I am interested to hear what medicines people can have at home to administer to their dogs which may usually be prescribed by a vet. Such as calcium for cases of hypocalcaemia after whelping. broad spectrum antibiotics etc
Ted

Most vets would wish to see the dog before giving POM's but if you are well know to the vet and considered able you may perswade (that cant be right) your vet to issue such medication. Jackie (can't spell) H

Hi, because I live in such a remote place, and 45 mins from the vet, he is very kind and lets me have a small amount of medicines here. I have to ring him first though to check whether to actually give them or not. I have a a few Preds, in case of a severe allergic reaction to something, two different sorts of AB's that would cover most probs, one tablet of a very hefty tranquiliser in case of a dreadful accident or incident. I have been in with a whelping bitch once to whom he gave an oxytocin jab and he gave me a hypo with another dose to take home if it was needed, but on strict intructions to ring him first before giving it. This was in the winter, and it started snowing while I was there, and he didn't want me to stay in the surgery too long in case I couldn't get home, as e was fairly sure there were no major probs. That was a one off though, and luckily I didn't need to use it - I hate giving injections!! They were all born (5) in the car in various lay bys on the way home, and I gave them names like Travelling Man, Stop Out etc. Thank goodness for microwave hottie botties.

I also use Arnica for shock, excellent before and after surgery, or bumps and bruises.
Hypericum ( for cuts) also excellent just before and after surgery or any cut or injury which bleeds.
Merc Sol for ear infection, Calendula cream for cuts or sore places, Ignatia for grief, i.e losing a puppy or kennel mate that they keep looking for, Nux Vom for tummy upsets, Pulsatilla or Sepia (for girlie probs) maybe phantom pregnacies, false or "half seasons".

Thanks WL thats interesting. I have just read a book on dog breeding that suggests no one should be without calcium injection when breeding dogs, is this something your vet would let you have, I don't think it can be bought over the counter or can it ??
Ted

I am not a qualified vet /nurse and I would only give "under the skin" or "into muscle" injections. Calcium for eclampsia has to be given intra-venously doesn't it, and I am not competant to give IV injections - and IMO opinion anyone who is not vet should not either, unless maybe they have been specifically and thoroughly taught to do it. A horse of mine one had transit tetani ((which is very simaliar in as much as the horse needs Calcium double quick), and that was given IV- so I am assuming that in Eclampsia cases that the calcium would need to be given IV too. I would be too nervous to try, even if my vet were willing to "arm" me with them, which I doubt. I would not dare risk my girls well being and if I made a mistake it could be very serious indeed. I have never experienced eclampsia in my bitches, and if one were to show symptoms I am confident I would get them to the vet before they started fitting or passed the point of no return. I feed my dogs ground up fresh lamb and chicken, bones and all, and a calcium supp. post whelping. Do you give IV jabs Ted?

My parents had a diabetic Cocker Spaniel who needed insulin injections twice a day. These were done at home by my mum, she's a paediatric nurse, and the insulin and syringes were also kept at home.

I have heard of people who've had diabetic dogs put down or who've taken them to the vets for every injection - bet the vet loved them, imagine the bills for that!!!

I know that my mum is an exception to the average dog owner, as she's trained in giving injections, but she would never have thought to get the vet to do it every time. She was also able to adjust the amount of insulin needed depending on her urine levels.

If the vet is confident in your abilities to give injections, whether IM or IV, and you've recieved the appropriate training then I don't see any problems with non-qualified staff giving injections.

Fiona

I think most people with diabetic dogs do learn to give the injections, they are given subcutaneously so are fairly straightforward. IV injections are a different matter and are not generally even taught to nurses in their general training but are treated as extended role training for those requiring it. Apart from the learning to give the injection itself in a safe way you need to have a good knowledge of the drug being used as any adverse effect will be very much faster than s/c or i/m.

Isabel

Besides - an IV into a cow is a bit different to an IV into a dog.......

I'm trying to figure out how running an intravenous line into a cow is different than a dog. In the States, because of the annual blood tests for heartworm, I learned to draw blood from my vet. It served me in good stead when I worked part-time for a large and small animal vet. In a pinch, I wouldn't hesitate to run an IV on a person (look out all you deserted islands stranding fantasies!). One foxhound was absolutely a nightmare to draw from the leg, but would sit docilely to draw from the jugular.

Vet practices (and nurses) are much different over here in the UK. I always had a fully stocked vet box (much like sam's) and kept up-to-date saline bags, sutures (yep, he taught me to suture, but I still can't get that one-handed knot!), ephinerine, oxytocin, sedatives, antibiotics, etc.

your poor vet---did it take long for him to recover from the blood you drew off him?????????!!!!!!!!!!

LOL... He's such a nice guy, he probably would have let me learn to draw the blood from him!

er.why's that then Digger? I have done both without any problems atall!

I would have said the sheer size of the vessel would make a difference - does it not??

Fran

Actually it makes it easier to insert the IV into the vein. Much harder to do on small puppies and kittens then it is on cows and horses. Of course, you worry about being bit by dogs and kicked by cows.... so I suppose there is a bit of a difference!

That's what I was trying to say (I think <G>) A cow is easier because the 'target' is a lot larger? :-)

Fran

Apparenty, as a lay person, you are only allowed to inject under the skin as it has been deemed by the RCVS and under the terms on the Veterinary Surgeons act to be a non invasive procedure (hence microchipping can be carried out by lay people) anything else is deemed invasive and therefore would fall under the terms of the act so only registered veterinary surgeons can perform these procedures.

Thats what I thought too Bec

We always give magnesium etc direct into the vein in cows with milk fever..........the vet said it was ok & showed us how to do it many many moons ago.

I would be interested to know where you read that Ted ? Was it a British book?

Yes, Brian Plummers book on dog breeding but he says he gives it subcutaneously and obtains it from an agricultural store.
Ted

Just had a peek in my vet box.....more like an operating theatre!!!!!!!!! There must be 6 packs of syringes, every conceivable size, 3 sizes of suture, 4 sizes of suture needle, ACP, Prednisolone,antibiotic tablets, bottle of penicillin, Lignol(local anaesthetic), gelofuslin plasma kit, hexamine, its an endless list!!!!!!!!!

same here Sam I may never use it .but feel safer knowing it is there. and I also have painkillers and calpol for temperatures . Thankfully I had to replace most of them as they were dated . but you never know when trouble is around the corner. mari