The methods of administering medicine to sick cows include the dosing method, injection method, enema method and external application method. Different medication methods are targeted at different diseases, with different drug properties and different effects. In order to ensure the treatment effect, cattle breeders need to know the medication methods for cattle diseases.
01 Medication Administration Methods
1. Liquid Medication Administration Method
Use a rubber medication administration tube to accurately insert it into the esophagus through the nose or mouth. (When inserting through the mouth, first fit the cow with a wooden mouth opener. Insert the rubber tube through the central round hole of the mouth opener, connect it to a funnel, pour the liquid medicine into the funnel, hold the funnel higher than the cow’s head, and the liquid medicine will flow into the stomach by itself.) After that, pour a small amount of clean water to wash down the residual liquid medicine in the tube. Remove the funnel, fold the rubber tube and slowly pull it out. If the amount of liquid medicine is small or the cow has pharyngitis, it is not advisable to use the above method to avoid aggravating the condition due to stimulation. You can use a long-necked glass bottle or a rubber bottle to pour the liquid medicine into the mouth bit by bit and let the cow swallow it mouthful by mouthful.
2. Pill Medication Administration Method
Small pills can be administered with a pill dispenser or wrapped in a grass ball and given to the cow. For large pills, pull the cow’s tongue out with one hand, hold the pill quickly with the other hand and place it at the base of the tongue, then immediately release the tongue and support the lower jaw. Raise the cow’s head slightly, and the pill will be swallowed naturally.
3. Lickable Medication Administration Method
Open the cow’s mouth, use a wooden or bamboo slice to put the lickable preparation into the mouth from one corner of the mouth and quickly spread it on the back of the base of the tongue. Then raise the cow’s head immediately to let it swallow naturally.
4. Paste Medication Administration Method
Crush the coarser traditional Chinese medicines and mix them into a paste. Use a horn-shaped container to pour the medicine into the mouth. When pouring the medicine, an assistant should pull the nose ring or hold the halter to make the cow’s head tilt slightly upwards. The person pouring the medicine holds the horn-shaped container filled with medicine with one hand, inserts it into the mouth along the corner of the mouth, sends it to the middle of the tongue surface, and pours the medicine down. Meanwhile, hold the medicine basin with the other hand to catch the liquid medicine flowing out from the corner of the mouth.
02 Injection Methods
1. Subcutaneous Injection Method
The subcutaneous injection method can be used for drugs that are easily soluble and non-irritating or when it is hoped that the drugs will be absorbed quickly and take effect as soon as possible. Select the parts with abundant subcutaneous tissue where the skin is easy to move. Generally, the subcutaneous area of the neck is chosen as the injection site. Lift the skin, insert the needle obliquely inward and downward at an angle of 30° to the animal’s body for 3 – 4 centimeters, and then inject the drug. After injecting the liquid medicine, pull out the needle and press the needle hole with an alcohol cotton ball for a while.
2. Intradermal Injection Method
This method is commonly used for the quarantine of the intradermal reaction to bovine tuberculin and the immunization injection of anthrax spore vaccine. The injection site is on the side of the neck, and sometimes at the base of the tail. Pinch up the skin with one hand, and hold the syringe with the other hand. Insert the needle at an angle of 30° to the skin between the epidermis and the dermis, and slowly inject the liquid medicine until a papule-like bulge is formed locally.
3. Intramuscular Injection Method
This is the most commonly used drug administration method in clinical treatment. There are relatively abundant blood vessels and fewer sensory nerves in the muscle, so the liquid medicine is absorbed quickly and causes less pain. It is often used for injecting irritating drugs or drugs that are difficult to absorb. The injection is mostly carried out on the side of the neck and the buttocks where the muscles are abundant. First, insert the needle vertically into the muscle for 2 – 4 centimeters (depending on the size of the cow and the abundance of muscles), then connect the syringe. If no blood is drawn back when pulling the piston, the liquid medicine can be injected. Pull out the needle after injection. Before and after injection, apply iodine tincture or alcohol to disinfect the local area to prevent infection.
4. Intravenous Injection Method
When injecting solutions that are highly irritating or when it is necessary for the liquid medicine to take effect quickly, the intravenous injection method is mostly adopted, such as for calcium chloride injection, fluid replacement, blood transfusion, etc. When administering drugs by intravenous injection, the disinfection of injection equipment is more crucial, and the drugs are required to be absolutely pure. If there are precipitates or floccules, their use must be stopped immediately. The injection site is mostly in the jugular vein in the jugular groove at the junction of the upper 1/3 and the middle 1/3 of the side of the neck. Before injection, exhaust all the air in the syringe or infusion tube. During injection, press the lower part of the injection site with the left hand to make the jugular vein distended. Hold the needle with the right hand and insert it at an angle of 45° to the vein. After seeing the blood return, insert the needle deeper along the blood vessel. Fix the needle well, connect the syringe or infusion tube, and then slowly inject the liquid medicine. After the injection is completed, press the needle hole with a cotton ball, quickly pull out the needle, and press the needle hole for a while to prevent bleeding. Finally, apply iodine tincture.
03 Enema Method
Enemas can be divided into two types: shallow enemas and deep enemas. Shallow enemas are only used to remove the accumulated feces in the rectum, while deep enemas are used for intestinal constipation, drug administration in the rectum or reducing body temperature, etc. Prepare an enema device and a rubber tube before performing an enema, and a syringe pump is also needed for deep enemas. The specific operations are as follows:
1. For a shallow enema, apply paraffin oil or soapy water to the rubber tube. One person inserts the rubber tube into the cow’s anus and then gradually pushes it into the rectum. Another person raises the enema device to let the liquid flow into the rectum. If the liquid doesn’t flow in quickly, the rubber tube can be pulled and pushed appropriately. After pouring in a certain amount of liquid, the cow will start to strain. At this time, hold and pinch the cow’s anus or press the base of the tail, and simultaneously pinch and press the cow’s back and waist to relieve the straining, allowing the rectum to be filled with liquid, and then the liquid and feces will be discharged together. Repeat this process several times until the rectum is cleaned.
2. Deep enema is carried out on the basis of shallow enema, but the rubber tube should be longer and have appropriate hardness (not too hard). After inserting the rubber tube into the rectum, attach the enema device and continuously push the rubber tube deeper as the enema liquid enters. If a syringe pump is used instead of a highly raised or hung enema device, the liquid will enter the intestinal tract at a faster speed. While pushing the rubber tube inward while pouring the liquid, the speed of injecting the liquid should be slowed down. Otherwise, a large amount of liquid will enter the deep intestinal tract, which will reflexively stimulate the intestinal tube to contract and expel the liquid, or cause some parts of the intestinal tube to over-expand (especially in the intestinal segments with inflammation or necrosis) and lead to intestinal rupture.
However, enemas should not be performed when there is suspicion of rectal rupture, severe rectal injury or intestinal displacement. Except for using enemas to reduce body temperature, the temperature of the enema liquid should not be too low, especially during deep enemas.
04 External Application Method
The external application method is mainly used for disinfection outside the body and killing external parasites. There are two commonly used methods, namely washing and smearing.
1. Washing: Prepare the drug into a solution with an appropriate concentration and use it to clean local skin or the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, mouth as well as wounds and other parts.
2. Smearing: Make the drug into an ointment or other suitable dosage forms and smear them on the surface of the skin, mucous membranes or wounds.
