Sedation Costs

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kal40

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Despite all my attempt my boy won't let anyone near him with clippers so I need to have him sedated for his haircut. How much roughly do you pay to have your horse sedated for clipping?
 
I've posted here before about the success I've had with Dormosedon(sp?) which is an oral paste purchased from the vets - it's completely different from Sedalin/ACP which I've always found useless.

The cost is about £35 as opposed to IV sedation, which, with call-out can be £60 plus around here :eek: Also you can choose your moment to clip. I found that it took longer than stated to get my boy chilled but he took almost 2 hours to completely wake up so you have plenty of time!!;);)
 
Copperpot said:
I bought a tube of domosedan today for £38. Meant to be powerful stuff. Using it to clip tomorrow morning.
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Sorry to hi jack but would you let us know how you get on with that stuff please??

Only that i have probably paid a fortune today for sedation (vet had to come back and hang around while I clipped as bl**dy cob needed 3 doses come the end to be even close to still enough to clip!!),so would be interested to know for future reference if there was a cheaper way if I was more prepared and organised.

I was having teeth and jabs done today anyway so had to be done that way,but for next time if the domosedan is any good would prob be a much cheaper option!!
 
I've used Dormosedan successfully for clipping - it is obviously a big saving on having to get the vet out to IV sedate - and you can administer it to clip at a time that suits you rather than the vet!

However, it is essential that you administer it correctly - there is a video on YouTube or the printed instructions are good. It is definitely worth doing some reading up on it first if you are not to waste your £40. Also, you must wear rubber gloves.

Basically, you have to administer the gel under the tongue as it is absorbed through the mucus membranes - the horse must not swallow it - if they do it will be wasted.

If your horse is like mine, he instantly tried to spit it out and a load landed on the floor. I then put on his bridle which has a drop noseband - I did the noseband up a bit tighter than normal and then tried again - with no probs this time as he wasn't able to open his mouth wide to spit it out.

He was deeply sedated within 30 mins and I was able to clip with no problems.
 
Copperpot said:
Devonlass I will report back tomorrow!!! Fingers crossed it does the trick :)
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If you could that would be great,and yes crossing fingers that it works as it says on the tin so speak!!
A report on how easy you found it to get into him would be great too and any tips on the best method!!)

Northern Hare said:
Basically, you have to administer the gel under the tongue as it is absorbed through the mucus membranes - the horse must not swallow it - if they do it will be wasted.

If your horse is like mine, he instantly tried to spit it out and a load landed on the floor. I then put on his bridle which has a drop noseband - I did the noseband up a bit tighter than normal and then tried again - with no probs this time as he wasn't able to open his mouth wide to spit it out.
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Hmm this does not bode overly well as my cob *can* be an absolute thug on the ground (not my doing only had him a few months,and am still trying to undo the years of no correction for his bad manners,lucky he's an absolute saint to ride or would have sent him for glue by now!!),he has a habit of chucking his head up and down fiercely when trying to get anything he doesn't like in his gob (like wormer lol) as he knows all the tricks and how difficult that makes it,or has learnt all the tricks should I say.

He's much better in a bridle,but once he has even the first inkling it's something he might not like he will still go through you to get away or just make if generally difficult.

Perhaps i should 'ride' him while someone on the ground does the deed?? Does that sounds a bonkers plan,only that he really is a different horse with a rider on board,well usually anyway lol
 
You could always have a few practice runs first.

I have heard of people using jelly or ready made custard in an old wormer type syringe to practice with. With lots of praise and rewards afterwards when they accept it.

It is worth the preparation time - especially as it is £40 a go!
 
Reading this maybe this is where I have been going wrong and not putting the gel under his tongue. Even worming is a nightmare.
 
I invested in some new clippers this year. As my horse has a fine coat, I bought a set of Master Clip "Royale" Medium Weight clippers.

I went to collect the Dormosedan from the vets on Friday, but decided to try and turn the new clippers on near my horse before I gave him the Dormosedan to see how he'd react. Previously he would have instantly become very nervous and start to pull back and generally barge around - not at all his normal saint-like behaviour!

The clippers are SO quiet that he didn't flinch :) so I thought I'd have nothing to lose by trying to get them a bit closer to him - still no reaction from him! I tried to clip a patch on his shoulder - no reaction - then I decided to keep going!! In the end, I did a full clip, with the front of his face and ears left on.

All with no twitch and no sedation - I was totally amazed!! So, I still have the unused Dormosedan but will keep that safe for when he has his teeth done - the only other task he hates.....
 
I really rate the Dormosedan, having had to knock my horse out the other day to deal with a rather delicate matter.

Took about an hour to work but a good two hours for him to come round! He was as dopey as my cob was when he was gelded.

It has to go under the tongue and very important this-wear gloves when using it!!
 
Interesting reading as I am facing the sedation route to clip, in past apparently he had to have 2 people going at same time as he was fighting the sedation... oh my days I am going to have a right handful.

Id love to get hold of a nice quite set of clippers just to try without sedation as he is a generally well behaved lad, except when he gets bored of standing around he likes to start striking front feet... hmmm!
 
jhoward said:
dl.. 1st issue u may have is... is that its ment to be adminstered UNDER the tounge. :p
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Well I will admit i was kind of working on the basis of it possibly being buccal (can be used around the cheek and the gum) as have read somewhere else that can be used on the gum,but if it is just sublingual (under the tongue) then yes that could be a problem!!
Although could maybe use the dually,I really don't think there's any danger of being tanked off with or anything requiring energy,far too lazy lol.

Maybe I should just forget the sedation and be on board while someone clips him:D (are you able to do that with one arm J?? otherwise will be OH and can't bare to think how bad his lines will be lol:eek::p).

Talking of method of administration is weird how it takes so long to work,in people one of the main reasons for using those kind of meds is because they work so fast:confused: Must be due to the difference in bulk I guess,or perhaps just physiological differences??

Copperpot said:
Aargh no time for practice! Booked someone to clip him at 10am tomorrow morning !!
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So how did it go?? Fingers crossed it worked look forward to your account:)

kal40 said:
I wonder if our cobs are related as this sounds just like my boy.
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I think most cobs are related,well the grumpy bad mannered ones anyway,which i would guess *is* most of them lol;):p

Northern Hare said:
I invested in some new clippers this year. As my horse has a fine coat, I bought a set of Master Clip "Royale" Medium Weight clippers.

All with no twitch and no sedation - I was totally amazed!! So, I still have the unused Dormosedan but will keep that safe for when he has his teeth done - the only other task he hates.....
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Great that you managed to get your lad done with no sedation:) I already have cordless and very quiet clippers,makes no difference with my lad sadly.

Let us know how you get on using it for teeth BTW,sure that's another one that many dread and would find any tips useful!!

Merlywerly said:
Interesting reading as I am facing the sedation route to clip, in past apparently he had to have 2 people going at same time as he was fighting the sedation... oh my days I am going to have a right handful.

Id love to get hold of a nice quite set of clippers just to try without sedation as he is a generally well behaved lad, except when he gets bored of standing around he likes to start striking front feet... hmmm!
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I thought yesterday that having another person clipping would have been ideal.We had 4 of us yesterday trying to hold him still and an elephants does of sedation,and was a still a right job with just me doing the clipping.Having another person there clipping would have made the job a lot quicker and cheaper on the sedation!!

My vet said for sure the reason for so much sedative was that he was fighting it,and he is a pro at throwing his weight around to get his own way.Years of novice and beginner owners that let him get away with it sadly.

I am wondering if the sedative mentioned here would work on a horse that strongly objects and fights it,hence being interested in others accounts,am keeping my fingers crossed though!!

My lad is also generally well behaved to have things done BTW,he is rude to handle when it suits and bad mannered around food etc but is a middle aged cob who has been there done it so routine jobs,standing around etc are not usually an issue,but something about clipping has him in a right tizz.
Always worth trying your lad with some quiet clippers,but have to say made no difference with my difficult to clip boy:(
 
I used to have ours sedated by the vet, think it usually cost around £60/70 with call out fee. Luckily I have now managed to do him with sedalin & a conveyor belt of carrots :D
 
Oh & just to add that even with sedation it was always a 2 man job as it only lasted about 30 mins. He is always a lot calmer with the big heavy duty clippers rather than the quiet battery ones too which I thought was a bit odd!
 
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