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QUESTION:
Can you tell me where to give my horse his shots and how to give them? I'm afraid I might hurt him by giving them wrong.
-- M. S. ANSWER: The most crucial question is where to give the shot. Various medications work better when administered in specific locations, so check with the drug maker and/or your veterinarian for the recommended location to give the shot. Annual vaccinations are commonly given in the neck -- which can cause a problem if you don't know where the animal's spine is. Because the human spine runs along the back of the neck, folks commonly assume that a horse's also does. As a result, they will give the shot toward the middle of the neck and sometimes accidentally hit the spine. Look at the drawing at the right to see where the horse's spine actually runs. The safest spot is in the long "dimple" that runs just below the thick, rope-like structure that supports the mane. I've colored that area green on the drawing. Photo 1 -- Start by holding the needle -- without the syringe -- between your index and middle fingers. Place your thumb over the end of the needle where the syringe will be inserted. This will help when you get to the place where you actually insert the needle into the horse.. Photo 2 -- Tap the horse's neck firmly several times with the heel of your hand. Photo 3 -- On the last tap, turn the back of your hand toward the horse and stick the needle in. Watch the needle for a few seconds to see if any blood comes out. If it does, it means you've hit a vein. In that case, just remove the needle and repeat the process in another location. Photo 4 -- Make sure that the medicine is into the neck of the syringe so you don't get a big air bubble. If there's no blood coming from the needle, insert the syringe into the needle and push the plunger in one smooth motion. Photo 5 -- Remove the syringe and needle -- and you're done! Notice that Fanny didn't even flinch during the entire procedure! The total time from start to finish is well under 30 seconds. (Special thanks to Karen and Trygve for their help with these photos!) |
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