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  Discussion on Trouble w/shots
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Posted on Thursday, May 27, 1999 - 5:48 pm:

Our horse absolutely refuses to let you give her shots. She used to just stand calmly and accept them, but we had to give her penicillin when she got a bad cut, and she progressively got worse. Now she's so bad that when you stick the needle in, she jumps around and won't stand still long enough to put the syringe on. Does anybody know how to get her to stand quietly again for shots? Thanks.

Posted on Friday, May 28, 1999 - 6:27 am:

What gauge needles are you using?

I recommend that you be prepared to correct bad behavior as well as reward good behavior. Waiting until the horse is naturally relaxed is a good idea to begin the training. If feed will distract the horse long enough to allow you to give the shot that is fine, but trying to coax the horse with feed while he is misbehaving will send the message: misbehaving brings food.

I suggest you find a restraint method that you can teach the horse with and a chain over the nose is the best there is in experienced hands. Misbehaving brings an unpleasant jerk that is repeated until the horse behaves. the moment the horse begins behaving the jerks stop. Knowing when to stop jerking and what to do if the horse decides to escalate the battle is where the experience comes in.
DrO

Posted on Friday, May 28, 1999 - 11:53 pm:

Laura, I don't know if this will help you, but it is what I have done. I get a stiff, short bristled brush and I start brushing the area on the neck or hip where the injection is going to go. I begin brushing normally and then I progress to a sort of jabbing motion with the ends of the bristles making contact first. When I have done that a few times, I then give the injection and continue brushing with my other hand. after the injection is finished, I brush over the area a few times easily. It might help if you have someone else do the brushing for you so that you can concentrate on the injection. (Just make sure you have your communications established - don't give them the shot by accident.) Try not to be apprehensive about it. I know that is easier said than done. I don't enjoy giving injections either. But the longer you stand there and fuss over it, the longer the horse has to think about what is going to happen and how to react.. If it is too bad, get some help or have your vet help you out. I have a horse that I have to have the vet do. (The same penicillin thing happened to him.) I have only tricked him two times with the brush method. He will take injections in the hip with no problem, but in the neck, he starts shaking his head rather violently and shakes the needle right out. Try not to mess up to much. When you try and he wins, I think it only encourages incorrect bahavior. It is better to have help, even if you have to pay for it, and have it done right, then to keep failing and allowing him to win the battle because you can't proceed. Neither do I make a big fuss over their behaving. This is something I expect them to do. I give them a pat, and sometimes a piece of a hay cube after I am finished, and then go on. (When they start giving themselves injections, I will make a big fuss) I never bribe proper behavior with food either. (I know of horses that won't stand for a farrier unless they have a hay net in front of them.) Good luck!

Posted on Saturday, May 29, 1999 - 10:51 am:

DrO, A question about penicillin and equine ampicillin (spelling?) My Vet has me use Eq. Amp. for situations where prolonged injections are nessassary, I can use a smaller guage needle and there is less fluid to injected. Thus the horse doesn't get as sore as fast. I know the cost is much greater and prep of shots is alittle more involved, but isn't it also safer to use for the basic horseperson? Are there deseases or certain infections where Eq. Amp. would not do the job as well as Pen.?

Posted on Saturday, May 29, 1999 - 3:22 pm:

Roxanne - unfortunately, we don't ride her anymore, as she is too spirited for me and my dad is too busy and is into other stuff now. (We're selling her), so we can't do that.
Dr. O - 18x1 needles for the penicillin, and whatever comes with the Fort Dodge's 5-way, when we are giving that. We've tried feeding her when giving the shots and putting a chain over her nose, but neither works. I've worked with her, just rubbing her neck and tapping it like we do before giving the shot, but not giving the shot, but she still acts up.
Marlane - I would switch the injection site, but I'm not sure about giving shots in the chest. Is there any way you can screw up and kill the horse, or is it the same as giving the shots in the neck? I doubt I'll ever do it in the hindquarters, because she kicks when irritated, and I just don't trust her enough.
Mary Anne - I'll have to try the brush trick. I don't know if it'll work, but nothing else has, so it's worth trying.
Thanks everybody!
Laura

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 1, 1999 - 6:31 am:

Hello Everyone,
Yes, I believe the Ampicillin is safer: you do not run the risk of procaine toxicity if you get some in a blood vessel. I too use a 18 gauge for penicillin, because it is so thick. 20 is what comes in the vaccintation and I use a 22 (1 gauge smaller) personally for my vaccines.

Yes I have found that feeding or offering food to correct bad behavior rarely works.
DrO
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