Needle Shy

Britestar

Britestar

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Do you think it is possible to get a horse to stop being needle shy?

My 3yr old is a total b******d about injections. He is good as gold when being examined (after a lot of work on Vets part), but the second you try and get the needle into him, god help you! He doesn't care who he hurts, you him, stable walls......

Last night was vaccination time. Stood nicely for heart check etc, and Vet took plenty time to make friends with him. Went to jab him (over stable door, previous experience means I won't let anyone be in stable with him) just about got all the flu jab in before he went mad. then had to try for the tetanus part. Not a chance! Tried the old method of taking his head into next stable therefore swinging his bum to the door, but he's wise to that this year. 40 mins later he got 90% of the jab, and we had to be satisfied with that. I had been stood on, squashed, head butted....get the picture. At 16.1hh and built like a brick ****house, its not easy.

Has anyone ever managed to 'cure' a horse of this problem?

I dread anything happening to him that might require jabs. He was fine until a bad kick 18 months ago which resulted in cellulitis, and lots of jabs, so he does 'have ' a reason for his behaviour.
 
When my youngster (in fact all of mine) get i/m injections they are done lightening fast and the vets normally grab a fold of skin on their neck at the same time I've noticed so they can't feel it- I/v injections are more precise i guess- have you tried a neck twitch or a nose twitch- done correctly it won't cause any harm, could be worth a try! or even some treats to take his mind off it as a temporary measure (and as long as you are safe)- good luck!
 
Treats don't work, and the second you grab a skin fold he's quicker than them! 2 bent needles last night. I know it may end up with twitching him, just wanted to avoidif poss.
 
can you not give your horse some sedalin just to take the edge off him?? We have had mares that are a nightmare.... and are dangerous to inject... the sedalin has worked with 90% of them... it just makes them a little bit less uptight and therefore gives you that split second extra to get the jab in!!!!
 
My previous horse was needle shy and a total nightmare. After a long spell of boxrest we changed vets as he just had to see the vet and he got the idea a needle was required:-/
We then started off distracting him so he could get a needle in the muscle, but if you went near the vein nothing would stop him from going bananas. He then had a spell of illness last year that the vet needed to get blood from him and the only way we managed was to go for the vein in the stomach and not the neck and it confused him so much he stood still.
We then had to get the vein in his neck as the vet had to do more to him around his stomach and sheath area and didnt want him associating it with the vein.
The best way we got him to stand was distract him and then neck twitch him. He was more concerned about me grabbing his neck to realise that we were in the vein in his neck. Sedalin never worked on him so it was hard to give him something before vet came out.
 
Hoptoit - 2 jabs unfortunately becuase I don't like them getting combo jabs, as I have had a couple react very badly to combo's. At least next year there will be no tetanus.
 
yep my horse is the same good as gold for most things but a complete hutter to inject

I won't risk him or my vet getting hurt so we twitch him for intra muscle injections then if its intravenous vet gives him a mild injection to numb the skin, then the 'real' injection

works a treat:D and horse doesn't get stressed at all
 
I have a horse who is needle shy and very nasty, he is twitched and is absolutely fine- this is a lot less stressful for him and only takes a second. To me the vets safety is the most important thing, doing it over the door is impractical and I think his safety is more important than you not liking the twitch. I have never known a reaction to combo jabs, and I have experience of a lot. I have also never known a horse learn to like them, there's not a lot to like!
 
I had a young horse that was made needle shy by an incompetant vet, could not fix the problem so I had to take him to the equine clinic to be put in the stocks for any vaccs, thankfully never had any emergencies with him
 
My mare is not great with needles and tbh, a vet trying to make friends with her simply sends her into overdrive.

I have found the best way is "no foreplay". Mare is at ease in her stable, vet gets ready away from her stable, walks past and then marches in and jabs. Easy. Same with her worming, go in and do it.
 
I am assuming that you all cup your hand behind the horses eye so he doesnt have to watch the process. ???
 
My mare is needle shy, goodness knows why, ive had her from a foal and shes not had a bad experience...

So now I twitch her, its less stressful for her, safer for me and the vet, and over and done in 2 mins..
 
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