VPT 311: General and Systemic Veterinary Pharmacology (2+1)

INHALANT EXPECTORANT

• The inhalants are still used alone.
• These agents either heated or dissolved in steaming water are intended for inhalation in a confined air space.
• Animals, at least initially, appear to resent the strong odour and the steam.
• The whole procedure is troublesome, and, because of the steam-generating apparatus, potentially dangerous.
• Small animals are best simply exposed to steam for repeated short periods or to an aerosol of water generated by pump and fed into a face mask or a small, enclosed cage.
• These procedures are effective in chronic respiratory disease and are supported by appropriate physiotherapy designed to aid the drainage and expulsion of the liquefied exudates.
• Inhalant expectorants include benzoin, eucalyptus oil and other volatile oils, and wood tars and oils such as turpentine or one of its refined fractions, like terebene.