tightly since this will cause patient
discomfort.
To apply a bellyband, start at the front of the abdomen and wrap towards the back
overlapping
the edges of the bandage. When you reach the back, wrap the bandage towards the
front,
continuing to overlap the edges. Each layer should be wrapped front and back at least
one time.
The bellyband consists of four layers:
• a sterile non-stick pad
• a layer of absorbent cotton
• a layer of gauze
• a final layer of adhesive bandage
Main Goal When Applying a Bellyband
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To keep it snug and smooth so that it is comfortable
and less likely to slip loose.
• It is important not to apply it too tightly since this will
cause patient discomfort.
• To apply a bellyband, start at the front of the abdomen
and wrap towards the back overlapping the edges of
the bandage. When you reach the back, wrap the
bandage towards the front, continuing to overlap the
edges.
• Each layer should be wrapped front and back at least
one time.
Leg Bandages
• Leg bandages are generally applied for the
purpose of covering an open wound, lending
support to the leg, or securing a catheter.
• Leg bandages for wounds or catheters usually
have four layers:
• a non-stick pad
• absorbent cotton
• Bandaging Techniques
• gauze
• adhesive bandage
Leg Bandages
• Support leg bandages are mostly used on
horses.
• These bandages consist of a cotton or quilt
layer and an elastic bandage.
• Whenever a bandage is applied to a horse’s
leg it should be started on the outside of the
leg and wrapped towards to back of the leg.
This will support the tendons and ligaments of
the leg.
Vaccination
• Vaccinations are an important part of every
animal’s health care program and are a large
part of all veterinary practices.
• Vaccinations lessen the chance that an animal
will contract a disease. When and how often
an animal is vaccinated will vary from vet to
vet and their location within the country.
Causes of Disease
• Diseases are divided into two categories,
infectious and non-infectious. Infectious
diseases can be passed from animal to animal
or from animal to human.
• Diseases that are passed from animal to
human are called zoonotic. Non-infectious
diseases cannot be passed from one animal to
another or to humans.
Infectious Disease
• Infectious diseases are caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi,
rickettsiae, helminthes, protozoa, and arthropods. These diseasecausing agents can enter an animal through the skin, mouth,
mucous membranes, lungs, or reproductive tract.
• Infectious diseases can also be spread by either direct or indirect
means.
• Direct transmission occurs by skin contact, ingestion of an infected
animal, inhalation, and sexual/reproductive contact. Indirect
transmission uses vectors, vehicles, and fomites.
• Vectors – mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, flies
• Vehicles – equipment (brushes, buckets), instruments (needles,
scissors), utensils
• Fomites – water, air, soil, food
Non Infectious
Non-infectious diseases are caused by
dysfunctions of one or more body systems,
nutritional deficiencies, poisoning, physical
injuries, or stress. Genetics and environment
are also factors that cause non-infectious
diseases.
Immunity
• Immunity is a function of the lymph system and
protects the body from infection, disease and
foreign bodies.
• The immune system produces antibodies, which
are specialized proteins designed to fight
antigens.
• Antigens are any foreign substances that induce
an immune response.
• Immunity can be established through passive or
active means.
Passive Immunity
• Passive immunity is when an animal is given
antibodies that have already been produced
by another individual. Passive immunity only
provides short-term immunity because the
body breaks down the antibodies. Mothers
give their newborns passive immunity through
the placenta and by ingesting colostrum.
Active Immunity
Active immunity is when an animal produces
antibodies by natural or artificial means in
response to an antigen.
Active immunity is produced naturally when an
animal is exposed to a disease and builds
antibodies in response.
It is produced artificially when an animal is
vaccinated and
Vaccines
• Vaccines are a substance that upon injection
into an animal, stimulate an immune
response. The two main types of vaccines are
modified-live and killed.
Modified-live vaccines
• Modified-live vaccines are altered forms of
specific antigens that are similar enough to
the original disease-causing agent to cause a
strong immune response without causing the
disease.
Killed Vaccines
• Killed vaccines are disease-causing agents
that are inactivated by heat, chemical or
mechanical means.
• Immunity developed with this vaccine is
generally
weaker than a modified-live vaccine.
There is also a possibility that the animal is
allergic to the compound used to destroy the
disease-causing agent.
Dog Diseases to Vaccinate
• Bordetella (Kennel cough)
• Coronavirus
• Distemper
• Infectious hepatitis
• Leptospirosis
• Lyme disease
• Parainfluenza
• Parvovirus
• Rabies
Cat Disease to Vaccinate
• Feline calicivirus
• Feline infectious peritonitis
• Feline leukemia virus
• Feline viral rhinotracheitits
• Panleukopenia
• Rabies
Route of Administration
Medication is administered in different ways
depending on the type of medication and how
fast the animal needs to get it.
For example a pill for preventing heartworm can
be given orally while a drug to prevent shock
should be given IV (intravenously) since it is a
life or death situation.
Common routes
• Oral
• Nasal
• SubQ – subcutaneous (under the skin)
• IM – intramuscular (in the muscle)
• IP – intraperitoneal (in the abdominal cavity)
• IV – intravenous (in the vein)
Most vaccinations are given SubQ or IM.
Needles & Syringes
• Needles and syringes come in many shapes
and sizes.
• It is important to be familiar with them so that
the appropriate type and size are used for
every
procedure.
• Needles come in several sizes that are referred
to as gauges.
• The smaller the gauge, the larger the needle.
Gauge Needles
• Large gauge needles (16,18,20) are used for horses,
swine and cattle. Small gauge needles (21,22,23,25,27)
are used for cats, dogs, and exotics.
• Syringes also come in various sizes. The most common
sizes are insulin, 1,3,6,12,20,35, and 60 ml.
• The 1 ml syringes are called tuberculin syringes.
• The smallest syringe is the insulin syringe.
• Insulin syringes come with attached needles and are
measured in increments called units.
Tips
• Luer-Lok tip – has a threaded tip to hold
needle securely
• Slip tip – this is the standard syringe tip
• Eccentric tip – used to get a straighter angle
for IV injections
• Catheter tip – used to administer oral
medications and liquefied food
Dispensing & Labeling Medication
• Dispensing medication requires knowledge of math and the laws that
govern how a medication is packaged and labeled. Just as in human
medicine, it is critical that medication is given in the right amount and
that the directions for the client are clear and correct. Every
medication label is required by law to include:
1. Name of veterinarian, address, phone, clinic name
2. Patient’s name and species
3. Name of medication, concentration, and number of units dispensed
4. Directions for use, including route of administration, and dosing
interval ex.3x/day for 5 days
5. Date
6. Warning statement: For Veterinary Use Only