When giving pills or liquid
medication by mouth, restrain the animal in a chute with a head
catcher, or tie its head to the side of the chute so it cannot
swing its head away or hit you with its head while trying to avoid
the medication.
Pills
Pills and boluses can be given with a balling gun. A balling gun
is a long-handled tool that holds the bolus while you put it
toward the back of the mouth. When you press the plunger it pushes
the pill out of its slot into the animal’s throat to be swallowed.
If you aim it far back, the animal must swallow the pill when the
tool releases it. The tool keeps your fingers from being crushed
by the animal’s teeth.Be
careful when giving pills or examining the inside of an animal’s
mouth. Cattle have no top teeth in front but can crush your
fingers between molars if your fingers are back too far when the
animal bites down.
Liquids
Giving liquid medications (or pills dissolved in water) to a calf
is easy with a large syringe (minus the needle) or a special dose
syringe with a metal tube that goes to the back of the mouth.
Position the syringe into the corner of the mouth and aim it far
back so the calf must swallow the medication.
If you’re giving a large dose
(such as several ounces of Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate), do not
squirt it all at once; he may be able to spit some back out, or he
may choke on it. Squirt a little at a time, allowing him to
swallow each portion before you squirt in more. Keep his head
tipped up so medication can’t run back out of his mouth. You can
refill the syringe as needed for a large dose.
A small calf can be backed into a fence corner and his head held
securely between your legs as you do this, whereas a large calf
must be restrained more fully in a chute or with someone helping
you hold him. It’s difficult to give liquid medication to an adult
animal unless you use a stomach tube, and you will need your
veterinarian’s help to be sure it goes down the throat and not the
wind pipe.
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