Not horsey - medical advice please!!

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rosepa

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So this week I've been lambing for work experience (hopeful vet here haha!), and today we were vaccinating the ewes... Unfortunately I managed to vaccinate myself too, in my thumb.. Bit worried as this needle had been used for hundreds of sheep before being stuck into me?! :/ there any need to worry? It's feeling pretty bruised atm!
 
I have jabbed myself before after injecting all sorts of diseased animals, including wildlife. You really should go to a and e and get a tet booster if they will give you one and also some antibiotics just to be on the safe side if this needle had been used repeatedly on numerous sheep. Though I am not a doctor so may be wrong. Best bet is to get checked/take advice anyway.
 
Not much - he's a very old/old fashioned kind of farmer, he'd seen I was bleeding but didn't actually say anything just wanted me to get on with job!
 
Moomin1 said:
I have jabbed myself before after injecting all sorts of diseased animals, including wildlife. You really should go to a and e and get a tet booster if they will give you one and also some antibiotics just to be on the safe side if this needle had been used repeatedly on numerous sheep. Though I am not a doctor so may be wrong. Best bet is to get checked/take advice anyway.
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I had tetanus jab literally two weeks ago so I should be good for that I think? Yeah was wondering about antibiotics :/
 
rosepa said:
I had tetanus jab literally two weeks ago so I should be good for that I think? Yeah was wondering about antibiotics :/
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Oh that's good then. In honesty, I haven't taken antibiotics after ever jabbing myself accidentally but I only use one needle for one animal (for euthanasia purposes rather than mass vaccination). I think if one needle had been used for so many sheep, then I would be tempted to at least take some advice as to whether you need AB's.
 
Good that you have tetanus cover.... I' would guess that you would get the best advice by ringing your local farm vet, and ask what their needle stick policy is! But otherwise bruising is normal (I've stabbed myself a few times, but usually with clean needles!!) but any sign if red, go to A&E....
 
amymay said:
What did the vet say, not the farmer?
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I would imagine there was no vet in attendance, certainly my sheep vaccines are bought over the counter and injected by me and this is totally normal

OP I would call up NHS non emergency number and give them the ingredient list from the box (or Google them if you dont have the box) and see what they recommend, if unsure the person on the phone will contact a doctor and call you back
 
Moomin1 said:
Oh that's good then. In honesty, I haven't taken antibiotics after ever jabbing myself accidentally but I only use one needle for one animal (for euthanasia purposes rather than mass vaccination). I think if one needle had been used for so many sheep, then I would be tempted to at least take some advice as to whether you need AB's.
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I'll see how it feels in morning I think... I can't remember if it was before or after I broke the needle, if after then it would have been used on about 5 max!
 
WelshD said:
I would imagine there was no vet in attendance, certainly my sheep vaccines are bought over the counter and injected by me and this is totally normal

OP I would call up NHS non emergency number and give them the ingredient list from the box (or Google them if you dont have the box)
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I don't think that the ingredients really matter so much, unless OP somehow managed to stab and then inject the vaccine too. Not sure?
 
Moomin1 said:
I don't think that the ingredients really matter so much, unless OP somehow managed to stab and then inject the vaccine too. Not sure?
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On a big number of sheep an auto injecting needle gun may have been used and so I assumed (probably incorrectly) that they had injected themself
 
Wishful said:
Anywhere near a joint?

Just going on what OH considers when he stabs himself. ..
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It was pretty much on knuckle bone on inside of my thumb! Didn't manage to inject myself no haha, although yes it was a vaccinating gun! May still have been some of it on needle though I guess..
 
I'm a Dr...I genuinely wouldn't worry about it unless you start getting red tracking or loads of pus... Tetanus is only given 5 times in a life time plus your sheep are probably vaccinated against it too so u r unlikely to get tet from them especial given u were vaccinated 2 weeks ago..
 
The most important first aid measure following a needle stick injury is to make it bleed as freely as possible, this helps to flush away any contaminants. Then wash thoroughly.
If I was you I'd phone for some follow up advice.
 
I would also get some medical advice not so much from the point of view of the dirty needle but in case any of the vaccine got into your system not sure if that's a particularly good thing or not! It would be sensible to get it checked out anyhow.
 
I wouldn't worry unless it's the footrot vaccine in which case worth going to a&e, I imagine if the farmers chilled about it probably ok. Happily sharing needles with a sheep even many sheep is much better than sharing needles with people!
 
As Amicus says, wouldnt worry about it unless it was Footvax. I worked as an equine vet nurse and was accidently stabbed in the knee. It just went a bit red and was fine.
 
If it was Heptavac P it says 'In the case of accidental self-injection seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician'
If you were scratching the lambs with Scabivax the same applies.
I would suggest keeping the MSDS sheet in the box of the vaccine so if you do have any problems you can show it to the Dr.
 
the concern with needle stick injuries in people is the transfer of blood borne disease such as HIV and hepatitis, this shouldn't be a risk with sheep. Keep an eye and so long as no signs of infection should be good - look out for swelling, redness, heat, pus coming out and red lines tracking away from the injury site. Any of these need looked at by the GP asap but otherwise should be good esp as you had tetanus recently
 
I guess you want to be worried if any of the sheep where wearing leather waistcoats or had their tags in the right ear :)

Oh dear, was that very un-PC?
 
just keep an eye on it OP, if it goes red and swells then contact doctors about some antibiotics. I have stabbed myself many times vaccinating sheep (they don't stay still and play fair when you waving a needle about) and never had a problem.
 
Both myself and husband have stabbed ourselves many times with Adrenacane whilst dehorning calves, numb thumb but all ok. Have stabbed Tylan antibiotic under tumb nail once and was still ok. The only real bad ones apart from the obvious "blue juice" is Micatil for sheep mastitis, that can actally kill you and is now vet admin only but if youre worried contact your gp.
 
Thanks for help everyone! Seems better today - should probably have phoned nhs or something but oh well sure I'll live :p
 
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