Good Production Practice # 3

Administering Drugs Properly Summary

Administering drugs properly is important. The best way to avoid problems is simply to follow label instructions and identify each animal that receives the drug at the time it is administered. The following points will help achieve the best results when working with cattle:  

Read the label and check the expiration date. Select the best route of administration. Drugs can be administered at least nine different ways:

• OralIntravenousTopicalSubcutaneous (SubQ)IntramammaryIntramuscular (IM)IntraruminalIntraperitoneal
• Infusion

The label will provide an acceptable route of administration. The label may specify only one route of administration, or it may give options. When there is an option of injection, either SubQ or IM, give the drug SubQ.

When giving an injection SubQ, use the “tenting” method. Pull the skin away from the neck to make sure the injection goes underneath the skin. Never inject anything behind the slope of the shoulder.

Do not combine vaccines. Mixing two different vaccines will not produce one that protects against both diseases. Mixing unlike products can destroy the effectiveness of both products. If the combination you want is not available, give separate injections at least 5 inches apart.

Mark and separate syringes. Use different syringes for modified live vaccines and bacterins (or killed products). Mark the modified live syringes, and keep separate. If traces of bacterin are left in a syringe that is later used for a modified live product, the bacterin could destroy the modified live vaccine. Use transfer needles. If a product such as modified live vaccines needs to be reconstituted, use a transfer needle to help make the process easier and more sanitary. To use a transfer needle, stick one end into the sterile liquid or diluent. The other end of the transfer needle goes into the freeze-dried cake of bacterin or vaccine. There should be a vacuum to pull the liquid immediately into the vial containing the bacterin. If this vacuum does not exist, discard the vaccine because it may be contaminated.