The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: patrickr on October 20, 2023, 11:30:13 am
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Hi
The trouble with having a small flock is that some things you do things so rarely, you forget how to do it the next time. Very early in the year we injected one of our Shetland ewes with 1.5ml of Metacam using a yellow syringe. We preferred the flap of skin behind the front leg (armpit?) because it's easier to see the skin. Made a tent shape and injected. No problems. This time we did the same thing on another ewe but made a real hash of it. Couldn't find a flap of skin, went in at the wrong angle, couldn't get the needle in, sprayed fluid before it was injected - and then there was an alarming lump after the injection (what's that!)! Has anyone got a link to a good video on this or practical guide. It was so easy the first time. This ewe did have more fleece around the area, to be fair. Any guidance, gratefully received.
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Sorry I haven't got a video or guide
Cheif injectorist on my holding is my (ex-nurse) wife, followed by daughter and then myself
We tend to inject heptovac in the neck area and metacam on the back , as it is easier to find the skin and lift it
We use 19g 1 1/4 inch needles
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ADHB Data sheet and video on administering medicine to livestock linky (https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/administering-medicine-livestock)
:Bookmark: administering medicines injecting drenching
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You can also ask your vet to give you a demo if you don't have a handy nurse in the family :D
It's very easy with a sub cutaneous injection to go in one side and straight out the other, hence spraying fluid everywhere. My advice is to get a good hold of your sheep first (a helper perhaps or sit the sheep on its bum) so you are not rushing to stab quickly. It doesn't really matter where you choose to inject but some areas have looser skin than others, so make sure you're choosing your site for looseness of skin rather than because that's where a book or someone has told you to inject. Different animals will have different skin and with some you need to search a bit. Take your time!
It says 'pinch the skin' but don't! If you pinch tightly then you will inject yourself, hence taking your time and being relaxed. Pinch gently and lift a tent of skin away from whatever is beneath it, then push the needle in, slightly down from your fingers but not so that you hit muscle of bone. You can judge how far to push in the needle (use a short one) by the position of your fingers, which you will automatically avoid. Inject slowly, especially if you are using a small bore needle - the narrower the needle, the faster the liquid will go in for the same pressure on the plunger. Fast liquid equals tissue damage.
If you have a large volume to inject, then give it over several sites to avoid a large amount of medication having to be absorbed from a limited area. Usually the chosen sites for a large volume is in four places over the ribs. Choose each site carefully as in some places the skin is very tight to the ribs but in others it's looser. Find out before you start. With a bit of luck your sheep will have fallen asleep by now :hugsheep: