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198 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

(a) (b)

FIGURE 11.16 Administering oral medications.

the medium. Tablets and capsules are usually accepted if
hidden in cheese, peanut butter, a piece of meat, or a
“pill pocket.” These are specially made treats to accom-
modate pills. However, some medications cannot be
given with food and so must be forced down the throat
deep enough that the animal can’t cough it out.
If you are restraining for oral medications, a sitting or
standing restraint works well. If you are giving the medi-
cation, there are several methods to use. The following is
one method but you may be shown others by experi-
enced personnel.
Hold the pill or capsule in your dominant hand, bet-
ween the index finger and thumb (Figure 11.16). With
the other hand reach over the top of the mouth and curl
the lips in over the teeth as you lift the upper jaw. With
the pill between your fingers, quickly reach into the
mouth at the commissure of the lips and go down the
throat as far past the base of the tongue as possible.
Release the pill and, if necessary, push it further down
with your index finger. Shut and hold the mouth closed,
raise the head a bit, and stroke the throat to induce swal-
lowing. If the pill stayed down, a word of encouragement
and a treat for the patient is in order.
If the patient wants to bite you may have to resort to a
pill gun (Figure 11.17). A pill gun has a split rubber tip
that will hold a pill in place on one end; the other end
looks like the plunger part of a syringe. The restraint is
the same, or you may have to wrap the patient in a towel
or place it in a cat bag to control the feet. Tilt the head FIGURE 11.17 Pill gun.
back as far as possible with your non‐dominant hand.
Direct the pill gun centrally as far down the throat as pos- the size of your patient. Record the medication given in
sible, depress the plunger, and quickly withdraw the pill the patient’s file, date, time, and your initials.
gun out of the mouth. Hold the mouth shut and stroke Oral liquid medication and water are given with a
the throat to induce swallowing. syringe (Figure 11.16). Locate the patient’s file, draw up
After you have given any pill, either with your fingers the prescribed medication, and then retrieve the patient.
or a pill gun, follow it with water to help the pill move Sitting or standing restraint works for small animals.
down the esophagus; 2–4 mL is adequate depending on Have the restrainer tilt the head up slightly. Gently lift