5.1 Introduction to Medications
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to
- Describe the terminology used in veterinary pharmacies
- Define the routes and forms of drug administration
- Describe the categories of drugs
- Identify common abbreviations associated with veterinary pharmacy
- Describe common vaccination terms used in the clinic
- List the rights of medication administration
- Describe how the scope of practice differs between DVMs, RVT, VMAs, and VOAs in the clinic
- Describe the importance of the veterinary client-patient relationship
- Describe prescription labels and their components
Chapter Overview
Medications are a large part of the veterinary clinic. From appointments to procedures, these medications are used daily in the clinic. There are certain factors to consider when the DVM is choosing medications, and many routes and forms are available. Many of the medications used in veterinary medicine are adapted from or are even the same as those for humans, so some medications may be familiar to you.
In this chapter, we will discuss the types of pharmacies available to veterinary medicine, different types of medication, including forms and routes, medication categories, and some important factors to consider when administering medications. Vaccination terminology will also be introduced in this chapter.
