Calculate dosages for weight-based medications.

Calculation should include

  • identifying schedule VI medications that may be administered by a veterinarian assistant under the supervision of a veterinarian, as outlined in the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine Regulations Governing the Practice of Veterinary Medicine (https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/media/dhpweb/docs/vet/leg/VetMed.pdf Links to an external site.)
  • following a weight-based dosage chart to calculate dosages for animals of various weights
  • calculating drug dosages with 100-percent accuracy.

Process/Skill Questions:

  • Why must dosages be calculated with 100-percent accuracy? What might be the consequences of even a small calculation error?
  • If heartworm preventive is available in packages for dogs up to 25 lbs., for dogs from 26-50 lbs., and for dogs from 51-100 lbs., what package(s) would you need to use for an animal that weighs 115 lbs.?
  • How much wormer medication would a 7-pound kitten need if the bottle says to administer 1.0 ml per 10 lbs.?

Teacher Resource: