[Bionic]

I will be fluke dosing my sheep tomorrow. I can get the exact amount of Fasinex I need from the vets but  that some will be lost in the drenching gun.
2 options -
Order more to allow for wastage
Use a syringe for the exact amount
Which option is best?

[SallyintNorth]

Drenching gun is best, there's really very little risk of damage to the roof of the mouth with a drenching gun, whilst if the sheep jumps while you're putting the syringe into its mouth you can scrape the roof of the mouth.

Also the drenching gun has a long nose designed to get over the lump in the tongue so that the drench can only go down the gullet, cannot go into the lungs.  Again, whilst it is perfectly possible to get this right with a syringe, it is more foolproof with a drenching gun.

If I tell you that, if I could find one, I would buy a syringe with a long shaped nozzle like a drenching gun for when I have small numbers to dose, that should tell you that I think it's better for the sheep to use a drenching gun?

You won't waste very much - you can squirt what's left in the tubing back into the container when you're done.  Or if you really are only buying what you need to the millilitre, if you hold the dispenser well up high vertically so that it drains into the tubing and gun properly, without air pockets forming, then again there will be very little waste.  Can't guess how much though - please measure it when you do it and let us all know for future reference!

[fifixx]

Double up!  Although I am drenching goats who refuse to open their mouths....

[Foobar]

Depends on your gun, but you should be able to fill the gun with air and use that to push out the last drop of drench from the gun.  You just need to angle it right so that the air is above the liquid.


I tend to use reusable syringes with a dosing nozzle when I'm doing small amounts - less hassle than a gun, and easier to get the air in the right place to plush out the last drop.
Cox agri catalogue (http://www.coxagri.com/downloadlibraryitem.do?itempk=DA2AABDBADCBDE8537BFB586851D46CE) - page 86, Demaplast Reusable Syringes & Dosing Nozzle.


You *do* want to use a gun/syringe that has a dosing nozzle on so that the drench is squirted down the throat.  You don't really want to just syringe it into their mouths as this won't be as affective, it needs to go over the back of the tongue and swallowed into the rumen.

[SallyintNorth]

Gonna get me a one of they dosing nozzles for a reusable syringe - thanks foobar 

(Very last line of very last page in that doc, if anyone else is looking for one too)

[Bionic]

Great advice everyone, as usual.


Apparently my local agriculture merchants (opposite the vets where I am getting the drench later today) stocks the Cox products. I will see if they have the nozzle and reusable syringe. If not I will use the drench gun this time but will place an order for the others bits.


Thanks

[Daisys Mum]

Great gonna get one too 

[Dogwalker]

Well found, exactly what I need.

[Blackbird]

Bionic, the reusable syringe and nozzle is what I always use for worming mine (I only have 7 so didn't feel the need for a drenching gun) - it works a treat.

[Backinwellies]

Sally   ... the vet was quite generous with the amount they gave me . Also filling syringes from bottle loses a fair bit anyway (mess round outside of syringe.)     The syringe doser is great (there is an old one here which I used for the cows..... but great to know where I can get a sheep sized one.


One problem you may get is they gave me cattle version so dose for sheep was very small.... 2 to 3 ml  so easy to waste significant amount .     

[Foobar]

I suppose you could fill the used syringe up with water, and drench the sheep with that, to flush all the product out.  I doubt that the extra water will have any impact on the product efficacy?

[Bionic]

Linda, I have spoken to them this morning and they specifically asked me if I want the sheep one so 


I have asked for 100ml which is more than I need so can waste a bit, but it's better than having to buy the whole bottle 


At the moment I am struggling to get he dosing nozzle and reusable syringes though. C&P are one of the Coxagri stockists but they don't stock them  . As they are being taken over they don' even know I've they can do a special order although are going to ring me back. Still, I do have a proper drench gun to use anyway.

[BadgerFace]

I got mine from countrysupplies_midwales on ebay.


item no . 370565378464

[Bionic]

I got mine from countrysupplies_midwales on ebay.


item no . 370565378464

Great, thanks

[Bionic]

Foobar, I got the Coxagri reusable syringe and drenching nozzle. It worked a treat 
many thanks