Injecting Penicillin into the neck of your horse

Yes I understand that, but your horse's reaction was an extremely rare complication of a very simple procedure.

I feel that people have been trying to encourage and support the OP and she is obviously very concerned.

The fact remains that if the horse doesn't receive the medication he could end up lost as a result of the condition being treated.

I believe the odds are stacked in the horses favour by receiving the meds.
 
Thanks VictoriaEDT. It will be my husband doing it as I will be at work, but I think he'd really appreciate it. Will PM you and talk to husband. He has his mum coming to watch (she's done it loads but on cattle), so he may be OK.

Wish I'd seen your post before deleted MizElz. LOL. Curious me.
 
For what it's worth, mine goes nuts if you try and inject into the quarters so it's neck every time and she doesn't flinch a bit. As others have said, couple of taps, give it a good jab to reach the muscle, not too hard, imagine throwing a dart (??!! I know but that's how it feels). Draw back, make sure there's no blood then connect the syringe and inject the liquid slowly and smoothly. Slower seems to cause less discomfort.
 
why did you not get the oral penicillin if you are that worried? but personall i al ways go for the but it is a bigger muscle and will hurt the horse less bag the bum three times where you are going to put the needle in then just put the needle in on its on then apply the syringe to the needle and inject very slowly because penicillin is very thick hop this helps? p.s forgot to say make sure you clean the area before and after in jecting!x
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Wish I'd seen your post before deleted MizElz. LOL. Curious me.

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Sorry LD, I had no idea that I'd be shot down for sharing my experience so when it was deemed inappropriate, I thought I'd better delete before I caused any more trouble. I have had a terrible experience through injecting penicillin, and as such I nor my mother would ever contemplate injecting another horse ourselves, ever again. And I must be honest, if anyone asked my advice on it - my personal advice - I would always say I'd get the vet out, even if it seems ridiculous having a call out fee. I dont know whether a vet's presence would have helped save my horse, but it isnt a risk I would want to take again.
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There is a triangular area on the horses neck which is a safe area for you to inject into. Google it for a diagram as it is difficult to describe in words. It is much easier to do it in the neck than in the rump. I had to do it in the rump but after the 1st time my very sociable horse turned very nasty and kicked and thrashed about a lot which made it impossible to do it on my own. She moved so much that she bent 3 needles before I gave up! In the neck you an just pinch the skin, stick the needle in and off you go - quick and easy and no legs to avoid.

[/ QUOTE ] So far (from what Ive read) Treacle Beasty has given the most credible and sensible reply. Go for what she said
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Ok, don't worry about hitting a blood vessel (I did this once and horse was fine)
a) Practise on an orange
b) Clean site with a bit of alcohol
c) Pinch a bit of skin elsewhere to distract horse (this is actually optional, you can also thump a few times where you're going to inject) stick needle in- It goes in quite easily
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c) Attach syringe, pull back a bit to make sure you haven't hit a blood vessel. If you have, pull out needle and start again.
d) Push contents in. Don't rush.
e) Rub area but don't go barmy with the pressure. Imagine he's got an itch.
Easy
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This is where to inject:

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You can measure one hand's width from mane and one from shoulder if you're having trouble visualising the area

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Hadnt seen your reply PF
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why did you not get the oral penicillin if you are that worried? <font color="blue">As I've said several times in this thread, I wasn't worried intil my husband started panicking. The vet also deemed it more appropriate to give IM penicillin. </font> but personall i al ways go for the but it is a bigger muscle and will hurt the horse less bag the bum three times where you are going to put the needle in then just put the needle in on its on then apply the syringe to the needle and inject very slowly because penicillin is very thick hop this helps? p.s forgot to say make sure you clean the area before and after in jecting!x
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I've done it now anyway, thanks.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I did it myself int he end. I just gritted my teeth and told myself I was more than capable of doing it, and I did it - in his neck. He moved around a small amount, but he was fine really. There was no thrashing around and there have been no adverse reactions. We spoke to the vet last night who also said to us that he would not have left us to do it if he didn't think we could do it and that he was on call if there were any problems. There were none and this morning, 48 hours after his first dose of 25ml Penicillin, Lanky seems a little less lame and the swelling in the fetlock has gone down. Time will tell whether he has any other damage there that is causing the lameness and it is the rest helping him, or whether it is the Peniciliin helping him.

The vet is back out on Monday and if there is not a vast improvement from Thursday when he saw him, we will be getting referred to Western Counties Clinic, who can do all the tests in one go at their horsepital.

He WAS hopping when required to turn, and very very reluctant to place any weight on the affected leg, but not, although limping slightly, he is placing weight on it happily and will turn more easily; for obvious reasons, we haven't trotted him up, though. He's pretty much sound on soft ground in walk, and the problem was on hard or rough ground.

Anyway, thought I'd update you all. The farrier isn't best pleased about the butchered foot that the vet has left my horse with, after how hard he has worked to get this horse's feet right, but I would say that at the moment that would be the least of our worries!

Thanks all.
 
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