Rule of thumb - use smallest
needle to deliver med. that can do 'job' efficiently - with most
vaccines, clear, thin liquids - to give IM can get by with 1" 22g
needle. (14. 16. 18g are larger than 20. 21g, etc. ( IMO
- other smaller needles < 22 g, are to flimsy to use on
horses, risk bending or breaking. and you do not to want to go trying to find a
broken needle.) With thicker meds - ie, Penicllins, or those more
irritating to tissue that need to be deeper IM use 1 1/2" needle,
and the thicker the solution the bigger bore needle - ie, at least
18 g. Granted I have not had to give Penicillin for several years ( knock
on wood ); I would go with larger gauge needle - much easier to push in
resonable time -< 1/2 minute( even after warming med in hand) , than
stand there trying to get horse to stand still while tried to push med through
smaller gauge needle, having them move around with needle in muscle -
bending needle, etc. Most penicillin I used for horses was procaine Pen - ?? had
numbing agent with it, but still uncomfortable, (people c/o hurts like hell);
if over 10 cc and some will say over 5 or 6cc, need to divide dose - use
different sites. ( I always gave up to 10 cc one site, and rotated sites, each
injection,) And use different site each time you give
injection. Your vet can advise you. Whether to tap/swat area first;
or to gently grap pinch of skin and inject - depends on expetise with needle and
personal preference and horses' reaction to 'shots'. I have some I can tap
few times with hand and 'slap needle in' and aspirate and inject, and
one that does better if I go little slower, pinch area and inject
needle, attach syringe and aspirate and inject.
A far as thread on irritating
electrolytes - give 'alittle' less and more ferquent - I agree
probably best, and mixed with 'something' applesauce, baby food carrots,
peaches, etc; also sometimes, I added mylanta, similair antacid -( sure
someone will yell foul ), but not enough to make difference except to cut
acidity of electrolyes. And have no qualms about doing such.... also, have added
jello to mix - just a little sugar - helps transport of electrolytes, and often
horse needed some extra 'sugar' at the time. Not much different than using
product like 'carbo charge' ...?? do they even still have that,? can mixed
with e lytes, too. Stephanie M
