Where should intramuscular injections be given in cattle?
Intramuscular injections should given in the muscles of the neck to avoid blemishes in more valuable carcass cuts, regardless of the age of the animal. Do not give intramuscular injections in the rear leg or over the rump. Subcutaneous injections should be administered in front of the shoulder.
How do you give an intramuscular injection to a cow?
0:161:32How to give Cattle an Intramuscular Injection - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou hold the classic part of the needle with your middle finger and thumb then tap the rump. AMoreYou hold the classic part of the needle with your middle finger and thumb then tap the rump. A couple of times with the back your hand and jam then Italy.
Where is the best place to inject intramuscular?
A ventrogluteal site is the most commonly used and recommended site for IM injections in adults and children of walking age because of the large muscle mass. This site is located away from the superior and inferior gluteal arteries as well as the sciatic and superior gluteal nerves,9 and is also the least painful.
How long should needle be for IM injection for cattle?
Intramuscular injections For an adult cow, needles should be 1 to 1.5 inches long. Use a 16-gauge needle large enough in diameter to go through thick skin without bending or breaking. Using any needle size bigger than a 16 gauge may cause tissue damage or product leakage.
Which site is not recommended for intramuscular injections?
Choose a site that is free from pain, infection, abrasions, or necrosis. The dorsogluteal site should be avoided for intramuscular injections because of the risk for injury. If the needle inadvertently hits the sciatic nerve, the patient may experience partial or permanent paralysis of the leg.
Do you pinch the skin for IM injection?
Insert needle at an 45o angle to the skin. Pinch up on SQ tissue to prevent injecting into muscle. Aspiration before injection is not required.
What are the 5 injection sites?
IM injections are administered in five potential sites: deltoid (commonly used for adult vaccinations), dorsogluteal, ventrogluteal, rectus femoris, and vastus lateralis3,10,11 (Figure 1).
Where to inject calf shots?
Occasionally, when you are giving multiple shots on a small calf and don’t have enough neck area, you can inject under the loose skin behind the shoulder. Most important is to never put injections into the hindquarters. The rump was a traditional location for intramuscular injections, because it was the easiest place to reach when processing cattle ...
Why are neck extenders used in cattle chutes?
The newer chutes with neck extenders are helpful, reducing the risk of having your hand or arm injured, syringes smashed, or needles bent or broken. “Handling facilities have improved, as has education of stockmen in proper ways to inject cattle.
Who is Shannon Williams?
Shannon Williams, Lemhi County Extension educator and BQA coordinator for Idaho, says most producers are doing things correctly. “When the last National Beef Quality Audit was released, data showed that the number of abscesses from improper injections was way down,” she says.
Can you inject through a dirty hide?
“Never inject through a dir ty hide,” says Barrington. “Make sure the site is clean and dry. I compare this to a human getting a flu shot; it would be unacceptable if the physician gave the injection through a dirty shirt or coat,” he says.
Can you inject a hide?
In this situation, you need to wash the area and then dry it as best you can. If that’s not possible, you could inject into a cleaner area, like under the loose hide over the ribs, behind the elbow — in the girth area.
Do cattle need shots?
If there’s one thing that most cattle and most cattle producers can count on, it’s that shots will have to be given, even in natural or organic production systems. The simple truth is that vaccines, injectable vitamins and minerals, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and other animal health products are administered to virtually all U.S. cattle.
Who is George Barrington?
George Barrington, a veterinarian with Agricultural Animal Clinic Services at Washington State University, says Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) programs have worked well in helping stock producers understand the importance of proper injections.
What happens if an animal jumps on a needle?
If the animal jumps, wait until she settles down before attaching the syringe to the inserted needle to give the injection. If the needle starts to ooze blood, take it out and try a different spot.
What happens if you put a needle through a bottle?
It will put a small curl on the tip of the needle. A dull needle causes more pain and damages more tissue.
Why do cattle need subcutaneous injections?
Today, due to concerns about carcass quality (avoiding IM shots, where possible) more injectables are approved for subcutaneous use. When you have a choice, according to label directions, inject under the skin rather than into muscle. IM shots are more likely to develop serious abscesses if a needle is dirty. Infection introduced by a SubQ shot is merely beneath the skin and an abscess more readily breaks open to drain.
Why do cows have dull needles?
A dull needle causes more pain and damages more tissue. Use a separate needle for filling the syringe, then change to a new needle for vaccinating the cows. If you had to inject through a dirty hide, or the needle bends or gets blunted by accidental contact with the chute, change needles immediately.
How to give cow a shot?
How to Give a Cow a Shot. Cattle injections are often necessary — vaccines, antibiotics, injectable vitamins, scours, etc. These should always be administered properly to be effective, minimize residues in the meat if the animal will be butchered later, minimize injection site lesions, and reduce the risks for adverse reactions.
What happens if a needle is bent?
If you feel anything at all, it has a burr on the tip. Bent tip. If a needle gets bent, don’t straighten it; a bent needle is weaker and more likely to break. If a needle breaks off in the animal and you can’t find it and remove it, you cannot legally sell that animal.
How many cc is an IV?
Before attempting to give an IV injection, have your veterinarian show you how. The label will also indicate proper dosage. Vaccines are generally a two- or five-cc dose. The dose for a particular vaccine will be the same for every animal whereas dose for an antibiotic will vary depending on size/weight of the animal.
Why is flunixin banned?
In fact, FDA banned all extra-label use of flunixin because there were numerous cases of drug residues when it was given SQ or IM at a time when no withholding times were published. Only a veterinarian can prescribe a drug in an extra-label manner.
How long should you mix a shot?
Mix enough vaccine for only one hour or less.
How fast does an IV go through the bloodstream?
Fred Hopkins, University of Tennessee veterinarian, says a product given IV will circulate through the bloodstream 2-3 hours faster than one given SQ. But, he adds, it's also true that an antibiotic begins leaving the body more quickly since it's readily available for excretion.
Is micotil safe for humans?
There's extreme hazard to humans exposed to Micotil through needlestick injuries, skin cuts, puncture wounds and contact with skin and mucous membranes. Micotil's cardio-toxic effects on the human heart can cause death. Although no antidote exists for Micotil, exposed persons should seek immediate medical intervention, as the drug's cardio-toxic effects may be reversed.
Who is Clint Peck?
Clint Peck is contributing editor and director Beef Quality Assurance, Montana State University.
Is tilmicosin fatal to cattle?
For cattle, the label also restricts administration of tilmicosin (Micotil ®) to SQ. IV use of this product in cattle is fatal.
Can you give antimicrobials via IV?
Veterinarian Dan Thomson, Kansas State University, leans towards SQ administration of antimicrobials. He never recommends IV unless it's the only route of administration on the product label. Distribution patterns for the drugs given SQ or IV can vary, he says, and are often at blood levels within 4-10 hours.
What is an intramuscular injection?
An intramuscular (IM) injection is a shot of medicine given into a muscle. Certain medicines need to be given into the muscle for them to work correctly.
How do I choose the best place for an intramuscular injection?
Keep track of where the injections are given: Make a list of the sites you use. Write down the date, time, and the site each time you give an injection.
How do I get rid of used syringes and needles?
It is important to dispose of your needles and syringes correctly. Do not throw needles into the trash. You may receive a hard plastic container made especially for used syringes and needles. You can also use a soda bottle or other plastic bottle with a screw lid. Make sure that both the syringe and needle fit into the container easily and cannot break through the sides. Ask your healthcare provider or a pharmacist what your state or local requirements are for getting rid of used syringes and needles.
How to inject a needle into a muscle?
Insert the needle into the muscle: Hold the syringe barrel tightly and use your wrist to inject the needle through the skin and into the muscle at a 90 degree angle.
How to give an injection with alcohol wipe?
Do not touch this area until you give the injection. Prepare the needle: Hold the syringe with your writing hand and pull the cover off with your other hand. Place the syringe between your thumb and first finger.
How to give a syringe to a syringe?
Place the syringe between your thumb and first finger. Let the barrel of the syringe rest on your second finger. Hold the skin around where you will give the injection: With your free hand, gently press on and pull the skin so that it is slightly tight.
How to get rid of cracks in buttocks?
With an alcohol wipe draw a line from the top of the crack between the buttocks to the side of the body. Find the middle of that line and go up 3 inches. From that point, draw another line down and across the first line, ending about halfway down the buttock.
How to give an intramuscular injection?
Before you give an intramuscular injection, wash your hands with soap and warm water and sanitize the area with an alcohol swab to prevent infection. Next, remove the cap and carefully insert the needle perpendicular to the skin. Then, pull back the plunger a little and inject the medication slowly. After you’ve made the injection, pull the needle out at the same angle you inserted it, and press on the injection site with a small piece of gauze to prevent bleeding. Finally, make sure to dispose of the needle properly in a special needle recepta cle. To learn how to talk to your patient and calm them down before giving an injection, read more from our Nurse co-author!
What to do if you see red blood when you pull back?
The medication is designed to be injected into a muscle and not into the bloodstream, so if you see any red color when you pull back you will need to remove the needle and dispose of it. Prepare a new needle and choose a different injection site — don't try to give the shot in the same place.
How to avoid air bubbles in an injection?
As long as you are not injecting into an artery, then a small amount of air can be taken up by the tissues safely. However, avoiding air bubbles when giving an injection is best, so take all of the bubbles out before giving the injection. To do this, pull back on the syringe to release air. You can also try putting more solution than you need into the syringe and discarding some of it, this will help to release the air.
What is the Z track method?
Understand the advantages of the Z-track method. When administering an IM injection, the penetrative action of the needle creates a narrow channel, or track, within the tissues. It may be possible for the medication to leak out of the body through this track.
How to give a bone injection?
Insert the needle into the specific location. Start by removing the cap, and then insert it smoothly at an angle of 90 degrees to the skin. If you are just learning to give the injection, do not go too quickly, as you want to ensure you do not push the needle in too far and hit the bone. [10]
How to sanitize a muscle injection?
Sanitize the area with an alcohol swab. Prior to performing the injection, it is important that the patch of skin over the muscle where the injection will take place is sterilized and clean. Again, this minimizes the chances of an infection following the injection.
Why do you need to learn to give an IM injection?
Learning to give an intramuscular (IM) injection may become a necessity if you, or a family member, suffer from an illness that requires injections of medication. The doctor will make this decision as they provide medical care and the doctor or nurse will explain to the caregiver how to give an intramuscular injection.
Read The Label
Proper Facilities
- It can be difficult to give injections in the neck in a runway situation, when animals stick their heads down under the next cow or move backward and forward in the old-style squeeze chutes. The newer chutes with neck extenders are helpful, reducing the risk of having your hand or arm injured, syringes smashed, or needles bent or broken. “Handling ...
Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness
- “Never inject through a dirty hide,” says Barrington. “Make sure the site is clean and dry. I compare this to a human getting a flu shot; it would be unacceptable if the physician gave the injection through a dirty shirt or coat,” he says. “We know that certain products tend to have more reactions. With others, it’s rare to see an issue even if you inject through a dirty hide. But with some produc…
Needle Length and Size
- Choose appropriate needle sizeand length for the product given, taking the injection site into consideration. A larger-diameter needle (no smaller than 16-gauge) is preferred for mature cattle with thick hides, because you’re less apt to bend or break the needle. Calves have thinner skin, and a smaller-diameter needle (18-gauge) can be used. “If the needle is too large, there’s more pain, …
Location and Dosage
- When giving multiple injections to an animal, don’t put injections close together; space them several inches apart, or on different sides of the neck. “If the label for an antimicrobial says to deposit no more than a certain volume in one site, there’s more likelihood of tissue residues if you put more than the recommended volume in one site,” says Barrington. The product may also be …
Keep Records
- “Be systematic in how you give injections, and keep records. It helps if you consistently give a certain vaccine at the same site. Knowing that you give product A in the left side of the neck, rather than randomly on either side, will help you identify what might have caused a reaction. Occasionally, certain batches of a product are associated with reactions. If you don’t know wher…