[Backinwellies]

IM in bum and SC in neck   (only exception to me would be a slaughter lamb near to finish when I wouldnt inject in rear.)

As for retractable needles .... get a steriomatic ...... the needle cant get left in sheep  it is encased in the sterilising bit. I would only use these for vaccines like Heptovac P.

[shep53]

Hmmmmm, it did seem to sting a bit, but she's still walking fine, etc.

I'll be honest, I didn't check the datasheet - the vet specifically said "standard IM for the draxxin and standard SC for the metacam", so a jist did whit a wis telt!

Draxxin always stings but thankfully is only small amounts , while im in the neck is harder to do from a holding the sheep point ,once you try its fairly simple so long as you angle the syringe about 45degrees to the neck ,  if you are farm assured it is the method they ask you to use

[Womble]

Thanks Shep, I was starting to think I'd misheard it!

[wildandwooly]

Womble I nearly did inject myself!  I found injecting the subcutaneous one into the neck area really hard even though I had the right place and at 45 degrees and that was where the needle stayed in but when my OH checked one of the others it hadn't been pushed on properly onto the syringe by the vet     Now I know to check myself before I inject anything!
The intramuscular one I was advised to put in the rump muscle. I know there are conflicting opinions on the best place for those to go but at least I had no problems with that one and tbh I was more concerned about getting the sheep well asap as it had been coughing for a few days when it ran towards me and had a bacterial infection according to the vet. Mine are all wethers and a fibre flock not a meat flock. It's one of two that had only just arrived. My 4 who I already had have been fine but they're on the Hep Plus regime. The two new ones hadn't been but will be asap! 
Thanks for everyone's help and advice. Great as usual 

[Womble]

Yes, I think just the angle of an IM injection makes it less likely that you'll stab yourself. However, for SC, having to "make a tent" with one hand and then slide the needle in at a shallow angle with the other makes it really easy to prick yourself if / when the sheep jumps.

[wildandwooly]

Yes quite! Pretty much exactly what happened Womble    I still have both hands and all my fingers (just about) in one piece 
You live and learn!
I still love my sheep though 

[Nelson International]

Last set of heptavac doses, I did inject myself, or at least, put the needle in my finger. Fortunately it was a clean needle, before I'd started doing any sheep, but it went right into the knuckle, swelled up something rotten and involved a trip to A&E plus some awkward conversations with the doctors.

I'd been umming and aahing about whether to use the guard or not. Guess I'll be using it in the future.

[Womble]

BTW, a top tip for sterimatic type injection guns - they will actually work without the sterilisation cap, with a standard 1" disposable needle. OK, that doesn't give you a sterile injection once you start doing several sheep, but it does give you the added safety of the spring loaded guard.

[wildandwooly]

Ooh ouch NI    yes you learn pretty fast! And thanks for the tip Womble 
I'll be giving the 2 new ones their Heptavac P Plus soon. Hopefully with no incident  Watch this space! 

[Backinwellies]

BTW, a top tip for sterimatic type injection guns - they will actually work without the sterilisation cap, with a standard 1" disposable needle. OK, that doesn't give you a sterile injection once you start doing several sheep, but it does give you the added safety of the spring loaded guard.

I'm not quite sure why you wouldnt use a steriomatic needle but please be aware  standard disposable needles start to blunt after 3 or 4 sheep and then become very painful for the rest of the sheep.

[wildandwooly]

   Good to know that Backinwellies! Makes sense really. I've only been given individual ones so far but then I've got the Heptavac to do for all 6 of them in Oct....

[twizzel]

If you’re not sure how to do it, you could always get your vet to come help you the first time 

[wildandwooly]

Hmmm yes twizzel but maybe not the last vet I had......!