How to Do a Cephalic Blood Draw on a Dog Essay Example
How to do a cephalic blood draw on a dog
As a veterinary assistant, it is very important to know how to do a cephalic blood draw on a dog. The Cephalic vein is located right below the elbow on the top part of the leg making it the quickest and easiest location to obtain a blood sample from. These blood samples are used to run diagnostic tests, playing a large role in helping a veterinarian diagnosing any present illness as well as preventing any possible health problems in the future.
In order to obtain this blood sample you will need the following: A veterinary assistant to help you restrain the dog, electric clippers, alcohol spray, syringe, needle, blood collection tubes, cotton and vetwrap.
Step one: Restrain the dog, so that taking the blood sample does not become a fight. The veterinary assistant that will be helping you should have one arm around the dogs back while the dog is in a sitting position, and the other arm should be in a head lock position around the neck.
Step two: Shave the area just below the elbow on the top part of the leg. Find the spot where the leg bends at the elbow joint. Shave where the cephalic vein is the most prominent.
Step three: Have the helper hold off the cephalic vein. This is done by placing your hand under the elbow so the dog cannot move its leg back. Take your thumb over the top of the leg and apply pressure so that the cephalic vein will fill with blood and become more visible.
Step four: Select the correct syringe and needle based on the dog’s size and the size of the vein. The most common is a 22 gauge needle and will work with most blood draws.
Step five: Spray alcohol on the area that is about to be punctured by the needle, to sterilize and prevent bacteria from entering the body from the needle.
Step six: Grab the leg with your hand that is not holding the needle and place your thumb next to the lateral aspect of the cephalic vein to prevent the vein from moving.
Step seven: Insert the needle
As a veterinary assistant, it is very important to know how to do a cephalic blood draw on a dog. The Cephalic vein is located right below the elbow on the top part of the leg making it the quickest and easiest location to obtain a blood sample from. These blood samples are used to run diagnostic tests, playing a large role in helping a veterinarian diagnosing any present illness as well as preventing any possible health problems in the future.
In order to obtain this blood sample you will need the following: A veterinary assistant to help you restrain the dog, electric clippers, alcohol spray, syringe, needle, blood collection tubes, cotton and vetwrap.
Step one: Restrain the dog, so that taking the blood sample does not become a fight. The veterinary assistant that will be helping you should have one arm around the dogs back while the dog is in a sitting position, and the other arm should be in a head lock position around the neck.
Step two: Shave the area just below the elbow on the top part of the leg. Find the spot where the leg bends at the elbow joint. Shave where the cephalic vein is the most prominent.
Step three: Have the helper hold off the cephalic vein. This is done by placing your hand under the elbow so the dog cannot move its leg back. Take your thumb over the top of the leg and apply pressure so that the cephalic vein will fill with blood and become more visible.
Step four: Select the correct syringe and needle based on the dog’s size and the size of the vein. The most common is a 22 gauge needle and will work with most blood draws.
Step five: Spray alcohol on the area that is about to be punctured by the needle, to sterilize and prevent bacteria from entering the body from the needle.
Step six: Grab the leg with your hand that is not holding the needle and place your thumb next to the lateral aspect of the cephalic vein to prevent the vein from moving.
Step seven: Insert the needle