Re:Mule vaccinations

["Keith and Anna" <desautels@cnetco.com>]

In response to all this my mule will handle almost anything but a
vaccination. I have had this mule for 6 years and go through this each time
we need to renew vaccinations.  God forbid that something should happen to
her where daily shots are required.  As soon as she feels the needle she
flips. There is murder in her. she will try to kill anything within reach.
We have tried almost every thing in order to calm her down. She has been lip
twitched, tied firmly, drugged, vaccinated in the horse trailer, vaccinated
in stocks, Blindfolded. etc. Food does not work as a distraction in this
case.   We have tried various doses of all tranquilizers and combinations,
The last time she was vaccinated last spring, We gave her a tranquilizer
while she was still in the trailer, Had to use a pole syringe to get close
enough to her.  We then took her out of the trailer, put a second halter on
her and put her in the vets stocks.  We tied her head down to the lowest
rung of the stocks. She still reared, kicked slung her head etc.  This mule
is not safe to be near if you want to vaccinate. I am looking of some way to
keep me and the vet safe while we try to vaccinate.

Anna and Keith and all our critters in New Mexico
(horses) Hobo(the old man) Shy Ann (the Mule)
Lizzy (momma) and Lightning (baby)
(Basenjis) Lady Queen of the house, and
her two sons George and Iceman and finally
Lilly (the prairie dog)
visit my website at
http://www.shyann.friendpages.com


> With all due respect to Mr. Butler, all ear-twitching a mule does is make
it
> headshy.   I haven't had problems dealing with my mule but have known some
> donkeys that are very good at using their body mass and superior strength
to
> turn any vaccination time into a real wrestling match.  What worked best
for
> me was tying the donkey to a secure, safe line and covering her eye so she
> couldn't see the vet standing beside her.  Eventually, we could do away
with
> tying and just cover her eye.




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