Discussion on Horse scared of needles.
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| Author |
Message |
    
Nancy Preston
Member
Username: Npreston
Post Number: 6
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 23, 2003 - 8:29 pm: |   |
Help - I have a large warmblood yearling, who is extremely afraid of the Vet, specifically when he trys to give him vaccinations or perform blood work for a Coggins test. He stands about 16'2 and is hard to handle when he decides to fight us. We have two very bad Vet visits due to this problem. If we have him in his stall, he will eventually get away and turn his back to us. We have tried blinders and sedation. Does anyone have any good suggestions to help us get him over this?
Thanks,
Nancy |
Melissa Webster
Member
Username: Mwebster
Post Number: 274
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 23, 2003 - 8:55 pm: | |
Hi,
My 16h3 warmblood used to be famously needle-phobic. 2 years ago, he got the flu, and we put him on antibiotics as the vet thought he was at risk for pneumonia. 2 shots a day for 5 days.
I found that cupping my hand behind his eye so he couldn't see the needle and the procedure made a huge difference (at the same time, talking reassuringly and confidingly, as though nothing in the world could be a concern...!). It took 2 of us, of course, to give the shots.
I'm not sure why, but he got over his phobia so completely that these days I give him his Adequan shots (he's got arthritis now) without even haltering him, and he can see the syringe. My vet still expresses surprise when he comes for routine vaccinations, he remembers when shots were a huge problem.
Maybe he was too sick to care, and that helped him over it. But I think the hand cupping behind his eye and the quiet confiding conversation took his mind off it and let him experience it without so much anxiety, and he learned it was no big deal. Oh, one other thing, we had him in the aisle, with a lead rope. I think some horses feel even more worried when you pursue them in their stall for stuff like this. My horse is very quiet on crossties, so he's used to standing in the aisle and behaving himself. I think he'd have been very worried in his stall.
Not sure if this will help, but I hope you find a way to get your horse over this.
Melissa
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Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 7652
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 24, 2003 - 8:47 am: | |
Hello Nancy
There is a program designed to correct just this type problem. For a description see » Training Horses » Behavioral Problems » Behavior Modification, Conditioning, Desensitization, and Counterconditioning.
DrO |
Janet Schmidt
Member
Username: Sparky
Post Number: 31
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 24, 2003 - 3:51 pm: | |
Nancy - I had the same problem with my gelding and it was as simple as switching vets! He would not let the first vet anywhere near him - it would be a complete wrestling match just to get the sedative in him - I warned the next vet about his actions and he just walked up to him and petted him and gave him the injection - no problem!! I gave the first vet a second chance and same thing! I am not even trying to figure out why. Thanks and good luck - Janet Schmidt |
