injecting advice

I_A_P

I_A_P

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hi, my horse is now on a set of antibiotics, and was fine with the vet when it came to injecting them, but this morning she knew what was coming and was a real hadnful as we couldnt keep her still...we tried preoccupying her with food, but i wondered if anyone had any tips at trying to dsitract/relax her?


p.s know it should be in vet but thought more people may come across it in here!
 
Where are you injecting? I favour the brisket (bosomy bit between the front legs) as they don't seem to notice it so much, especially after a couple of smart pats in the area..less danger of getting it in the wrong place/hitting the vein or getting kicked or bitten IMO
 
I agree the_watcher. My preferred place to inject too. You can always hold a leg up to stop them walking off too.....so long as there are two of you.

Failing that, it's perhaps safer to consider a twitch.
 
Most horses don't like the coldest of the fluid being injected rather than the needle it's self.
If the neck is bend towards the side you are injecting it can help to relax the muscle so they don't feel it as much. Also scratch her just behind her eye on that side so she doesn't see the needle coming.
There is not alot you can do about the coldness but if the vet or who ever is injecting can do it quickly and without any pain she may settle down.
Other wise a twitch may just calm her enough to be injected.
 
do it in the bum. I would just stand there tapping her with a fist on the bum until she settles down and then just stick in the needle really quick. My Dad always does ours - he's so good the horses never notice!
 
We used to jab Patches in the bum till she start double barrelling us!
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i had to inject one of the ponies where my boy is kept, i jabbed him in the butt, luckily he is only 12hh so i scratched him on the opposite side to the one i was injecting, whilst i was injecting, seemed to work. Also (not being patronising) make sure you alternate injection sites as they can get pretty sore if they are injected in the same place lots
 
If they get really irritable for injecting i just twitch them, less traumatic for horse and safer for injector (which is always me
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make sure you alternate injection sites as they can get pretty sore if they are injected in the same place lots

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Good point.
 
Make sure the horse is not sore one of ours has become intolerant to antibiotic injections and the muscles became hard and painful so he had to go on powders.Only had this problem once before a long time ago with another horse.Vet did first injection and that left a swelling on the brisket then next day did one on the rump and he wasn't too keen[always been good before] then next day muscles were hard and painful so onto powders.
 
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Where are you injecting? I favour the brisket (bosomy bit between the front legs) as they don't seem to notice it so much, especially after a couple of smart pats in the area..less danger of getting it in the wrong place/hitting the vein or getting kicked or bitten IMO

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Have you ever seen a horse strike? Also there are more blood vessels around that area than the neck or the bottom.

I say twitch them and do as you were taught. Many people inject into totally the wrong place though insist they know what they are doing.
 
With a horse who fuffs around, I always think you should just twitch and get the job over and done with.

I am a neck-girl I'm afraid - this is my favoured place to inject, as it is probably the safest place to be as you can do it alone here. However you must know exactly where you can and where you can't inject if you choose the neck.
 
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I say twitch them and do as you were taught. Many people inject into totally the wrong place though insist they know what they are doing.

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Thats so true - i was thought to inject in the neck (if more than 1 day i alternate between each side of the neck) and still do so to this day, saying that my vet does give flu jabs in the chest.
 
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Where are you injecting? I favour the brisket (bosomy bit between the front legs) as they don't seem to notice it so much, especially after a couple of smart pats in the area..less danger of getting it in the wrong place/hitting the vein or getting kicked or bitten IMO

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you ever seen a horse strike? Also there are more blood vessels around that area than the neck or the bottom.

I say twitch them and do as you were taught. Many people inject into totally the wrong place though insist they know what they are doing.

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Actually this is exactly the place my previous vet used to jab, and where he taught me to jab..although my current vet favours the neck. I wouldn't dream of sticking a needle in a horse anywhere the vet hadn't recommended (and frankly GTs I am surprised you think I would be foolish enough to do so)
 
thanks everyone for your advice! sorry i did not reply earlier.

we have since had the vet our again to show us alternate sites to inject (eg; the bum and the chest area) and it seems to be going a bit better! so hopefully she should be ok with the few days we have got left!
we had been alternating the sides of the neck!
 
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