Vetinerary Assistant Practice Exam

How are parenteral drugs typically administered?

1. Through injection

2. By mouth

3. Topically

4. Inhalation

The correct answer is: Through injection

Parenteral drugs are administered through injection, which directly delivers the medication into the body, bypassing the digestive system. This route allows for rapid absorption into the bloodstream, making it particularly useful for delivering medications that require immediate action or for patients who are unable to take medications orally. The parenteral route includes various forms of injection, such as intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous methods. Each of these methods serves different purposes depending on the medication being administered, the needed speed of absorption, and the desired duration of action. This method is critical in veterinary medicine, where quick responses to medical conditions can be essential. Other routes such as oral administration involve swallowing drugs, which must pass through the gastrointestinal tract and can take longer to take effect. Topical administration involves applying drugs directly to the skin, typically for localized effects, and inhalation is used for delivering medications directly to the respiratory system. While these routes are important, they do not fit the definition of parenteral administration, which is specifically about injections.