Needle size and length

[DonnaBelle]

I am having a hard time getting a 18 g., 1/2 inch needle into Annie's tough skin.

She's going to be on a once a week SQ dose of Draxxen for a while and I just had a tough time getting the needle into her tough hide.

Draxxen is a clear, water type liquid, not thick. What are some suggestions for getting this done??

The Draxxen seems to be helping, her symptoms are not nearly as heavy as they were. Less snot and coughing. I am hoping for dry hot weather.

Donna

 

[Roll farms]

I use 20 ga. for everything but the really thick stuff. I prefer 1/2" but will use 3/4" if I have to.

 

[ksalvagno]

I use 20g most of the time.

 

[DonnaBelle]

Thanks ladies, I'm going to town tomorrow, will pick up some 20 g.

DonnaBelle

 

[cmjust0]

If the med's watery like B-complex, I use 22ga x 3/4" needles. If it's oily, I like a 20ga x 3/4".. If it's thick or a suspension like PenG, I use 18ga x 3/4".

Choose the needle based on the med -- not the hide.

In my experience, toughness of the hide has more to do with injection site location than the needle. The hide up around their back -- like, toward the top of the shoulders or up across the ribs around the midline -- is pretty tough hide.

When I give SQ injections, I use what all the books refer to as "the axillary space" -- the flabbier skin behind the 'armpits,' basically. Even the thinnest goats have extra skin there and it's meant to be flexible, else....well, else they'd look really funny trying to walk.

Begs the question...where are you SQ'ing?