Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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Oral powder, such as vitamins, placed well back on the tongue for treat-
ment of an individual animal or mixed with feed, minerals, or drinking
water for general treatment of the whole fl ock
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Oral liquid, given as a drench with a syringe or in the drinking water
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Oral pastes, easy-to-use products that are sold with an applicator for
smearing on the sheep's tongue (several worming medications are sold
as paste)
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Spray-on and sprinkle-on products, such as pinkeye spray and insecti-
cides, including maggot and screwworm bombs
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Dips, which are also common for insecticides when treating a large
number of animals; a tank full of solution is prepared, and the animals
are forced to “swim” through the tank
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Pour-ons, such as iodine for a newborn lamb's navel, disinfectant on
minor wounds, and certain insecticides
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Subcutaneous injection, medication administered just under the skin
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Intradermal injection, medication administered into the skin
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Intramuscular injection, liquid such as antibiotics injected into heavy
muscle
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Intramammary injection, administration of fl uid or ointment such as
mastitis drugs through the teat opening
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Intraperitoneal injection, liquid given through right fl ank into the
abdominal cavity; such administration should be done by a veterinarian
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Intraruminal injection, administering fl uid into the rumen on the left
side, as for bloat remedy if it is too late to be given by mouth; should be
done by a veterinarian
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Intravenous injection, fl uid administered into a vein; is best done by a
veterinarian or very experienced producer
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Intranasal, spraying of vaccine up the nasal cavity
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Uterine boluses, to prevent infection after an assisted lambing
Injections
Sterile procedures must be maintained to avoid serious infections. Use only
clean, sterile syringes (boiled for at least 30 minutes, if new sterile, disposable
syringes are not being used) and sharp, sterile disposable needles. Needles
can be boiled, but this causes them to become dull. Dull needles are one
of the most common causes of injection-site infections because they force
dirt, grease, and bacteria through the skin. Storing needles in alcohol can
