Routine Treatments

• Topical

  Treatments applied to surface of body such as skin or eyes

  Include creams, lotions and shampoos
• Enteral


  Treatments that pass through the oesophagus, stomach or intestine.

  Medication given by mouth either in feed, water, tablets etc.

  Also includes treatments given rectally.
• Parenteral


  Treatments given internally but don’t pass into stomach, include injections into vein (intravenuous or IV) muscle ( intramuscular) or under skin (subcutaneous )
• Intravenous 


  Use the foreleg
• Intramuscular 


  Use quadriceps muscle (front of back leg) or triceps muscle in front leg.

  Do not use the hamstring (muscle at back of leg)
• Subcutaneous

  Locate loose skin

  Found around scruff of neck
• Vets 


  Veterinary medicine can only be carried out in UK by licensed professionals, vet surgeons or vets. This is enshrined in the law

  Vets are licensed by Royal College of Veterinary surgeon.
• Pharmacists 


  Professionally qualified people who are registered by General Pharmaceutical Council or Pharmaceutical Society of NI.

  Vet pharmacists have permission to dispense certain medicines for animals in line with legal responsibilitie.
• SQPs - Suitably qualified people

  Entitled to prescribe or supply some animal medicinal products under vet medicines regulations. To qualify as SQP requires training and examinations that lead to inclusion of approved register. Register is kept by AMTRA
• POM-V


  Prescription only medicines can only be prescribed by a vet surgeon after a clinical exam
• POM—VPS


  Prescription only medicines that can be prescribed by a vet surgeon, pharmacist or SQP
• NFA-VPS


  (non food animal) Does not require prescription but can be supplied by vet surgeon, pharmacist or SQP
• AVM-GSL

  Authorised vet medicine- general sales list, no legal restrictions to supplying medicines
• What is an adverse reaction?

  A harmful and unintended reaction when medication is used at correct dose, very rare as UK market is strictly regulated
• What to do when an adverse reaction occurs?

  Report the issue to Vet medicines Directorate

  Or report to market authorisation holder or distributor of products who legally have to report to VMD
• Anaphylaxis


  Rare but serious allergic reaction that may sometimes be in response to medicine

  Symptoms- Itchy, red or swollen skins, vomiting and diarrhoea onset and difficulties breathing.

  Condition should be treated as emergency- blood pressure should be monitored and maintained, airways should remain clear and adrenalin may need to be injected intravenouslay.
• Animal First Aid

  • Preserve life
  • Protect further harm
  • Reduce pain and suffering
  • Promote recovery
• Minor first aid situations

  • Superficial wounds- scratches and cuts not deep
  • Mild heatstroke
  • Minor allergies
  • Insect bites or stings
• Immediate first aid situations

  Not life threatening but require prompt attention to stabilise situation and make animal comfortable

  • Any non-superficial wounds
  • Bone fractures, dislocations/breaks
  • Wounds of problems with eyes
• Life threatening- immediate vet action

  • poisoning
  • severe burns
  • severe wounds
  • uncontrolled bleeding
  • severe allergic reaction
  • obstructions to airways
  • severe breathing problems
  • weak pulse
  • animal is unconscious
• Assessing the animal means you should:

  Stay calm

  Get help as soon as possible by contacting a vet

  Ensure you’re not putting yourself or others at further risk before taking action

  Check airways are clear and circulation is normal

  Stop any bleeding

  Treat animal for shock
• What to be aware of in a first aid situation?

  Animals in pain or distress may be aggressive towards you, which may cause you injury and further harm to them.

  Consider restraining or muzzling before handling

  Stay very calm to avoid frightening and soothe them by talking quietly and reassuringly by being careful to make no sudden movements.
• First Aid Box

  Selection of Bandages

  Adhesive Tape- dress wounds and keep them clean

  Cotton wool and Sterile dressing materials- Padding and used on site of wound

  Rectal thermometer- accurate temperature measurement

  Tweezers- remove thorns, splinters, stings

  Gloves and hand sanitizer -

  Prevent cross contamination and protect against infections and chemicals in treatments and medicines
• First Aid Box Contents

  Scissors- cutting bandages, tape, dressing material or fur

  Eye wash, antiseptic solution-

  in case of debris in eye

  Contact details for vets -

  vital in emergency

  Carrier bad and blanket to help keep animals warm and makeshift stretcher

  Poultice- Soft moist compound applied to skin to draw out infections
• First aid actions to take if animal is suffering a fractured limb?

  • Assess the area
  • Encourage animal to stay calm
  • Limit movement of animal
  • Support the fractured limb before moving the animal
  • Seek veterinary attention
• Why are gloves used in a first aid situation?

  Prevent cross-contamination

  Protect handlers from infection

  Protection from substances in medicines/ cleaning agents that can impregnate skin
• Shock

  • Lack of blood supply to major organs and brain
  • Life threatening and needs to be treated immediately
  • Symptoms- White gums, faint quick heartbeat, quick breaths, cold to touch, slow crt.
• Treatment of shock

  • Keep animal warm
  • Prevent blood loss
  • Keep airways clear
  • Stop animal moving around
  • Keep animals head lower than body
• Road Traffic Collision

  Make sure the situation is safe for everyone before going to help an injured animal.

  • Sooner the vet attention the better
  • Be careful for aggressive behaviour due to pain or stress
  • Consider using temporary muzzle with bandages if animal is breathing normal
  • Be calm and gentle and soothing
  • Check ABC
  • Cover wounds, stop bleeding, get animal to vet ASAP
• What is ABC

  AIRWAY- ensure airway isn’t blocked and lie animal in recovery position

  BREATHING- If breathing has stopped be prepare to administer respiratory assistance- chest compressions of mouth to nose resuscitation

  CIRCULATION- Check pulse and prepare to administer chest compression to get heart beating again
• Convulsions

  ‘fits’ or ‘seizures’

  • abnormal elect activity in brain
  • Main danger is if animal hurts themself by obstructions so clear away any dangers
  • If possible wrap animal in blanket
  • Keep noise to minimum
  • Try not to touch animal
  • Do not give food or water
  • If seizures last longer than a few minutes call a vet.
• Fractures- Broken Bone

  Signs- Trouble walking, can’t put weight on leg, unwilling to allow you to touch part of body, limbs positioned unnaturally.

  • If animal is injured restrain or muzzle if necessary
  • Keep animal calm
  • If fracture has broken skin stop bleeding and cover open wounds with sterile dressings
  • Try stop animal from moving bones- using a splint
  • Do not try reposition any bones - may further damage
  • Take to vet asap
• Wounds

  Open wound - cover with dressing and apply pressure until bleeding stop

  Do not remove dressing when bleeding has stopped

  Ensure there are no objects in the wound before applying pressure

  • If wound is minor and not bleeding, clean the wound using antiseptic and dress then cover
  • Closed wounds are when skin is not broken but damaged, cold compress helps treat
• Dislocations

  Bone is taken out of position at joint , animal may find it painful to move joint and may look wrong

  • Stop animal moving affected bones
  • Put bone back to correct position should be left to vet
• Choking

  Immediate action

  • Restrain animal and check airway for obvious blockages
  • If not released, grasp both ah da below ribcage and pull sharply towards you, has effect of expelling breath which dislodges objects
  • Be very careful especially with small animals as wrong position can break bones
• Poisoning

  Symptoms

  • Stomach pain
  • Unsteady on feet
  • Salivating
  • Vomiting
  • Slow Capillary Refill Time
  • Treating
  • Do not induce vomiting
  • Keep animal warm and comfortable
  • Place in recovery position
  • Note down likely source
  • Get to vet immediately
• Burns and scalds

  Range from first degree to 3rd degree

  All burns you should-

  • Restrain animal
  • Cool area by applying a cloth soaked in cold water
  • Do not apply creams and ointments
  • Do not break blisters
  • See vet asap
• Bites and Stings

  If sting is still in animal try and remove it, take care not to break it

  • Apply vinegar
• Foreign bodies

  • Do not remove item
  • Reduce size of object so it protrudes only a few centimetres
  • Restrict movement of animal
  • Attempt to control any bleeding and do not push object further into skin
  • See a vet immediately
• Haemorrhages

  Heavy bleeding - dangerous

  Symptoms of non- visible

  • pale gums
  • rapid pulse or breath
  • slow CRT
  • coughing up blood or present in faeces
  • Treating external bleeding
  • Place clean absorbent dressing into affected point
  • Make sure no foreign bodies
  • Press on dressing with fingers for up to 10 minutes