Injections- SQ, ID, IM, IV

Injections are a common and important way we give medications to our patients.  There are many routes we use, not all medications can be given by all routes!

Be sure to look up medication in a veterinary drug formulary to double check indication, dose, side effects and contrary use indications as well as medication incompatibility, drug withholding time for food animals is absolutely vital as well as what drugs are forbidden to use in food animal species, as well as where to inject in food animal species so as not to disrupt or contaminate certain cuts of meat.

Subcuticular/Intradermal-within the skin, ex) local anesthetic drugs, TB testing

Subcutaneous- just under the skin in subcutaneous fat layer, ex) Penicillin G, SQ fluids, vaccines-check label!

Intramuscular- within the muscle, different specific sites are indicated for SA, EQ, and FA! ex) adult heart worm treatment in dogs-lumbar muscle, some vaccines in horses-neck or rear leg muscles, vaccines in cattle/pigs-neck muscles just distal to the ear.