HOME INJECTIONS?

[StroppyMare*]

My new mare has very bad mud fever which has resulted in her needing antibiotics, we were prescribed injections for this instead of oral powder as the injection form is more likely to tackle more forms of bacteria and have a quicker affect, after 3 days of theses injections at home i can no longer get near her to continue the course so the vet has to revisit and give oral powders instead...

Just wondering if anyone else has had experience of giving there own horses injections at home and what was the outcome?

My mare has tolerated 3days and now i am not going to persue her as i dont want her to assossiate theses injections negitively, she can also probably sence im not entirely comfortable with it!

 

[iconique]

Are you injecting in the neck or the bum?
If you are doing bum, sometimes switching to the neck is easier? But you need to be aware some have reactions and swell or go lumpy - this way you might be able to get through a couple more days, suggest a chat with the vet on duty?? Your vet is best to advise as if you are only part way through a course then it can do more harm than good by not completing the course and ultimately cost more.

 

[StroppyMare*]

In the neck, the vet did advise me i can also inject in the bum but she is a kicker and is very sharp, shes is now rearing as soon as she catches a glimpse of the injection or i touch her neck, have tried to alternate sides and twitch with the vets advice however i can see her hurting herself more than anything.

The vets advised me to stop and wait for the oral antibitoics but they wont be delivered until tuesday, i just dont want to risk her hurting herself or anybody else whilst im trying to persue although i also see the disadvantages of stoping the course half way through.

She is a 3yr old tb mare who has been stabled for 3 weeks now because of the problem which is not helping the het up energy she has!

Thank you for your advice x

 

[Borderreiver]

Sympathy for you. I've had to give injections pretty often over the years and hate doing it. Can you get someone to show you a better technique?

 

[be positive]

I have found that injecting antibiotics into the chest is often easier as the muscles are less tight, it would be worth trying.

 

[TicTac]

Last year I had to give my mare an injection every day for 5 weeks!!! To be fair she was a complete star and both she and I got so used to it I was a pro at the end. I would do neck, bum. other side bum, neck,

There is a knack to doing it and for the neck if you ' twitch ' it first ie pinch large fold of skin, you can inject into this fairly easily ( within the triangle of muscle as I'm sure you've been shown)

Are you having to do it on your own or can somebody hold and distrat your horse? I guess I am lucky but if you dont try and get it right now, she might be a real problem in future should she ever need more.

You could ask yuor vet to put a line in, That would save you sticking a needle in every day. Good luck!

 

[paddy555]

I have found that injecting antibiotics into the chest is often easier as the muscles are less tight, it would be worth trying.

"this" I get kicked to high heaven in the bum and he won't stand the neck but this is a pretty easy way of doing it.

 

[iconique]

Ouch, that doesn't make it easy,never done the chest myself, however we have injected a difficult one by backing her up to the door, with her bum to the wall not the door, then have someone reach over the door to inject, but you really need 2 people inside, one to stop going forward and if needed a second to stop swinging away from the door. - not perfect!

 

[StroppyMare*]

Its a nightmare she has her own tecnique now, she rears strikesout and comes down with a bronk.... in the stable. Shes still doing this with a twitch too, its not getting the pin in to her neck its keeping her still enough to syringe the antibiotic in, as when she rears the syringe and pin come out. The vet hasnt suggested i can inject into the chest but with her rearing dont think this would be a safe option either, im really worried about giving her a negitive experience with it as she is only young, i just want to do whats best for her but not sure what that is at the moment!

Having a line put in sounds good she may not realise as much if im just syringing through instead of pinching at her neck everyday, poor girl just need these legs to get better!

Thanx everybody!! xx

 

[xxISHxx]

I agree there is a knack of doing it. my boyfriend who hates horses and hates anything medical to do them because my horses would let me near him with a neddle. My boy has been on antibiotics now for 9 weeks and luckily he's been a gem.