DRENCHING STOCK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1938, Page 3

DRENCHING STOCK

PRECAUTIONS TO OBSERVE. Although it is often necessary to drench horses and cattle with medicine, this should be done only when essential, for when wrongly carried out d may be the cause of setting up an attack of pneumonia. Drenching should always be done slowly, and if the animal coughs the operation must be immediately suspended. To induce the animal to swallow, tickling the palate is usually effective. By the way, in drenching there is no need to withdraw the tongue, as this practice is likely to lead to the medicine entering the windpipe. The drenching horn or bottle, whichever is used, should be inserted in the mouth at the side between the lips and the molar teeth, the head being elevated, but not held too high. Pigs in particular, are easily choked by drenches, and for that reason medicines of relatively small bulk, and not too nauseous, should be given in treacle or honey, mixed with foods or smeared on the teeth or tongue with a spoon or bat paddle of wood. A really sick pig may usually be dosed without resisting and without restraint by this method, especially if the medicine is given by its usual attendant.