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Mandy
Member
Username: Bucky
Post Number: 34
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, Aug 29, 2005 - 5:09 pm: |   |
What is the proper needle gauge for giving Penicillin? Is it the same as regular vaccinations? |
Vicki Zaneis
Member
Username: Vickiann
Post Number: 87
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, Aug 29, 2005 - 9:23 pm: | |
Injecting the penicillin can be painful for the horse, but don't know whether that would mean it would be wise to use a larger needle or not. I have used 18 ( 1" and green colored) gauge for penicillin, though generally prefer a smaller (the pink needles -- 1 1/2 " -- maybe 20 gauge?) needle for horse injections. Be sure you do not inject procaine penicillin IV -- should be IM or dangerous and potentially fatal for your horse. After inserting the needle, pull back on the plunger a bit to make sure there is no blood in the syringe. If there is, remove the needle and do it over. Giving penicillin shots is not fun but sometimes necessary! |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 13623
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005 - 6:49 am: | |
Because it is thick it will go quicker with the 18 gauge needle and because deep IM will be less sore the 1 and 1/2 inch length best.
DrO |
Rhonda Hill
Member
Username: Rhondahi
Post Number: 6
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jan 3, 2007 - 11:22 am: | |
Dr. O what is a good guage needle to have in my barn for various shots such as penicillin, tetnus toxoid and what ml size on the syringe, seems to me I always need the really big one to accomodate the size of my horses i.e 1 ml per 100lbs on some shots Bantamine and Penicillan |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 17399
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 4, 2007 - 8:19 am: | |
Hello Rhonda,
Over the last 10 years I have usually between 6 and 20 horses on our farm and I have not given a shot of penicillin, or any systemic antibiotic, in over 10 years to my horses. Are you using a lot of penicillin and are you aware of the dangers of antibiotic use? Though I know there are circumstances where it may be important to admin an antibiotic without veterinary supervision, and frankly I think vets use too many antibiotics, but I want you to carefully consider this by reading the article Treatments and Medications for Horses » Antibiotics and Antimicrobials » Antibiotic Use in Horses: An Overview.
We talk about the needle size for penicillin above and vaccines and most other injections can be given with a 20 gauge needle. The size syringe will depend on your dosage but having 3's, 12's, and 35's will cover most needs.
DrO |
Rhonda Hill
Member
Username: Rhondahi
Post Number: 7
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 4, 2007 - 12:41 pm: | |
I have only given penicillin once by injection but I can say that my vet has recommended Tucaprin Powder (spell?) on a few occassions, is that dangerous? |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 17408
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 5, 2007 - 7:38 am: | |
It is like all things Rhonda, it has benefits and it has dangers and, as the article I reference above explains, it is the balance of these 2 that are critical to making good decisions on drug use.
After reviewing it you can learn more about Tucaprin under the same Antibiotic topic as we have an article on that class of antibiotic: see the Trimethoprim-Sulfa topic.
DrO |
