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Chapter 11 Clinical Techniques 199

the lip and slip the tip of the syringe between the cheek larger the number the larger the lumen on the tube
and teeth back into the cheek pouch. Depress the (Figure 11.19). If in doubt on size, consult with the vet-
plunger at a pace to match the patient swallowing. If you erinarian or technician. Set out gloves, lubricant, a
give it too fast it may run out of the mouth which creates syringe with the medication draw up, and a mouth spec-
a dilemma. Did the patient really get its full dose of med- ulum to keep the patient from biting down on the tube.
icine? How much ran out? This can be very difficult to If the tube is nasogastric or directed through the nasal
determine so try not to let it happen. Keeping the head opening into the stomach, then a suture kit and ban-
elevated a bit will help and adjusting speed of delivery daging material to secure the tube end to the neck will
should also help. If it is bad tasting stuff, try to shoot it be needed.
down the throat quickly and hold the mouth shut to Hospitalized birds are often medicated or fed using a
make the animal swallow. gastric tube. The trick is to get the beak open and kept
Oral dosing needles (Figure 11.18) are used on open. There are mouth speculums designed for birds
pocket pets and birds. This is a specialized technique but if the clinic doesn’t have one you can utilize a paper
that only veterinarians and technicians are trained to do clip. Small ones for small to medium‐sized birds and
but you may be asked to get the needle and should be large ones for the larger birds. The bird is held on its
able to identify it. back, the head held between thumb and index finger.
Gastric or nasogastric tubes are used to deliver medi- Hold the paper clip flat, and approach from the side.
cation or nutrition directly to the stomach. The veteri- Wedge the paper clip between the upper and lower beak,
narian is usually the person to perform such a procedure. prying it open. Rotate the clip so the top beak is resting
However, the assistant can gather the equipment and on the upper bend of the clip and the lower bend of the
medications. Gastric tubes come in French sizes and the clip is forcing the lower beak down. The gastric tube can
be inserted through the paper clip and down into the
stomach.
Horses are often given pastes that are squirted into
the side of the mouth. Start by holding onto the halter
with your right hand, slide the tube into the mouth bet-
ween cheek and side teeth. Depress the plunger a little
bit and when the horse starts to move its tongue quickly
reposition the tube and squirt the rest of the paste onto
the tongue itself. Horses are very adept at working the
paste off their tongues so try to spread it out by moving
the syringe in and out before pulling it out. If a chunk of
paste should land on the floor, scoop it up and smear it
on the inside of the cheek with your fingers. Be careful
not to get your finger between the molars! They will be
squished!
Cattle, sheep, and goats are usually medicated with
pastes or liquids given with a multi‐dose “gun.” They are

FIGURE 11.18 Oral dosing needles. FIGURE 11.19 Gastric tube.