1. Venipuncture of dogs and cats
• Proper & Safe Restraint
• Where To Find A Vein
Alana C. McQuarry, DVM, MPVM
DrAlanaDVM@gmail.com
July 25, 2011
Consumnes River College

2. SAFETY
FIRST!
Avoid injury

3. Jugular Vein
Cephalic
Vein
Evans. Anatomy of the Dog p.686

4. Sites for venipuncture
• Cephalic veins
(front of front
legs)
– Easiest with
holder to hold
front leg &
restrain head
• Hold behind
elbow
• Use thumb to
roll vein to
outside
• While rolling,
push down
firmly with
thumb
Dyce. Veterinary Anatomy p. 287

5. Sites for venipuncture
• Lateral saphenous veins (outside
lower rear legs)
– Useful for head shy or anxious dogs

6. Sites for venipuncture
• Medial saphenous veins (inside upper rear legs)
– Good site for collecting blood sample from cats

7. Sites for venipuncture
• Jugular veins (neck)
– Holder is critical:
• neck position makes
this very easy or
very hard to do