Giving shots

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Having nigerians, finding enough loose skin for SQ injections can be tough. (at least on my goats). I generally innoculate in the armpit. As I was watching a show on Animal Planet, one of the vets gave an injection simply by sliding in the needle parallel to the body, right along the animal's back near the shoulder. What I'm wondering is could I use this technique instead of the "tenting" method. It looked like a much easier method, yet I haven't come across it. Any hints on giving shots more easily would be greatly appreciated.

-- Lynn (moonspinner@bluefrognet.net), January 22, 2002

Answers

HA!!! If Nigerians were the dairy goat they are supposed to be they should have loose pliable skin like their large counterparts, not tight meat skin like Pygmy's!!

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O.K. I got that out of my system! :) Anyway, yes you can give shots up on the shoulder also the neck. Always aspirate the plunger back to make sure you have not slid into a vien, and make sure you have at least some working knowledge of the vessel system of your goat, sliding some meds even through a vien will give you anaphalactic shock, so until you are adept at this, keep and syringe of epi pulled. Make sure also that you give the shot all at once, and not a little here and a little there as you slide the syringe back out. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 22, 2002.


We give our Nigerians their shots in the loose skin by their shoulders. Seems to work OK. Another place to consider is the back hip area, I have a friend who gives shots there.

-- Trisha-MN (coldguinea@netscape.net), January 23, 2002.

HA!!! If Nigerians were the dairy goat they are supposed to be they should have loose pliable skin like their large counterparts, not tight meat skin like Pygmy's!! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> HA! HA! I agree Vicki...I was thinking the same thing as I read that post.. typically Nigerians have VERY loose pliable skin..(mine do)...and you're also right about the pygmies...they have elephant hide compared to the loose, thin-skinned ND's. Seriously though, to do a SubQ, you don't have to pull up THAT much skin to be able to do it properly without hitting muscle...maybe you're trying too hard to make that "tent" ... just a little lift and you should be able to get your needle in there easily enough without hitting muscle tissue..I still like the area behind the elbow at the base of the ribcage..especially if you end up with a sterile lump from the site afterwards...anywhere else and the lump appears, it's much more noticeable, and you have explaining to do in the showring, for example.. if it's in the "armpit" area, the judges already know what it is :) Patty Prairie Oak Miniatures http://www.minifarm.com/prairie_oak visit our message board! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Littlegoats moderator

-- Patty Putnam (WI) (littlegoats@wi.rr.com), January 23, 2002.

I can't believe that Lynn asked a normal question and got crap that would make her feed bad about her breed of goats. Put yourself into her position of asking a question and having not so nice comments about the breed!

Lynn, I will apoligise for the comments on Nigerians. Not all people need as much milk from thier goats and the cute little nigies fill a nitch for those who love them adn only need a small amount of milk.

-- shari (smillers@snowcrest.net), January 24, 2002.


I just wormed some does subQ yesterday. It seemed to me that the skin was tighter than it should be- do you know, I think it is the cold weather! Think about it, isn't your own skin looser and more pliable in warm weather, than it would be if you stepped out into the snow? Usually I use the skin over the ribs, but this skin was pretty tight. I found that the skin where the ribs stop, had enough give to tent and slide the needle in.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 24, 2002.


Shari, everyone knows I was teasing. Right now on all the lists are talk about the Nigerians gaining acceptance into the Amercian Dairy Goat Association. If you reread my post I certainly think you can tell it was tongue in cheek. Anybody who is going to take the time to answer questions on these lists, can't be to bad! Yes we will kid each other about our loud Nubians, or mean Alpines, but we are all after the same thing, good healthy stock. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 24, 2002.

Vicki, It didn't come across as teasing to me. I'm a bit sensitive I guess. I don't even own a Nigie but it hit a sore spot since people up in my area are really cruel to others that don't have their "breed". They start off saying something like you stated then everyone else joins in bad mouthing even if it started as a joke. So glad that it was in joking then, since I have started to value your opinion here on this board and look forward to your commemts.

-- shari (smillers@snowcrest.net), January 24, 2002.

I would say maybe you ARE a bit sensitive Shari... it was very obvious to me that Vicki was joking... I was too...and I have nigerians myself and love them! ..I think we all need to lighten up once in awhile.. I'm sorry you have to deal with those folks who are that "breed sensitive" that they can't accept someone else's choice in goats - I choose simply not to communicate with folks like that....the world's too small, and life's too short! BTW, I can't see myself ever having Nubians, Alpines, or any other standard breed for that matter...just not my cup of tea, but I know that doesn't bother Ms. Vicki at all , and it shouldn't anyone else either - to each his own! :)) patty Prairie Oak Miniatures http://www.minifarm.com/prairie_oak http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Littlegoats moderator

-- Patty Putnam (WI) (littlegoats@wi.rr.com), January 24, 2002.

To each their own!! 1 person may like bigger breeds and other people obviously like smaller breeds. I, myself, choose bigger breeds cuz I am taller and it is harder for me to show the smaller sized breeds. I even have a hard time sometimes showing junior kids and intermediate kids. But about the Sub Q, I would give it in the rear area of the ribs. This is due to the fact that there is tenting area for their already tight non-pliable skin. I am a vet. tech major and also a breeder so I have much knowledge of where the best area would be located at. Good luck in doing this as it is very hard this time of year to "tent" skin.

-- Keith (rockwood_keith@hotmail.com), October 29, 2002.

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