Melissa
Kaplan's
Herp Care Collection
Last updated
January 1, 2014
Drug Dosing and Routes of Administration
Melissa Kaplan, 1995
Terms you are likely to encounter when reading and talking with other herp owners or to your vet.
| ac | ante cibum before meals |
| BID, bid | twice a day |
| cap | capsule |
| cc | cubic centimeter (same as millilitre) |
| gt | gutta drop |
| hs | hora somni at bedtime |
| IC | intracoelomic (in the abdominal cavity); the best place to inject large quantities of rehydration fluids to ensure faster absorption and prevent the pain and tissue damage association with large quantities of fluids injected subcutaneously |
| IM | intramuscular |
| IP | interperitoneal (in the abdominal cavity); same as IC (intracoelomic) |
| mcg | microgram |
| ml | milliliter (same as cubic centimeter) |
| npo | nothing by mouth |
| od | oculus dexter right eye |
| os | oculus sinister left eye |
| pc | post cibum after meals |
| PO | per os (by mouth) |
| prn | pro re nata as needed |
| q | quaque every (ex: bid q4d = twice a day for four days; q3h = every 3 hours) |
| qd | quaque die every day |
| QID, qid | quater in die four times a day |
| SQ, Sub-Q | subcutaneous (also SC or SubQ or subq) |
| tab | tablet |
| TID, tid | ter un die three times a day |
| ud | as directed |
NOTES:
Liquid medications are measured in milliliters (ml) or cubic centiliters (cc), with syringes marked accordingly; while measured differently, they equal the same amount of fluid. Markings on sy ringes will vary depending on the total volume of the syringe. Syringes typically used in small animal and reptile care are 1cc, 3cc, 6cc, 12cc, 35cc, and 60cc.
Injectible medications should not be given by mouth unless specifically directed to by the veterinarian.
Keep a record of the medications your vet uses to treat your herps, whether administered in the vets office or given to you to administer at home. If you can't read the vet's writing, ask for clarification. Keep track of the drug name, strength, and dose (amount administered each time and how often it is to be administered).
Articles of Related Interest:
Web Sites of Related Interest
Consumer Drug Information Resources
Common Abbreviations Used in Prescriptions, and other Latin Trivia Ad Nauseam
