The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: P6te on July 11, 2012, 12:37:21 pm
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I am about to order supplies to go with the Slap Shot and being new to needles and syringes etc thought I'd check a few things out ....
Having done a bit of research, I see the smaller the needle gauge, the larger the needle is. I'm proposing to purchase 18g ... is that a reasonable all round size for pigs of varying ages?
I have also seen both disposable and reusable needles, neither are particularly expensive so which do people recommend?
On the Slap-Shot topic I was advised 1/2" needles so that's the length I'm planning on getting.
My initial requirement is to inject Noromectin to worm the pigs and as such I think a 2ml syringe would be the correct size but is it worth having 5ml, 10ml 15ml or 20ml in 'stock' in readiness?
Anything else I may have missed?
Many thanks
Pete
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Hi!
We used a 5 ml syringe to give a 2 ml injection of noromectin with our snapshot. The snapshot took about 2 ml of liquid alone, then you need to get 2 ml into the pig.
We used disposable 21G, 16 mm as that is the smallest I currently have. Will be interested to see others views on this!
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Sorry I meant slapshot, damn spellchecker! ;D
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When you start having to inject older mature pigs we find their skin is so thick and leathery that reusable needles almost always bend or break, so now always use metal luer lock ones for them. For piglets and weaners plastic disposable ones work OK. Length of needle is a function of the medication - it almost always says in the small print whether you are meant to be doing a sub-cutaneous injection, in which case 1/2" are fine, or deep intra muscular, where you will need something longer. Tamsaddle
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Me writing rubbish as well. I meant "disposable" needles bend or break in older pigs, not "re-usable". Also, in the small print in your medication bottle, it will usually suggest what size needle to use, gauge and length. Tamsaddle
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We use a bit of everything ;D
We have 5ml disposable syringes and piglet sized needles (usually a 21G, 5/8th of an inch in length)
Then we have medium sized ones (for weaners & young Kunekunes) which are normally an inch long and a 16G or 18G depending on what supplier we use. And lastly some big ones, normally 1 and a half inches and around a 14G. These are all disposable needles, we don't use the reuseable needles for the same reason as Tamsaddle - they tend to go blunt and end up bending :-\
We have a big luer lock re-usable syringe that is used for injecting 'big' pigs, so we don't lose needles in pigs ;) We wash it out and put it through the baby bottle steriliser. But for the little or easily restrained ones it's normally easier to use a disposable syringe.
A good tip I was given is to use one needle to puncture the bottle and leave it in place, using it to fill your syringes without having multiple stab holes in the rubber top.
Oh and if you're injecting pigs over 150Kg with wormer - you're gonna need a bigger syringe than 5ml (unless you fancy doing it twice ;))
HTH
Karen :wave:
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The instructions that come with your medicine will tell you what type and size of needle you need.
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All,
Thank you very much for your replies, I'll get a selection of syringes and needles based on your collective advice.
Hughesy - I recognise instructions will accompany the various medications but I hope to have syringes and needles to cover most of the likely eventualities.
Pete
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I just get disposable ones when I get the medicine. Keeps it simple.
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Reusable luer lock needles are great - much better than wasting time (and money) bending needles and losing medication. I find the most useful size for older gilts and sows (traditional breeds) is 18 gauge/1.5 inch. The length of the needle means the medication gets through the fat. I use 16 gauge for thicker stuff, like Dectomax.
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Liz where do you get your luer lock needles from?
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You should be able to get them at Fearings, Holmefield Farm Services (York) or most of the agri-supply places BB ;)
http://www.fearing.co.uk/animal-health/needles/disposable-needles (http://www.fearing.co.uk/animal-health/needles/disposable-needles)
HTH
Karen :wave:
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Today I purchased Luer Lock needles and syringes from Farm & Country Supplies (http://www.farmandcountrysupplies.co.uk/farm-smallholding-medical-healthcare-needles-drenchers-pour-on-applicators.irc). I was told that all their needles and syringes are Luer Lock. I also purchased the Slap-Shot (that takes Luer Lock) from there.
Pete
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Thanks Karen and pete, I use the luer lock on my masterject but they only sell 13g x 1 1/2 @ £10 for 12 so fearings are a lot cheaper and have a selection of sizes. :thumbsup: