Five Methods of Administering Medicine to Sick Deer
The five methods of administering medicine to sick deer are provided by the 5830 Agricultural Website Navigation Station:
1. Subcutaneous and Intradermal Injection
Injecting the liquid medication into the subcutaneous tissue allows it to be absorbed into the bloodstream via capillaries and lymphatic vessels. Any easily dissolvable, non-irritating liquid medications, vaccines, and bacterial vaccines can be administered subcutaneously. Common injection sites are areas on the neck sides or chest-abdomen where the skin is easily movable. For well-trained deer requiring a small amount of medication, a metal syringe can be used to quickly pinch up the skin and inject the liquid before the deer reacts to the pain. Intradermal injection involves injecting the medication into the dermis layer of the skin, such as BCG vaccine which is injected inside the tail.
2. Intramuscular Injection
Muscles have rich blood vessels and fewer nerves, making them suitable for injecting drugs that are unsuitable for subcutaneous or intravenous injection due to their irritancy. The absorption of intramuscularly injected drugs is slower than intravenous injection but provides sustained effects. For well-trained deer, the method is similar to subcutaneous injection but without pinching the skin, making it more convenient. However, for untrained deer, injections must be given in a restraint device or while restrained. In recent years, domestic anesthesia guns have been used with good results, though they are not widely adopted due to the time-consuming process of inflating the airbag. Many deer farms use long-rod syringes, which attach a metal syringe to a rod 2-3 meters long, allowing for easy injection by simply aiming at the target area on the deer's body.
3. Intravenous Injection
Directly injecting the liquid medication into the vein allows it to spread throughout the body via the bloodstream. This method acts quickly and takes effect rapidly but also excretes quickly. Intravenous injection in deer usually requires restraining the animal and is often performed on the ear veins or neck veins after local hair clipping and disinfection. The injection should be done slowly.
4. Intraperitoneal Injection
Intraperitoneal injection in deer is mainly used for fawns, especially when they suffer from diarrhea, pneumonia-induced dehydration, or when the veins are not distended, making it difficult to insert a needle through the skin. In such cases, drugs like glucose or Ringer's solution can be administered directly into the peritoneum. The injection site can be selected on the right flank or in front of the udder, slightly lifting the hind legs to move the intestines forward, reducing the risk of organ damage. Thorough disinfection of the injection site is required, and the temperature of the medication should match the body temperature.
5. Gastrointestinal Administration
1. Rumen Administration: In cases of rumen bloat or overeating, a cannula needle can be used to perform direct rumen puncture and inject the medication into the rumen. This method may cause local injury and should only be used in emergencies. For example, during rumen bloat, a 30% phenol solution (100 ml) or 10% lysol solution (100 ml) can be injected simultaneously with gas release.
2. Oral Administration: Oral medications are typically powders, decoctions, or solutions. Some can be mixed directly into feed for the deer to consume voluntarily. As long as there are no strong unpleasant odors, most deer will eat it. During group administration, ensure the medication is evenly mixed and distributed to prevent uneven consumption leading to poisoning or ineffective treatment. It is best to withhold feeding once or twice before administration and mix the drug with feed preferred by the deer. Water-soluble drugs like potassium permanganate can be placed in drinking water for the deer to drink.
Oral administration must be conducted under proper restraint using tools like soda bottles, rubber dosing bottles, or stomach tubes.
3. Rectal Administration: The advantage of rectal administration is that the drug bypasses the liver and is directly absorbed into the bloodstream, unaffected by the small intestine or digestive enzymes, resulting in better absorption and fewer side effects. Before administration, perform an enema with warm water to remove feces, then use a rubber tube to inject the medication into the rectum. For instance, chloral hydrate solution can be used for anesthesia, and potassium soap water can be used to clean the rectum and soften its contents.
(Responsible Editor: 5830 Agricultural Website Navigation)