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Imogen Bertin
Member
Username: imogen
Post Number: 1074
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 8, 2008 - 1:50 pm: |   |
Hi Dr O and all
I just gave my mare one of her EHV 1/4 vaccinations. I am always a little unclear how much blood is to be worried about when you get to the bit where you insert the needle, then draw back the plunger slightly to see if you are in a vein.
First time around there was quite a bit of blood so I was pretty sure I hit a vein, went for a second site, but to be honest I could not tell if the blood I was seeing on the drawback was from what was already in the needle from the first attempt.
Third time the drawback looked the same as second (a little blood) so rather than turn the patient mare into a pin-cushion I just pushed the plunger home.
Any guidance on what to look for/worry about/ignore?
Thanks
Imogen |
Diane E.
Member
Username: scooter
Post Number: 1885
Registered: 9-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 8, 2008 - 6:47 pm: | |
Hi Imogen, IF I recall right I think if she were going to have a reaction it would have been shortly after the shot. Again not sure but I think a vet told me years ago it didn't hurt to hit a vein with a vaccination, not like peneciilion(sp) anyway.
My guess is your ok Other than being a pin cushion. |
Judy Laursen
Member
Username: judynv
Post Number: 6
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 8, 2008 - 7:33 pm: | |
Hi Imogen,
If you get blood in your syringe on draw back you need to get a new needle and try again.This is the only way you can be sure that you haven't hit another vein.
Judy |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 20217
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Sunday, Mar 9, 2008 - 10:02 am: | |
In short Imogen, no blood is acceptable for injections not approved for IV use.
If the check is done carefully and minimal blood picked up you can shake the syringe so the blood is diluted into the injection and the small amount of blood does not prevent you from detecting new blood. Judy's suggestion is a good one and essential if you have picked up substantial blood. When you change the needle the hub will be clear so you can detect the smallest amount. Otherwise you shake the
DrO |
Imogen Bertin
Member
Username: imogen
Post Number: 1075
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Monday, Mar 10, 2008 - 4:55 pm: | |
Unfortunately I didn't have another needle - this had occurred to me! Fortunately mare in rude health today.
I will ask for a spare needle next time. Thanks Judy for that suggestion which did not occur to me whilst trying to do this in a field with a lot of other horses around and a non-horse person holding the rope... don't ask why, it would take too long to explain.
Anyway mare is fine, and next time my vet does vaccinations I shall ask him to let me actually do the injection under his supervision to train me better in how to do the IM shots.
All the best
Imogen |
Chris
Member
Username: stevens
Post Number: 479
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008 - 12:15 pm: | |
Hi Imogen,
Your post reminded me of the time I had a neighbor come over to watch me do vaccinations. I used to first inset just the needle and hub, then attach the syringe. Well, it was the one and only time I hit a vein and somehow I ended up with blood squirting onto my face.
I asked the neighbor to hand me a cloth as I had the needle in one hand and the thumb on my other hand over the wound; no response, she was out cold on the ground. |
