How do you get blood out of a stone?!

[Grumpy Herbert]

I suspect my gelding may have Cushings, but we have found it impossible to get blood from him as he is terrified of needles. He has to have a whole tube of Sedolin just to have his annual jabs! Does anyone have any helpful tips on how to obtain blood from a very difficult patient? I feel a bit miffed about it all, as I got him 3 years ago and he had never had any vaccs - he's 15 this year. My other horse, who I've had since she was 3, is absolutely fine to have pretty much anything done. Why oh why do horse owners not do the basics? If my lad had been cared for properly through his life, I'm sure he would be better with this. Rant over, any help appreciated!

 

[Bossanova]

Do you have lorry or use of one?
Our very needle shy mare can only be injected in one way- load her up, close the partition and let vet do it over the partition. It's either this or take him to the vets so they can put him in the stocks.
Safer for everyone involved this way and may well do the trick

 

[Skhosu]

I would advise against the lorry idea, we tried this with my very needleshy boy, he reared, got stuck and ended up falling off the lorry, very lucky to walk away with a few scrapes.

 

[evsj]

can you start to desensitise him with a dummy needle? you may be able to get an unused one from your vet. 'fraid that him not having jabs earlier in life is not necessarily the reason for his fear - i have had mine since she was 5 when i started her vaccs, 6 years later and it is still a big drama to do her annual booster!

 

[Bossanova]

[ QUOTE ]
I would advise against the lorry idea, we tried this with my very needleshy boy, he reared, got stuck and ended up falling off the lorry, very lucky to walk away with a few scrapes.

[/ QUOTE ]

If its the right sort of lorry then this isnt possible, turst me!

 

[mrsbloggett]

Surely this will make him reluctant if not impossible to load in the future if he associates loading with his biggest fear!

Have you tried twitching? My mare is impossible to clip without sedation, but she recently had to have nerve blocks to investigate lameness and therefore couldn't be sedated prior to the clipping for the injections, but twitching did the trick perfectly. Worth a try if you've not done so before.

 

[Grumpy Herbert]

Thanks for the tips, folks. Have tried most of the above, apart from the lorry bit. Unfortunately, I don't have my own transport, so can't give this a go. I know that he may still have needle-phobia even if he had had his vaccs as a youngster, but this is just one of many inherited problems, most due to bad management and care previously - was just letting off some steam!! I just find it unbelievable that he got to the age of 12 and was never vaccinated, having been in the same home, and hunted, for the previous 6 years. He is properly looked after now and leads a charmed life. Will see how he goes on and keep trying!

 

[Sal_E]

Can you use Emla cream on a horse? Never thought about it before but must be worth asking the vet...

 

[filly190]

I think distraction is the best way, surround him by a few experienced people, one bucket feeding, another combing mane, another giving a gentle pinch on the neck ready for the next person to inject. Generally if you take a pinch of neck, not to hurt the horse it acts a bit like a twich.

 

[MagicMelon]

You can try practicing by pinching the skin or Ive seen someone flicking an elastic band onto the skin. If he's fine with you doing it, ask someone else to do it (as if a stranger like a vet!). Might help a bit? Otherwise I had a youngster I was a bit worried about getting his vaccs so I held one of those little likits in my hand during it - he licked the whole time and didnt even notice the jab!