VCP 411: Medicine Section

VENIPUNCTURE

• Purpose
• blood sample collection
• intravenous medication administration
• intravenous catheter placement
• Sites
• Central
• The jugular vein may be used in dogs or cats.
• central veins are preferred when collecting more than 5mls in dogs or 2mls in cats, or when administering hypertonic medications.
• Peripheral
• The cephalic vein is useful in dogs or cats for smaller volumes of blood and when administering isotonic medications.
• The medial saphenous vein is useful in cats for smaller volumes of blood and when administering isotonic medications.
• The lateral saphenous vein is useful in dogs for smaller volumes of blood and when administering isotonic medications.