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Discussion on IM Shot - Too Rough? | |
Author | Message |
Member: njen |
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 - 1:57 pm: I am going to be giving my horse a series of IM shots (Adequan) over the next few weeks. My vet showed me generally how do it, but I've not actually given one yet. I will be giving it in the neck muscle and my vet said to use some force in driving the needle in because the hide is pretty thick. I've watched my vet give shots before and he holds the syringe, rubs the area with his fist, and then pops it in. Of course he makes it look easy. I'm afraid I'll either not be strong enough to get the needle in or too rough and hurt him. Any tips to know how much force to use? Thanks! |
Member: vickiann |
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 - 5:14 pm: Jennifer,I just ram it in there with some force because it is worse if the velocity is not enough, in which case it can literally bounce off. It helps if your horse is not uptight about the process. My guy is so used to the drill that he is at ease. My daughter's Vet showed her how to delicately pinch a flap of skin and carefully insert the tip of the needle in a more professional manner but my method works for me and I have never had my horse have the slightest bump after just kind of throwing it in there sort of like a dart to a target. Make sure you place it in the correct area. |
Member: rtrotter |
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 - 6:40 pm: I have found over the years that it is the anticipation of tryng to give the shot and the horse sensing your lack of experience that leads to the most problems.My vet pounds with his left hand in the area he wants to give the shot( V area of the neck), and gives the shot with his right hand, he does it so fast that I do not know how he can see if he drew blood or not. Me, I use the easy method, I slowly stick it in, draw out(no blood), push plunger. If you get blood, pull out slightly and try again. Other than vaccinations, my horses rarely get shots, so I try not to make a big deal out of it. I also give shots after a bath and do not use alcohol as a rule. Found that when you use the alcohol, they know something's up and really all you are doing is spreading around the dirt. If you want to practice use a large peach, oranges have too thick a skin. Rachelle |
Member: vickiann |
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 - 9:07 pm: As described by Rachelle, I always check for blood too, of course, to make sure it is IM.It seems now that the Vets advocate just brushing or wiping the area clean. If the horse is extremely dirty I wash the neck first with Betadine scrub or Nolvaasan and let it dry before giving the shot. I give Lance the better part of a carrot to chew on while I am sticking him and after I'm done I give him another nice piece. This makes it a pleasant experience for him. He knows exactly what I am going to do and quietly accepts what is coming. Rachelle gave a nice description and I would only add that it is also good to inject whatever you are giving slowly, if possible, and place your fingers on either side of the needle pressing against the horse as you withdraw the needle. |
Member: lucyc1 |
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 - 10:49 pm: I have a couple of responses: 1) Like Vicki I agree that you need to use a bit of "pop" --sort of like the motion of throwing a dart , because most horse's skin is a bit tough. Just pushing just doesn't work so well. Some nursing schools have students practice on an orange.I actually really like the suggestion Vicki's daughter's vet gave of pinching up a bit of skin -- but I would describe it a little differently. My experience is that if you pull up an inch or so of skin it doesn't hurt, but it does distract. It gives the horse a distinct and distracting sensation so they don't really experience the needle as a surprise. I don't worry about their being startled, so I think it relaxes me, and I think it relaxes the horse. The big sensation is already there -- then I can insert the needle and it isn't a surprise, nor is it a big deal. You can release the skin to pull back to check for blood, insert the medication, (like Vicki I also suggest somewhat slowly), withdraw the needle (again, as Vicki suggested, using your fingers to stabilize the area as your withdraw.) I usually rub the area for a bit after, then give the horse a treat. That method has worked best for me with horses that are needle shy. We have one horse in the barn that goes ballistic if you thump the area (often done to desensitize before injecting the needle.) If I pull up a bit of neck skin instead I can slip the needle in and he doesn't even flinch. It can seem like a big deal until you've done it. Using an orange just lets you get the feel without worrying about the horse (or person) until you get more comfortable using a syringe. |
Member: ajudson1 |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 29, 2010 - 9:06 am: Many years ago my Arab mare had to get a series of shots. She started HATING them, and for years to come it was a battle. Trying to give in the neck she would move all over, in the rump, she would kick to the stars. It got to be very dangerous for me.I found that I was shaking with nerves myself so I had to quit that! I also found that by making the actual giving of the shot (I only do annual vaccinations now) part of a grooming ritual it went much better. I clip the area where I plan on giving the shot for a couple of reasons: It cleans it up and I can stand back and assess if that is the correct area I want to be putting needle in. I then separate the needle from the syringe and just put the needle in my victim, er, um, horse. That way if there is a reaction be it blood or the horse moving, the needle can come back out and the drug is still in the syringe. This mare used to cause me to have bent needles, wasted meds, even stuck myself once! I always have extra needles because if you do need to re-do the procedure, you should use a NEW CLEAN needle. So my method: Groom, clip an area, rub that area a bit firmly for a few seconds, insert just the needle, attach syringe, check for blood, and then give the shot. Withdraw the needle and syringe, rub the area with lots of praise. Insert quickly as others have said, I put my finger over the hub of the needle and give a quick tap and push. |
Member: njen |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 29, 2010 - 9:32 am: Great ideas from everyone. I especially like Angie's suggestion of just putting the needle in and attaching the syringe. Also, (showing my ignorance again), what do you do with the needles when you're done? |
Member: ajudson1 |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 29, 2010 - 9:57 am: I have an old coffee can I throw mine in and that is kept on the highest shelf in a cabinet in my tack room. I suppose eventually it will go in the garbage. I think maybe every state has laws so you might want to check and see what is legal to do with used needles? |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 29, 2010 - 5:31 pm: I like the needle first and then the syringe in jumpy horses but let me caution you not to touch the nozzle of the syringe, the needles barrel, nor the edge of the hub of the needle. You could contaminate the injection and set up an abscess. A good rule is to wash and dry your hands thoroughly before you begin.DrO |
Member: rtrotter |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 29, 2010 - 7:40 pm: Jennifer,I use two used plastic milk jug's(quart size) I separate the syringes from the needles and I give them back to the vet when he comes or take them to the clinic to dispose of with their medical waste. My vet also took all my dog's one piece insulin syringes, as well. I also reuse my larger syringes ( with the tips cut off) as dose syringes( washed out well of course). Rachelle |
Member: vickiann |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 29, 2010 - 9:24 pm: I do what Rachelle said placing all of the used needles in a designated container and turning them over to my large animal veterinarian once or twice a year. He is happy to take them so that they are disposed of properly. |
Member: ajudson1 |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 29, 2010 - 11:10 pm: I wash my hands before and after each horse is done, and use hand sanitizer also as I handle the needles and syringes.My vet said it's o.k. to reuse the syringes but NEVER use a needle more than once. |
Member: njen |
Posted on Monday, Aug 2, 2010 - 3:16 pm: Thanks for all the tips! I successfully gave my first shot and my horse was a trooper. He didn't even notice my shaking hands! I ended up using the needle and syringe together. I have six more to give in the drug regimen so I will be a pro by the end. Thanks again! |
Member: vickiann |
Posted on Monday, Aug 2, 2010 - 3:40 pm: Good for you, Jennifer!While it does get easier with experience I still have to get myself psyched up each time but it is really quite easy when the horse knows the drill. |