Anyone do their own vaccs?

[Unbound]

Does anyone here do their own vaccinations? I'm looking at doing my own this year and just having the vet do rabies & coggins. I've given shots before - know the protocol for IM vaccs anyway.

Any tips/tricks for making all go easier? Thanks in advance.

[Kim]

I give my own - well, I have a friend who was a vet tech for many years, and she takes care of it. It's way cheaper. I do still have the vet out for a Coggins though. Save all your receipts, which you probably know

Other than that, I can't really think of anything, other than she told me to be sure not to move the needle once it's in the muscle, or it could cause tears.

[jenarby]

I buy mine form my vet and do them myself. I only vaccinate once a year though....unless it is a new vaccine and then you'd need to give a booster in 30 days. I don't give rabies because we don't have a problem with it here. I did give Sealy the intra nasal vaccine for Strangles this year since she was going off for training. So Michelle gave her the second dose 30 days later. I usually buy the combo from my vet that has rhino, flu, easter, western, tetnus and west nile in it. cActually it's two shots. I think that's it....would have to go back and look at my records. It's cheaper for me because no vet call....but I still get a reminder each year form the vet.

[easychoice]

My Vet offers a wellness package that covers all vacs, teeth floating, fecal test, blood test, coggins and includes the farm calls 4 times a year. I like the idea of knowing my guy is being seen and checked out every time and I can have the Vet there in case I have questions. Plus I get a discount for sheath cleaning if it's needed. Let it be known that I re-entered the horse world a year ago (been without for 30 years) and need the self assurance that I'm doing the right things.

[Deb]

I have done the vaccinating of my animals for years. Having done it so many times it is difficult for me to pin-point any specific tip or trick for making it go easier. If you have someone holding the lead rope you might have them put a hand up just behind the horse's eye. That way the horse can't see what's coming. Some people put the needle in first then attach the syringe. Others leave the needle attached to the syringe and inject. Try it both ways and see which works better for you. I have always left the needle attached to the syringe and injected.

[luckyleoo6]

I've considered doing them myself, I am a small animal vet tech. I just get so worried that the one time I do it, he'll have a reaction of some sort. That would be my luck. This will be my first spring shot session w/Conny, so I'd rather have the vet out, just in case....

[Shannon]

I do mine, except for West Nile and Rabies. Both my feed store and the Tractor Supply stores stock vaccines. It really helps out on costs. As far as that goes, I also do the shots for my cats and dog (also except rabies).
As far as tips - one good one from my time as a vet tech - let the vaccines warm up to room temp before you do the shot, so it doesn't feel as weird, going in.

[maria]

I have thought about doing my own, but since the Vet has to do the rabies anyway I just have her do them all - I don't pay much at all for the vaccines.

I might save a few dollars but I love my vet, she comes quickly for emergencies - always knows if I call off-hours that something truly needs attention.

[juliab]

I have the vet come out and do them. I often have babies and young horses and it is a two man operation because no matter how much you train and handle a baby, that stick in the neck is not pleasant and you can get some pretty amazing reactions Plus, I have to get coggins drawn and rabies and couldn't do that myself in any case. I've had to give lots of shots to horses myself and my vet has shown me how, but I must admit, I hate doing it.

[Truth]

I'm not real big on vacs and since they don't leave the farm I haven't vaccinated that much. This year I did vaccinate for rabies because a friend of mine had her livestock (goats, alpacas, and llamas) attacked by a rabid fox. Fortunately she was in the barn when it happened and killed it with a pitchfork. Sounded like a very gruesome ordeal. Anyway, I decided to vaccinate for rabies (actually had been thinking about it for a while, as well as for West Nile). I do all my animals myself, horses, dogs, cats,, goats. I get the rabies from Jeffers but I'll have to get the West Nile from the vet. they're vacs are pretty reasonable. It hasn't been too much of a big deal. Truth is easy. Just sneak up on him on his blind side and inject, then ply with a ton of carrots and mints. He almost looks forward to it. OLLIE on the other hand HATES it. I have to hide the needle, but he suspects something is going on. He'll run to the other side of his stall and we do circles in the stall. I have to get the halter on him so I can hold him to do the vaccination. He isn't as forgiving as Truth even with carrots. So I pet him and tell him how good he is, etc. etc.....in other words GROVEL BIG TIME. The tom cat was a real challenge just to catch him. and then hold him. Since I have no help, i do everything alone sooooo haven' stabbed myself.....YET.

[Dawn]

lucky it is the pits when we have worked for vets and know all the pitfalls, LOL. But that said I do my own. Vet comes out for coggins, and whatever else is needed or I haul in. In fact just set up that appointment up everyone will get checked over get coggins and we will discuss Guys eyesight and Jacksons oldness and a few other things.

[lolatwo]

The only reason why I do not do my own is because A. I buy and sell a lot of horses and people can call the vet rather then rely on me to say I did them. We go to a lot of horse shows that require health ct's and it is way easier for me to get on when the vet has the horses shot record on file.

So rather then charge a trip fee every time I need a health ct. he will just write one and I can pick it up at his office.

[ZenRider]

If I only had one horse I'd probably let the Vet do them. If I was going to show in recognized shows where they may want a vaccination report from the vet I would let the Vet do them. As it is, I have several welfare horses, so I do my own. I have the Vet do the rabies in the fall and if I still can't get the single syringe for West Nile, he'll do that one too. We haven't had a major problem with rabies here either Jen, but have always put it in the better safe then sorry category.

[adcooper]

Modified to say that after I wrote all this stuff (below) I realized you were asking about vaccines, not injections generally!

Well, funny you should ask. My horse is needing injected antibiotics, twice a day for then next 4 days. No, I won't be having the vet out for that! And yes, I did get a lesson from my vet this morning.

We've got one needle for drawing the medicine up into the syringe. Another goes into the horse. The syringe goes from one to the other. I'll use a clean injection needle each time, but reuse the draw needle.

Since I've only observed this process once, our manager will meet me tonight to coach me through my first actual stabbing! Then I'll time my visits so that there will always be someone to help hold Cypress while I do the shots. I'm told that, as a rookie, it's almost a certainty I will be "wearing" some of the medicine!

Unbound, the tips I got this morning include advice about where to aim. (Find a diagram if you are not sure. Also, use your fist to bang the place you plan to inject a few times before you place the needle. Better than a sudden jab without warning. And don't be gentle when you stick--it's hard to pierce a horse's tough hide, and it will be easier for both of you if you do it in one swift, strong jab. Also, when you go to attach the syringe to the needle that's already placed, stabilize the needle so it doesn't press in further.

Since we're doing two-a-days, I'll also alternate from left to right sides with each injection.

Wish me luck!

(By the way, this is all about a nasal discharge that didn't respond to one round of SMZs. Now that the vet has looked at her he thinks it's an infected tooth root, or maybe a tumor. I'm liking the tooth diagnosis, myself, and if our big antibiotic push works, we'll solve the problem without surgery, etc. I'll resume oral antibiotics in a couple of days, too. The heck with tumor talk!)