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Advice for a horse that hates needles???

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Last activity 2015-09-21 5:59 PM
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Runninbay
Reg. Sep 2004
Posted 2015-09-20 4:01 PM
Subject: Advice for a horse that hates needles???



Georgia Peach


Posts: 8338
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Location: Georgia

My yearling filly is AWFUL about shots. This morning we tried to give her a vaccination and she absolutely refused. Rearing, head shaking, plowing through us...at one point I thought she was going over the stall door. I took her outside and lunged her around for about 15 minutes thinking it might take the edge off and wear her down some. We managed to stick her after that but she shook her neck and head so hard that the shot went into the dirt. She is generally a well-mannered horse and never does anything remotely dangerous. But when it comes to vaccines, she is bad.  Do you guys have any advice to help her get over this? We vaccinate our horses twice a year and I don't want to have to take one to the vet every time I have to give this horse a shot. 
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cheryl makofka
Reg. Jan 2011
Posted 2015-09-20 4:07 PM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???


The Advice Guru


Posts: 6419
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Runninbay - 2015-09-20 4:01 PM


My yearling filly is AWFUL about shots. This morning we tried to give her a vaccination and she absolutely refused. Rearing, head shaking, plowing through us...at one point I thought she was going over the stall door. I took her outside and lunged her around for about 15 minutes thinking it might take the edge off and wear her down some. We managed to stick her after that but she shook her neck and head so hard that the shot went into the dirt. She is generally a well-mannered horse and never does anything remotely dangerous. But when it comes to vaccines, she is bad.  Do you guys have any advice to help her get over this? We vaccinate our horses twice a year and I don't want to have to take one to the vet every time I have to give this horse a shot. 

Please tell me you discarded the needle and vaccine when it went into the dirt.

If you did administer it after, be very vigulent on watching for infection, as they can get the same infection due to a contaminated needle as they can from giving banamine Im.

Also what I do with mine that are difficult, is I inject the needle into the neck then attach the syringe after they have calmed down.

I also stroke the neck first then gently poke the needle in.
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equussynergy
Reg. Feb 2009
Posted 2015-09-20 4:20 PM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???



Swiffer PIcker Upper


Posts: 4015
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Location: Four Corners Colorado
Here is a great video.

https://www.facebook.com/VeterinaryRecord/videos/843803512341142/

 
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FlyingHigh1454
Reg. Oct 2013
Posted 2015-09-20 4:21 PM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???


Elite Veteran


Posts: 1131
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My gelding gets hobbled and twitched for shots (well, for the first one, which is always a sedative). He's a notorious striker though, and he's really quick with little warning.

My other horses are all super easy for shots, as well as all the broodmares I worked with over the winters (have to give them shots of oxytocin when they first foal. Never had one have a problem with it).


I don't really have much advice other than try to sweeten up the deal a bit. Maybe get some treats? Or wrestle her if you know some big guys and she's not too big right now, but that probably won't work when she's older.
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Runninbay
Reg. Sep 2004
Posted 2015-09-20 4:28 PM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???



Georgia Peach


Posts: 8338
50002000100010010010025
Location: Georgia
cheryl makofka - 2015-09-20 5:07 PM
Runninbay - 2015-09-20 4:01 PM

My yearling filly is AWFUL about shots. This morning we tried to give her a vaccination and she absolutely refused. Rearing, head shaking, plowing through us...at one point I thought she was going over the stall door. I took her outside and lunged her around for about 15 minutes thinking it might take the edge off and wear her down some. We managed to stick her after that but she shook her neck and head so hard that the shot went into the dirt. She is generally a well-mannered horse and never does anything remotely dangerous. But when it comes to vaccines, she is bad.  Do you guys have any advice to help her get over this? We vaccinate our horses twice a year and I don't want to have to take one to the vet every time I have to give this horse a shot. 
Please tell me you discarded the needle and vaccine when it went into the dirt. If you did administer it after, be very vigulent on watching for infection, as they can get the same infection due to a contaminated needle as they can from giving banamine Im. Also what I do with mine that are difficult, is I inject the needle into the neck then attach the syringe after they have calmed down. I also stroke the neck first then gently poke the needle in.


I would never use a dirty needle. I tried three different needles and each one came out. We quit after #3.  We have tried the needle only method but she moves so much the entire time it's in her neck that we can't get the syringe back on the needle. So it just doesn't work out.
 

Edited by Runninbay 2015-09-20 4:32 PM
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classicpotatochip
Reg. Mar 2011
Posted 2015-09-20 4:35 PM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???



Owner of a ratting catting machine


Posts: 2258
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Try dermosadan paste to sedate her first and blindfold and twitch her.

Or have someone teach you how to scotch hobble or lay her down. Lots of different ways to get this done.
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komet.
Reg. Jun 2012
Posted 2015-09-20 5:17 PM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???



Expert


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Easy peasy!!!






(dart-gun.jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments dart-gun.jpg (5KB - 177 downloads)
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TessBelle
Reg. Mar 2014
Posted 2015-09-20 6:20 PM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???


Expert


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Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton
I have a mare that is the same way. It takes 2 people to give her a shot. We put her in cross ties and cover her eyes. Have one chance to get it right. If you miss the vein or hit a vein not meaning to. After the first one you can give up on trying a second time.
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kwanatha
Reg. Dec 2003
Posted 2015-09-20 6:28 PM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???


Meanest Teacher!!!


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some of the worst ones I have given them their shot while they were eating grain. no halter i just walked by and poked them in the butt. they look up and around then go back to eating then i push it in
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mollibtexan
Reg. Jan 2007
Posted 2015-09-20 6:41 PM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???



Expert


Posts: 1526
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Location: Texas
Good luck lol. Just kidding. It will get better with age. I pat the real hard on the neck and just punch it in there. Use and 1 1/2 needle, try not to let them know your about to give it to them. You can also get dormosordan gel give by mouth and then give vaccinations.
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canrunnr
Reg. Sep 2003
Posted 2015-09-20 7:10 PM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???



Expert


Posts: 2154
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Location: USA
My gelding used to be AWFUL about shots. Every time I was walking him, I would poke him in the neck with my finger. Then when he needed a shot, I would poke him a few times with my finger until he relaxed, then I would stick him with the needle. This seemed to help and now he's great about shots.
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RacingQH
Reg. Aug 2004
Posted 2015-09-20 9:43 PM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???


Military family

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Location: Washington. (The DRY side.)
What do you do BEFORE you stick her?  (Meaning do you pat/tap where you are going to stick her?)  If you do, STOP.  LOL  I prefer to pinch their skin, (pretty hard) then stick the needle in next to where you are pinching. ("Slide" the needle in, not JAB it in.)
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komet.
Reg. Jun 2012
Posted 2015-09-21 2:03 AM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???



Expert


Posts: 4121
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Location: SE Louisiana
RacingQH - 2015-09-20 9:43 PM

What do you do BEFORE you stick her?  (Meaning do you pat/tap where you are going to stick her?)  If you do, STOP.  LOL  I prefer to pinch their skin, (pretty hard) then stick the needle in next to where you are pinching. ("Slide" the needle in, not JAB it in.) to chase

Oh Please!!! You take all the fun out of everything!!! It's much more enjoyable to chase them for 3 hours because they think this is about to happen...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atjhOhH-V3E
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1paintedjewel
Reg. Oct 2010
Posted 2015-09-21 7:26 AM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???



Extreme Veteran


Posts: 317
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I have one that is very difficult.  He gets adequan every month.
I hang a feed bucket over the stall wall so his head is up.  I have another horse that isn't aggressive right there. He's so worried about her getting
his feed he doesn't even pay attention to what I'm doing. 
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pepsi
Reg. Jan 2004
Posted 2015-09-21 8:49 AM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???


Veteran


Posts: 174
1002525
Location: Wisconsin
I have a horse that we give weekly glucosamine shots and was terrible. He would strike out. I had a vet that also does accupunture tell me to give him the shots in pectoral muscle (fatty breast area) as it is not as sensitive--works like a charm. 
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trobertson
Reg. Mar 2014
Posted 2015-09-21 8:57 AM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???



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Posts: 129
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Location: South
I have a 10 year old mare that is absolutely terrible. We just put her in the stocks- once she figures out she can't go anywhere she is fine. However I have been in situations where we can't use the stocks and my husband just has to help me. Like previous post said- you have 1 shot. That is it so make it count :)
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cheryl makofka
Reg. Jan 2011
Posted 2015-09-21 9:14 AM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???


The Advice Guru


Posts: 6419
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Runninbay - 2015-09-20 4:28 PM

cheryl makofka - 2015-09-20 5:07 PM
Runninbay - 2015-09-20 4:01 PM

My yearling filly is AWFUL about shots. This morning we tried to give her a vaccination and she absolutely refused. Rearing, head shaking, plowing through us...at one point I thought she was going over the stall door. I took her outside and lunged her around for about 15 minutes thinking it might take the edge off and wear her down some. We managed to stick her after that but she shook her neck and head so hard that the shot went into the dirt. She is generally a well-mannered horse and never does anything remotely dangerous. But when it comes to vaccines, she is bad.  Do you guys have any advice to help her get over this? We vaccinate our horses twice a year and I don't want to have to take one to the vet every time I have to give this horse a shot. 
Please tell me you discarded the needle and vaccine when it went into the dirt. If you did administer it after, be very vigulent on watching for infection, as they can get the same infection due to a contaminated needle as they can from giving banamine Im. Also what I do with mine that are difficult, is I inject the needle into the neck then attach the syringe after they have calmed down. I also stroke the neck first then gently poke the needle in.


I would never use a dirty needle. I tried three different needles and each one came out. We quit after #3.  We have tried the needle only method but she moves so much the entire time it's in her neck that we can't get the syringe back on the needle. So it just doesn't work out.
 

Sounds like your horse is lacking a bit of respect.

The other option if you get into a bind, is to twitch the horse
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Bibliafarm
Reg. Jul 2008
Posted 2015-09-21 9:19 AM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???


Military family

Warmblood with Wings


Posts: 27846
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Location: Florida..
 Id not give her any warning either
come at her sideways and from the side..
stick her give treat then administer
I know some load up in slant load trailer and do it..
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casualdust07
Reg. Mar 2005
Posted 2015-09-21 9:52 AM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???



You get what you give


Posts: 13030
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Location: Texas
OUR FILLIES ARE TWINS!!! Little rats!

Hey on a positive note, I tried to wash Lulu the other day and she put up the least fight she's ever made.. I was able to pretty much wash her off with her just circling a little bit.

She too is horrible with needles. I wasn't there when my vet came to draw coggins and give shots but she was a brat..

My plan in the future with her is if its something I can plan for, sedate her with dormosedan gel first.
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casualdust07
Reg. Mar 2005
Posted 2015-09-21 9:57 AM
Subject: RE: Advice for a horse that hates needles???



You get what you give


Posts: 13030
500050002000100025
Location: Texas
cheryl makofka - 2015-09-21 9:14 AM

Runninbay - 2015-09-20 4:28 PM

cheryl makofka - 2015-09-20 5:07 PM
Runninbay - 2015-09-20 4:01 PM

My yearling filly is AWFUL about shots. This morning we tried to give her a vaccination and she absolutely refused. Rearing, head shaking, plowing through us...at one point I thought she was going over the stall door. I took her outside and lunged her around for about 15 minutes thinking it might take the edge off and wear her down some. We managed to stick her after that but she shook her neck and head so hard that the shot went into the dirt. She is generally a well-mannered horse and never does anything remotely dangerous. But when it comes to vaccines, she is bad.  Do you guys have any advice to help her get over this? We vaccinate our horses twice a year and I don't want to have to take one to the vet every time I have to give this horse a shot. 
Please tell me you discarded the needle and vaccine when it went into the dirt. If you did administer it after, be very vigulent on watching for infection, as they can get the same infection due to a contaminated needle as they can from giving banamine Im. Also what I do with mine that are difficult, is I inject the needle into the neck then attach the syringe after they have calmed down. I also stroke the neck first then gently poke the needle in.


I would never use a dirty needle. I tried three different needles and each one came out. We quit after #3.  We have tried the needle only method but she moves so much the entire time it's in her neck that we can't get the syringe back on the needle. So it just doesn't work out.
 

Sounds like your horse is lacking a bit of respect.

The other option if you get into a bind, is to twitch the horse

Not all horses who are needle shy lack respect. I too have dealt with this for the first time this year... the OPs horse and mine share the same sire. They both have had the same quirks in their temperament. I know for mine, I have handled her since day 1 and there were just two things that she puts up huge fights about that my other babies with the same amount of handling haven't. She is still a really good horse, has handled other things very well..Already can saddle and bridle her and she stands for farrier...
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