SAMPLE COLLECTION

Supplies for ear cytology

Cotton-tipped applicator (CTA)

Microscope Slides

Stain set

Mineral oil (ear mites)

Cover slip (ear mites)

Source of heat (typically a lighter)

How to collect a sample for ear cytology

Hold the pinna

Using a scooping motion, collect debris with CTA

• external ear canal and crevices

Break the shaft of the left side to form an “L”

• Don’t want to confuse R and L

Never use the same swab for both ears

• translocation = bad

Evaluation of Exudate

Collect sample

Roll sample onto slide to form a thin layer

Heat fix the sample

Stain slide with Diff-Quick

Allow to air dry

View slide at 4x, 10x, 40x, to focus

Place immersion oil on slide an view at 100x

• condenser up

Otodectes cynotis

Ear mites

Evaluation of Ear Mites(Otodectes cynotis)

Obtain sample (will appear brown and crusty)

Apply mineral oil to slide

Mix sample into the mineral oil, breaking up material

Place a cover slip on the slide

Examine slide on microscope at 4-10x objective

• condenser down

Free-Catch Urine DOG

• “Voided Sample”

• NOT STERILE

• Supplies: Gloves, syringe, clean container

• Procedure: Be ready!, Allow first urine to go on ground, Catch urine mid-stream, avoid contamination

Why allow first urine to go on ground?

To avoid getting the natural bacteria that lives in the urinary tract

• CATCH MID STREAM

Urine Collection CATS

NOT STERILE

Supplies needed: Gloves, Non-absorbent litter, Syringe

Procedure: Fill litter box with small layer of litter, Wait, Remove urine with syringe

Skin Scrape

Technique is simple and inexpensive

Mites are relatively common cause of pruritus (itch)

Two types

• Deep 

• Superficial

Deep Skin Scrape

Mite: DEMODEX

Not contagious

Natural Flora

Live deep in hair follicle

Superficial Skin scrape

Mite: SARCOPTES SCABEI

Contagious

Extremely pruritic

Skin scrape supplies

#10 blade

Mineral oil

Microscope slides

Cover slip

Mocroscope

• objectives: 4x and 10x

MUST DULL BLADE - don’t want to slice, but scrape

• use metal table or tongue depressor

Superficial Skin Scrape technique

Place drop of mineral oil on slide

Clip area of hair-do NOT rake skin

Apply some mineral oil to the skin

Dull #10 blade

Dip blade in mineral oil

Scrape (WITH the direction of hair growth)

• cover more surface area

• Not as deep - do not have to see “capillary ooze”

Mix sample in drop of oil on slide and apply a cover slip

Examine at 4x and 10x objective with the condenser down

Deep Skin scrape technique

Place drop of mineral oil on slide

Clop area of hair-do NOT rake skin

Squeeze/roll skin between fingers

Dull #10 blade

Scrape (WITH the direction of hair growth) until blood droplets seen in a focal area

Mix sample in drop of oil on slide and apply a cover slip

Examine at 4x and 10x objective with the condenser down

The 5 rights

Patient, Medication, Dose, Route, Time/frequency

Oral medication methods

Mix with food if allowed

By hand

Using various devices

• oral or nasal intubation

• Syringe

• dropper

• pill gun

Oral medication by hand

• Have a restrainer place the dog or cat into sitting position

• With one hand, wrap finger around upper libs or on zygomatic arch

• Holding the pill with index finger and thumb, pull the mandible down with middle finger

• Quickly place the medication at the back of the tongue

Oral medication using pill gun

• Have a restrainer place the dog or cat into sitting position

• Place medication into pill gun

• With one hand, wrap finger around upper libs or on zygomatic arch

• Place the pill gun into the patient’s mouth to the back of the tongue

• Press the plunger expel medication

Pilling Tips and Tricks

Try not to push the plunger too soon

Capsules will start to disintegrate once wet

To encourage swallowing,

• rub the throat

• Blow in their nose

Follow with some water - don’t tip head back too far!

You won’t choke them with a pill gun

Oral Liquids technique

• Have a restrainer place the dog or cat into sitting position

• Use cheek pouch with mouth closed

• Lift head slightly

  • too far makes it hard to swallow

• Give slowly, allowing to swallow

  • dysphagia

  • aspiration

• Keep hands out of the mouth

• Cats may hypersalivate - don’t be alarmed

Eye Medication

Proper head restraint essential

Possible to do by yourself in many situations

One hand around muzzle

Drops before ointment if giving both

Head with medication rest on head

• if animal moves, you move with it

NEVER touch eye with tip of bottle

• may injure eye

• Contaminates medication

Eye drops

• Have restrainer place patient in sitting position

• With one hand, tilt nose upwards from under jaw and pull down the lower eyelid

• With medication hand, pull upwards on upper eyelid

• Hold bottle above eye and instill medication

• Patient will blink

Eye Ointment

• Restraint and head hold are the same as drops

• Pull down, exposing conjunctiva

• Without touching tube to tissue, instill desired amount of medication into conjunctival pocket

• Can use glove method, but not used frequently

Ear Medication

Obtain sample and clean prior to administering!

Restrain the head - they WILL shake!

Hold bottle straight up and away from ear surface

Massage external ear canal to disperse medication

If one-time use medication, can place tip into the ear

• very few of these

Purple top tube

EDTA

Used for CBC

Red tope tube

No additives

Yields SERUM

Endocrine testing, chemistries

Blue top tube

Sodium citrate

Yields serum

Clotting times

Green top tube

Sodium Heparin

Yields PLASMA

Chemistries

Tiger top tube

Serum chemistry

Serum separator tube

Yellow top tube

Blood cultures

varying additives