RE: [RC] Immunization Reactions - Susan E. Garlinghouse, D.V.M.
What are your
thoughts about injecting in the horse’s butt as compared to the chest
?? That is what was recommended to me due to my gelding’s previous
reactions to his immunizations. This year, he was off for more than a
week from his shots. It seems to be getting worse each time.
Couldn’t/Wouldn’t move his back legs any more than he had to
(reeeeally stiff for at least 3 days). We are talking that he barely
moved. At first I could hardly force him to move. He was eating,
drinking and pooping fine. Any thoughts that you choose to share about
this would be awesome.
Here is why I like vaccinating in the chest
versus other locations:
1)If they
get muscle sore, then it’s easier to work out a knot in the chest with
light exercise, including lunging; whereas, it’s next to impossible to
work the neck muscles sufficiently to loosen up a big knot. You can also
work out a sore knot in the hindquarters, but can be so stiff, it’s hard
to get them to even move (as you described), plus they move so ‘off’
that everyone is staring at you like you’re a monster for riding a lame
horse.
2)If, God
forbid, the injection site abscesses, then there’s no better spot for
drainage than an area that naturally points down. If the abscess then
heals to leave a scar, I’d much rather have a big divot on the chest than
on the neck or butt.
3)The back
end kicks. The front end jumps, but rarely strikes at the needle-poker
(and is easier to dodge). The worst will usually rear (fairly easy to
step away from, assuming you’re standing to the side, which is much
safer), or back up (easy to go with until they settle down), or sometimes jump
forward, also easy to go with. Yesterday, I had a goofy Lusitano stallion
that did a lovely levade followed by a capriole, but that was unusual.
<g>
4)Horses
that have gotten needle shy start dancing around when you touch their neck, but
aren’t expecting a fast poke at the chest and don’t react nearly as
violently. If I’m poking the hindquarters and they react violently,
it’s harder to dodge (because some swing away from you and the witchier
ones will swing *into* you).
Or, they may just kick. Did I mention that the front end doesn’t
kick?
5)If the
horse is needle shy, it takes two people to vaccinate; one to control the head,
one to poke behind. If you’re vaccinating in the chest, I can
control the head with one hand (sometimes accessorized with a shank) and the
other hand injects. If you’re trying to get close to a horse that
is doing his best to get away from you, I can usually catch up with the front
end, because evasive horses usually will turn on the forehand (swinging their
butt in a circle while the front end stays more or less in place). I have
to be a lot faster on my feet to catch up with the butt when it’s
migrating in circles, and that’s tiring when you have forty horses
scheduled that day. J
