Knowledge of how to give livestock injections, either subcutaneously (SQ; under the skin), intramuscularly (IM; right into the bloodstream in a muscle), or intravenously (IV; right into a vein, usually the jugular vein/in the neck)), it is very important to vaccinate or treat farm animals with vaccines and drugs. Cattle, buffalo, heifers, neutered cattle, or calves do not have to be sick before being given an injection, many fully healthy farm animals must receive an injection for annual vaccines or vitamin injections.
It is highly recommended that you see your veterinarian for more information on the treatment and vaccination of livestock, as well as verification of how to inject these animals correctly. You are also strongly advised to seek veterinary advice and assistance if intravenous injections are necessary, as these involve a much more difficult procedure than IM or SQ injections.
In general, to learn tips and steps on how to properly inject farm animals, continue reading the steps below.
Step
Method 1 of 6: Preparing for Injection
Step 1. Hold the animal to be injected using a squeeze chute
Make sure the head is stuck in the head gate. It is much easier to give an injection to a captive farm animal with a head gate or squeeze chute (also known as a crush), or with a medina-gate that attaches the animal to the fence or the side of its cage, than it is when you try to inject the injection without the availability of either this one piece of equipment.
Squeeze chute or cattle crush is a narrow box with adjustable sides, wide enough to accommodate one full-grown cow. The panels on this box will prevent the animal from moving. In addition, this box will help calm the animal. That way, the neck of the animal will be easier to reach for injection
Step 2. Read the drug label
Always read and follow the directions on the drug or vaccine label to find out what dose and route of administration you need. Drug manufacturers are required by law to print instructions on the injection vial and provide information about it, as well as warnings, micro-organisms to be treated, and other information.
If there is an option to choose between the intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SQ) injection route, always choose SQ as it is less invasive, meaning less likely to damage valuable beef.. However, some drugs must be administered by IM injection in order to can be absorbed properly
Step 3. Locate the injection site
The place needed for this injection, especially for cattle, is a place called the "injection triangle". However, for dairy cattle, the injection is usually given in the skin, in the area between the tailbone and the hip (on the side of the pelvis in the bovine). This triangular area is located on either side of the neck and includes several vital structures (such as blood vessels and nerves). This injection triangle is widest at the shoulders and tapers towards the ears.
- Its upper border, located under the spine (below the cervical ligaments), follows the crest of the neck or its top line.
- The angular or low border, covering along and above the jugular furrow, is located in the center of the neck.
- The posterior border (closest to the back of the animal), follows the line above the point of the shoulder, which angles upward toward the top line of the shoulder.
Step 4. Choose the injection or dosing gun
The injection is given by means of an injection or dosing gun. The difference between the two is that with injection, you manually control the volume of drug that is injected into the cow, while the dosing gun determines the volume of drug to be used to treat more than one animal.
- The injection is made of three parts: the body (which contains the drug), the suppressor (which goes inside the barrel of his body), and the needle. The injections are made of plastic and are usually used only once or twice before being discarded. Plastic injections are sold in sizes 1, 2, 3, 5, 12, 20, 35, and 60 cc (1 cc = 1 ml). The use of injections is determined based on the dosage requirements for an animal, and one dose size in the injection may only be used for one animal.
- Dosing or injecting pistols have a similar glass barrel (usually filled with several doses), with a suppressor having a thick rubber washer on the end (to form a vacuum), a needle, and the same hand plunger as that of a pack pistol. Some of these pistols have the option to pair bottles. Most dosing pistols are sold in 5, 12.5, 20, 25, and 50 ml sizes.
Step 5. Give various injections in different places
This is done if you need to give more than one treatment or vaccination. Subsequent doses should be administered at a distance of at least four inches/10 cm (about the width of one palm) from the first injection point. If you keep injecting at the same point, the cow's body will have a hard time absorbing it, as these medications will react with each other to cause ineffective results, or cause a major reaction that could kill the animal.
Method 2 of 6: Picking the Needles
Step 1. Select the needle based on the weight of the animal
Needle size is measured in yardsticks. The gauge of a needle is proportional to its diameter, so the lower the gauge, the larger the needle. For example, calfskin is thinner than adult calfskin, so a smaller needle with a higher benchmark value can be used. You should also try to use the gauge as high as possible to minimize the pain of the cow, but not so high that the needle breaks easily.
- To give an injection to a calf weighing less than 226 kg, use a needle with a gauge of 18-20 (represented by the letter g), which is 2.5 cm long.
- For larger animals weighing over 226 kg, you will need a 16-18 g needle about 3.75 cm long.
- The type of cow can also determine the size of the needle needed. Black Angus usually has a thinner skin than Hereford, so you won't need a 16 g needle to penetrate the thinner skin of Angus cattle, compared to the thicker skin of Hereford.
Step 2. Select the needle length based on the type of injection to be given
Usually, shorter needles are required for subcutaneous injection, and longer needles are required for intramuscular and intravenous injection.
- You will not need a needle longer than 1.25 cm to 2.5 cm for the SQ injection as you only need to pierce the animal's skin.
- For IM and IV injections, needles of about 3.75 cm or more in length are most suitable.
Step 3. Use a new, sterile needle
A new, sterile needle is recommended for each animal. However, you can use the same needle up to ten injections, as long as the needle remains sharp and straight. Always replace with a new needle when you suck medicine from a different bottle, because an old needle can contaminate the medicine.
Never try to straighten a bent needle because it may break during the injection process. Bent needles should not be straightened, but should be disposed of in the biological waste bin
Method 3 of 6: Aspirate the Medicine into the Injection
Step 1. Take the injection and insert the needle
The needle will have a blockage when you push it into the tip of the syringe if the needle is clean and new. Press the needle down on the injection so that the needle stays in place and doesn't come off.
Step 2. Unplug the needle
Remove this blockage and prepare the needle to suck the fluid into the injection. You will not be able to suck the medicine into the injection if the blockage is still in the needle.
Step 3. Take a new bottle and remove the aluminum plug
This stopper protects the rubber plug placed in the open part of the bottle and keeps liquid from leaking if the bottle is lying on its side or upside down. Use your fingernails to remove the plug, never use a knife or sharp object, as you can damage the rubber stopper and promote contamination.
Step 4. Insert the needle through the rubber stopper
However, before you do this, you will need to suck air into the injection, in the same volume as the volume of medicine you want to aspirate. This is to ensure that the medication passes more easily, as trying to aspirate the liquid when you have the vacuum created by the injection and vial can make it very difficult. Then, you can stick the needle into the rubber stopper.
The rubber stopper will act as a vacuum medium and block air from entering the bottle, and when the needle is inserted through it, this vacuum will not be disturbed
Step 5. Aspirate the medicine into the injection
Once you have exhaled the air from your injection into the vial, lift the vial so that it is almost vertically above the injection, and gently pull back on the syringe to allow the desired amount of liquid to enter the injection. You'll need to raise the vial above the injection so that gravity can help you suck out the liquid, as well as make sure you're not just sucking in air.
Step 6. Lower the bottle and slowly remove the needle
Lowering the bottle will move the liquid to the bottom (via gravity) and introduce the "air" component of the bottle. Removing the needle will then ensure that the liquid does not drip out.
Step 7. Place the bottle in a safe place for future use
Store bottles in a cool, dry place where they will not be damaged, such as in a toolbox or cooler specially designed for storing your livestock's medicines.
Step 8. Point the needle up to remove all air bubbles
Flick your finger on the barrel to pop bubbles that don't move up automatically. This is especially important if you are going to have an IM or IV injection.
Method 4 of 6: Giving a Subcutaneous Injection (SQ)
Step 1. Use the "tenting" technique (form a tent)
To give the SQ injection, a technique known as 'tenting' is used. If you are right-handed, hold the injection in your right hand (and vice versa if you are right-handed). Identify the part of the injection triangle (as described in Method 1) and select a point in the center of this shadow triangle. With your left hand, pinch some of the animal skin between your two main fingers and thumb, then lift the skin out of the neck to form a "tent." The tent should be in a position perpendicular to the neck.
Step 2. Adjust the angle of the needle so that it forms a 30 to 45 degree angle from the neck surface
The tip of the needle can be placed under your thumb, although the location of the needle tip depends on your comfort and should be adjusted to the location with the least risk to avoid needle sticks. Be careful not to touch the depressant (if using an injection) or booster (if using a dosing device).
Step 3. Aim the needle at the injection point
Using your main fingers to hold the injection, aim the needle in the center of one side of the tent you formed with your other hand in the previous step. This will ensure that you only insert the needle halfway through and not all the way through the skin layer, and reduce the chance of hitting muscles or blood vessels.
Step 4. Perform the injection
Once the needle is at the required length, remove the skin and apply pressure to the injection or squeeze the injection handle with your holding hand. Do it slowly and steadily. After the injection is complete, remove the needle, close it, and place the injection in a clean, dry place for future use (if you plan to give the injection to more than one animal).
Step 5. Reduce the bleeding that may occur
Press and rub the injection point with your hand for a few seconds so that it doesn't bleed too much, and to ensure that the injected fluid doesn't leak too much. An SQ injection should not produce as much bleeding as an IM or IV injection, but there is a greater risk of drug leakage, sometimes excessively if the cowhide is very thick or too much fluid is injected at one point.
Method 5 of 6: Giving Intramuscular (IM) Injections
Step 1. Help the animal reduce pain when the needle is inserted
Since intramuscular injections are more painful than SQ injections, you should try to reduce the pain the cow will feel when the needle is inserted. To do this, most veterinarians will strike the bone of their palm against the cow's neck two to three times before inserting the needle. It is highly recommended that you follow this procedure.
Tapping the cow's neck with your hand will make the nerves less sensitive. So, when the needle is inserted, the cow may not feel the needle enter and will not be surprised
Step 2. Select a location to give the IM injection
Hold the syringe in your dominant hand (right if you are right-handed). Find the area of the injection triangle and select the area near the center, be prepared to insert the needle at an angle perpendicular to the surface of the skin.
Step 3. Insert the needle into the cow's neck
Keep the needle perpendicular to the surface of the skin and use a steady, fast motion as you slide the needle through the cowhide until it reaches the muscle. This should be done as soon as you pat the cow on the neck a few times. At this point, the cow may be startled so be prepared for the possibility that it will move in its chute (it will move a lot more if it is not used to human contact).
Check if you hit a vein or artery. To do this, slightly pull on the injection depressant and see if any blood is getting into the injection. If this happens, you have hit a blood vessel. You have to get the injection out and try a different point
Step 4. Do the treatment
Once you are sure that you have not hit a vein, you can start treatment. Gently press the injection suppressor until the cow gets the right dose. If you give more than 10 ml IM, make sure you don't give more than 10 ml at each injection point.
After you release the injection, press the point with your fingers for a few moments to prevent bleeding
Method 6 of 6: Giving an Intravenous (IV) Injection
Step 1. Ask your veterinarian for an intravenous injection
To be able to give this injection properly, you need a lot of practice. Because it requires a special technique, this injection is usually not given by the livestock owner himself. If you are unable to administer the intravenous injection properly or are unsure how to do it, contact your veterinarian for assistance.
Step 2. Locate the jugular vessels of the cow
You can do this by running your fingers across the cow's neck (under the shadow triangle), over the wattle. You will feel these jugular vessels pulsate. Once you find it, press down on the bottom of the vessel to make it stick out. This will help you to more easily locate the vein during the injection.
Step 3. Check to make sure that there are no bubbles in your injection
Air bubbles, if injected into the jugular vein, can pose a serious health risk, or death. If air is in the injection when you have given the drug injection, hold the syringe in an upright position and pat it with your fingers until the air bubbles rise. Remove the air bubbles by slightly pulling the syringe suppressor until all the bubbles come out. The medicine will come out a little while you do this.
Step 4. Insert the injection at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees on the surface of the neck
Insert the injection into the jugular vein that is sticking out slowly but steadily. You'll know that you've hit the jugular vessel correctly, as a slight tug on the injection press will suck the blood into the injection and mix it with the contents. This is a good sign, unlike in SQ and IM injections.
Step 5. Do the treatment
Press the injection pressure very slowly so that the medicine liquid enters the cow's vein. After you give the required amount of medicine, slowly remove the needle. Hold your hand over the injection point and press for a few moments to reduce the bleeding that will occur when you give this type of injection.
Tips
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You will need the expertise of a veterinary technician or veterinarian to administer the IV injection.
IV injection requires skill and a lot of practice, and is a specialized technique that is usually not practiced by animal owners. If you can't give the IV injection properly or don't know the exact way to do it, call your veterinarian and have him do the procedure for you.
- Avoid injecting the hash, hind legs, or buttocks of beef to avoid degrading the quality of the meat.
- Use only aluminum needles as they are more difficult to break when the animal moves (compared to plastic ones).
- Always consult a veterinarian before giving an injection to a cow. Your veterinarian can provide specific tips for your cow.
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Use restraints and leash to secure the animal's head when administering nasal injections.
- DO NOT let your friend hold the cow's head as this could seriously injure your friend. If possible, while the animal is at the medina-gate, ask your friend to hold the leash attached to the animal's dumbbell from outside the gate to keep the animal's head and nose easily accessible.
- If your animal is in a head gate, use dumbbells to ensure better hold of the head. The leash must be attached or tied to a dumbbell, then tied again so the animal's head can't move away when you give the IN injection.
- Use crush or squeeze chute with head gate installed when vaccinating livestock. This will minimize movement and make the injection process easier for you without risking injury to both yourself and the animal.
- Talk to your veterinarian about the type of vaccine or treatment your animals will need. Some types are more effective than others; and some are more expensive than others.
- Discard any dirty, bent, or broken needles.
- Do the injection of livestock as calm and quiet as possible. This is useful for reducing stress levels on both you and the animal when they are taken to a treatment facility for treatment. Do not shout, chase, or hit the animal, as these may cause him to feel angry and even destroy the head gate.
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Store vaccines properly. Vaccines that must be kept cold should be stored in a refrigerator with an ice pack (especially on hot summer days); Vaccines that must be kept at room temperature should be stored in a cooler filled with warm water bottles (especially in winter) for the duration of their use.
You can also store medicines in the refrigerator if needed, or in a cool dark place (for those who don't need a refrigerator) until their next use
- Throw away any expired medication, and throw away any empty bottles you have.
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Use sharp, clean, infection-free needles for each animal you will treat.
Perform a needle disinfection process after each use, because, like humans, disease can be transferred from one animal to another if dirty needles are used. This will cause problems for you. if necessary, discard all dirty needles and use new needles for each animal to be injected
- Use the correct size injection for each type of injectable fluid you use. The lower the dose, the smaller the injection you will need.
- Use a different injection for each type of injection fluid you use.
- Treat animals by weight. Usually the dose is written on the bottle in the rule # cc/100 lb (45 kg) body weight.
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Use a needle of the correct size based on the size of the animal you are injecting. The thicker the skin of an animal, the lower g size you will need.
- For calves, use a needle measuring 18 to 20 g.
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Cattle and buffalo need 18 to 14 g needles.
The needle should not be longer than 5 cm; but the shorter needle is better for SQ injection
Warning
- Avoid putting your head in the crush to guard against the possibility of the animal moving or heading, as this could cause serious injury to you.
- Do not use vaccines/medications that have expired, whether they have been opened or not. Vaccines that have expired are much less effective (and even dangerous) than vaccines used before their expiration date.
- NEVER mix vaccine fluids or use the same injection for different vaccines/drugs. Always prepare only one injection for one type of vaccine liquid and prepare another for a different type of vaccine. If needed, mark each injection with the vaccine used in it when you are taking more than 2 injections.
- Be on the lookout for farm animals trying to jump over the barriers as they go into the crush in turn, as this can cause problems.
- Do not use bent or broken needles. If any needles are broken, bent, or have blunt ends, dispose of them in an appropriate disposal container.
- Do not enter the containment or treatment corridor of livestock, unless you wish to be crushed. Work with farm animals always from the outside of the hold, never from the inside.
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The IV injection should be used only in emergency cases, such as in the advanced stages of some diseases such as milk fever, grass tetanus, or if the calf needs fluids and electrolytes that cannot be obtained quickly by oral medication. Do not use IV injection for other medications or vaccines.
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Always heat IV fluids in hot water before use to minimize the risk of shock to the animal, when cold fluids are injected into their bloodstream.
The closer the IV fluid temperature is to body temperature, the better
- Make sure there is no air in the injection or IV tube or bag when you inhale the vaccine or medication (this applies to all injection methods, including oral, IN, IM, or SQ). This will ensure you get the right dose, and, in the case of IV, minimize the risk of death when the air bubble enters the vein.
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