Dormosedan/syringe-shy horse...

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soloequestrian

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One of my horses is funny about dental treatment and wormers. He is very easy in other ways - clipping, injections etc - so I think he has had bad experiences with his mouth in a past life. He has been sedated for dental treatment in the past, and this time the dentist has suggested trying dormosedan gel rather than having to have a vet here at the same time. I'm wondering if I can administer the gel by putting it on my (gloved) finger and then rubbing up inside his front lip, rather than trying to get a dreaded syringe under his tongue? I will obviously ask the vet about the gel, but interested in any experiences first.
 
I have used sedalin in this way and it worked well, just make certain the glove, ideally double glove, is not going to let any through onto your skin.
 
It's got to be under the tongue IME to work. I can't get it in the right place with my gelding (plus he gets very wound up when I try to apply the gel) so having him sedated by the Vet is the better option in his case.
 
When I've given it to my horse in the past for clipping I've found the best way for him is to put on his bridle with a drop noseband, and then administer the gel via the syringe inserted into the gap besides the bit / corner of the mouth. Just make sure it goes under the tongue because it's only absorbed via the mucus membranes and is useless if swallowed.

If you have an empty worming syringe (the narrow type) then you could do some test runs to practice with some tinned stewed apple, which is what I did before trying with the Dormosedan gel - as it's quite expensive so you don't want to waste any!
 
Nari said:
I've given it in the way you describe soloequestrian & it worked perfectly.
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The only reason people are told to put it under the tongue is to ensure the horse does not swallow it, any part of the mouth will be fine if rubbed in as it will be absorbed through the membranes and not swallowed, pleased that it has worked perfectly well, I think most fails will be because it does end up with at least some being swallowed and suspect that rubbing it in by hand, or well gloved hand, would be the most effective if the handler can manage it without getting it on themselves.
 
I was wondering this exact question myself. I would be able to apply it to gums or inner lip but probably not under the tongue.
 
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