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202 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

FIGURE 11.27 Automatic dose syringe.

FIGURE 11.25 Syringe tips. Multiple dose syringes are shaped like a pistol with a
trigger handle and glass or plexi‐glass barrel housed
within a metal chamber (Figure 11.27). They usually have
25–50 mL capacity and a dial that sets the amount dis-
pensed at 1–5 mL per pull of the handle. They are very
durable and are used frequently in large animal practices
1 mL for herd work because they save time by eliminating
0.2 mL individual syringe filling time. They are more expensive
0.1 mL 0.01 mL than plastic syringes and require maintenance. Mineral
Units oil is used to lubricate the rubber stopper on the plunger
and O‐ring that connects the barrel to the handle as well
as careful disinfecting to clean the barrel after each use.
This instrument has been known to spread diseases if not
disinfected properly between herds.
After a disposable syringe has been used it should be
disposed of in a sharps container (see Figure 4.1).
Needles should not be recapped as that poses a puncture
hazard. Some clinics will have you pull the entire syringe
apart and then put it in the sharps container, but that
really isn’t necessary. The needle cap and the syringe
FIGURE 11.26 Disposable syringes with their graduations. The packaging can be disposed of in the general trash. Never
syringes are marked with graduations. Note the smallest unit of leave an uncovered needle lying around. Someone may
measurement each syringe can measure.
poke themselves on the needle which can be very dan-
gerous especially if it had been used for a modified live
accurately. The next biggest syringe is the TB or 1 mL vaccine or vaccines such as brucellosis and leptospirosis.
syringe. The total volume is 1 mL and the graduations Hypodermic needles consist of a slender hollow tube
are marked in 0.1 and 0.01 mL. This syringe is most often called a shaft, a hub on one end designed to attach to a
used for mixing small amounts of anesthetics and for syringe, and a beveled or sloped sharp point on the other
blood draws on birds, pocket pets, kittens, and puppies. end to introduce solutions into a body or to remove fluids
Probably the most commonly used syringe in veterinary from the body (Figure 11.28). The interior of the needle
medicine is the 3 mL syringe. Its graduations are in 0.1, is called a lumen. There are two types of needles avail-
0.5, and 1 mL graduations. Six and 12 mL syringes are able: a disposable type is used once and then disposed of
marked with 0.2 and 1 mL graduations. The 20, 35, and and a stainless steel re‐useable needle that can be used
60 mL syringes are marked in 1 or 5 mL graduations as multiple times before requiring sharpening. These are
well as in ounces. The selection of a syringe is based most commonly used in large animal veterinary practices
upon the total dose of the medication. You want one that where an entire herd may be given an injection with only
will accommodate the entire amount and accurately the use of one needle. The disposable needles tend to get
measures the medicine. Therefore it is important to be dull going through the rubber stopper on a medication
able to determine the smallest unit of measurement for bottle! The only drawback to the re‐useable needles is
each syringe. that the points do get thin after multiple sharpenings and