Mixing pre-medications with saline if using small volumes

RE: Mixing pre-medications with saline if using small volumes

James Colver Cert. Ed, RVN — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 19:43:23 GMT

Worth noting that diluting any drug with saline or anything else (unless specifically indicated) is likely to render it off license

RE: Mixing pre-medications with saline if using small volumes

Jbowles — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 00:12:36 GMT

I would prefer to use u100 insulin syringes as mentioned by "V E S". Please bear in mind if you draw up 0.02ml of a drug in to a syringe, then draw up saline using the same needle and syringe then you're actually diluting the entire contents of the needle and the syringe. This makes 0.03 to 0.05ml from the needle AND the 0.02ml in the syringe which means you could potentially be giving just under 0.05 to 0.07ml instead of the intended 0.02ml in your dilution, probably fine for some drugs, potential headache/disaster for others.

To avoid this either use a "zero" dead space syringe (appropriate U100 insulin syringes) or squirt the 0.02ml in to a separate syringe which you have pre-drawn up the saline in to (not sure on the appropriateness of diluting, have seen it done for years but that doesn't make it right)

personally I use a U100 0.5ml insulin syringe for anything under 0.1ml and dont bother with the dilution part.

side note, the U100 syringes are also really good for Vetbond glue, they are far more accurate to administer the glue along the wound and the glue doesn't seem to interact with the plunger/syringes we have so it doesn't go off in the syringe. much less messy and can be drawn up over a bit of tissue or the sink so you dont get glue spots on the floors/surfaces.

RE: Mixing pre-medications with saline if using small volumes

jenni99 — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 18:19:24 GMT

Personally I'd check with the data sheet before mixing with anything

RE: Mixing pre-medications with saline if using small volumes

V E S — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 15:42:38 GMT

Yes, dilution is fine. You can also use U100 0.3ml syringes, they scale down to 0.005ml. We use these all the time for exotics, and don't use dilution often.

RE: Mixing pre-medications with saline if using small volumes

Olivia Coulton — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 10:06:32 GMT

Yes it is acceptable to dilute it to get it out of the syringe otherwise it just sits in the hub of the needle or catheter port. You will find especially with smaller animals such as your small furries or tiny dogs and cats you will need to dilute most medications given as they will be such a small amount. You are still giving the full amount of the drug but making it easier for yourself to administer.

RE: Mixing pre-medications with saline if using small volumes

Sal the 1st — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 04:18:19 GMT

well I did today with the tiniest of chihuahuas. We give ours i/v and if I hadnt it wold never have got into the dog - just sat in the cannula stopper.