HOW DO WE GET IT THERE? by a variety route has its advantages and disadvantages. The main routes of fluid administration are listed here and neonates are used for short-term illness in small animals The oral route safest route of fluid administration. oral fluids can be adminis- tered by is the bottle, nasogastric tube, or gastrostomy tub stomach tube, dosing possible aspiration pneumonia, of oral fluid administration include when com he inability to use them in vomiting animals, and less rapid absorption anorexic or pared to other methods. Oral fluids are indicated for animals that are have diarrhea without vomiting, and for neonatal dehydration. non- Subcutaneous(SQ) fluids are used to correct mild to moderate dehydration in critically ill patients. In dehydrated animals or animals in shock, peripheral vasocon- striction limits the distributicn of fluids from the subcutaneous space to where they are needed. Isotonic are used SQ er solutions may cause skin sloughing) and they are usually administered by gravity flow through an 18- or 20-Bauge needle SQ fluids are given in a variety of locations, including the flank region and dorsally along the back between the scapulae. Many prefer to give SQfluids in the flank region to allow more efficient drainage of fluid in case ofinfection. The volume of fluid that can be administered S is limited by the animal's skin elasticity and may range from 10 to 150 ml per site depending on the animal species being treated. Typically, 5 to 10 ml of fluid per pound of body weight is given per injection site in small animals. An imals differ in their ability to tolerate the infused load comfortably, and multiple sites may be needed to administer the total amount of fluids required. All SQ fluids tend to be in six to eight hours. Disadvantages of SQ fluid administration include the possibility of infection(especially when given dorsally along the back, hyper neous edema, slower absorption rate than other routes, and the inability to use tonic, hypotonic, or irritating solutions