Injections

“101”
The Basics on
Injection Types, Sites,
and Procedures

For Horse, Cattle, Sheep, and Goats

What types of injections
are there?
 Subcutaneous
O “SubQ”
O What is a subcutaneous injection?
O An injection given in the fatty
layer of tissue just under the skin.
O Why are subcutaneous injections
given?
O These injections are given because
there is little blood flow to fatty
tissue, and the injected medication
is generally absorbed more slowly.
 Intramuscular
O “IM”
O What is an intramuscular injection?
O An injection given into a muscle.
O Why are intramuscular injections
given?
O This injection is chosen because of
one or more of the following
reasons:
O The amount of medicine to be given.
O The type of medicine requires it to
be given IM.
O The medicine needs to be faster
acting than Sub Q.
 Intravenous
O “IV”
O What is an IV injection:
O An injection made directly into
the vein
Vein
O Why are IV injections given?
O Medication reaches parts of the
body much faster than other
methods of injection.
O Allow the medicine to reach the
heart quickly and circulate
through the body extremely fast.
 Intradermal
O “ID”
O What is an ID injection?
O The introduction of a hypodermic needle into the dermis for
the purpose of instilling a substance between the layers of
skin, such as a serum or vaccine.
OWhy are ID injections
given?
O These types of injections
are often used for
conducting skin allergy
tests and testing for
antibody formation.
 Locations and
Procedures for Giving
Injections
Horse
Intramuscular
Injections
 Intramuscular
O There are four main areas for giving
intramuscular injections in horses:
O Neck Region
O Chest or Pectoral Region
O Gluteal or Hip Region
O Hind Leg or Hamstring Region
 Intramuscular
Neck
O This site is a triangle defined by the
nuchal ligaments along the crest of
the horse’s neck, the cervical
vertebra which form a backward S-
shaped curve from the horse’s poll
toward the point of the shoulder,
and the scapula.
O Higher toward the crest and you
risk hitting the nuchal ligaments,
and lower toward the bottom of the
neck is were the cervical vertebra
and blood vessels are located.
 Intramuscular
O Hind Leg or Hamstring Area
O Below the point of the horse’s
buttocks is another large muscle mass
which is a good injection site.
O It is the preferred injection site for
foals because it is one of the larger
muscles on a foal’s body.
O The major drawback to this injection
site is that it puts the handler within
kicking range of the horse.
O To find this injection site, drop about 1
inch below the joint of the buttocks
and inject anywhere in the large
muscle mass along the back of the leg.
 Intramuscular
O Chest or Pectoral Region
O The pectoral muscles tend to become sore easily and may
develop abscesses more easily.
O Generally are only used when the horse is receiving
prolonged treatment and is sore in other injection sites.

Thermography of chest abscess

Intramuscular
O Gluteal or Hip Region
O The disadvantage to this site is that it
has very poor drainage if an abscess
develops at the injection site.
O It can be used for a horse that is sore
in all other injection sites.
O The proper location of this injection
site is the intersection of a line
between the tail head and point of hip
and a line between the top of the
croup and the point of the buttocks.
 Intramuscular
O The general procedure for an IM injection is to remove
the needle from the syringe, set the needle into the
muscle, attach the syringe, aspirate to make sure no blood
is present, and slowly inject the medication.
O Some people distract the
horse by pinching or tapping
the horse’s skin next to the
injection site for a few
seconds prior to inserting the
needle.
Video: IM Techniques
Intravenous
Injections
 Intravenous
O The site for insertion of the needle should be
in the jugular vein, in the middle of the neck,
half way between the head and the torso.
O These should only be done by a
veterinarian or with the
supervision of a veterinarian.
O Identify the jugular vein in the
middle portion of the neck. Place
a finger or hand firmly at the
lower portion of the neck over
the jugular vein. Watch and feel
for swelling in the vein above the
constriction.
O Place needle firmly into the vein,
the sharp side of the needle
pointed towards the neck.
O You should see blood coming out
of the hub of the needle. Quickly
and quietly grab the syringe with
preloaded drug in it which has no
air bubbles and place it firmly on
the hub of the needle and draw up
in the syringe.

O Blood should fill the syringe. Then

inject into the vein in a stead by
not rapid motion.

O When material is injected, pull

needle and syringe out and place
hand over the vein to close’ it.
Subcutaneous
Injections
 Subcutaneous
O These are given just
beneath the skin.
O Simply lift or “tent”
the skin on the neck,
insert the needle, pull
back slightly on the
syringe plunger to be
sure the needle is not
in a blood vessel, and
then administer the
vaccine.
Intradermal
Injections
 Intradermal
O Given directly into the skin of the neck.
O The hair should be clipped to aid in observing reaction.
O Typically done for allergy testing.
Safety Procedures
Horse
 Safety
O Always have a handler when giving
a horse and injection. The handler
should stand on the same side of the
horse as the person giving the shot.
O Do not tie the horse. The horse may
pull back and injure itself.
O The neck is a relatively safe place to
give an injection because you are
near the horse’s shoulder.
O Use extra caution when injecting in
the hind quarters because this site
puts the handler in kicking range.
 Safety
O If the horse does try to kick, its
head should be pulled toward the
handler so its hind legs turn
away form the handler and the
person giving the shot.
O Injections in the pectoral
muscles puts you in a position
where you can be easily bitten,
struck with a front foot, or run
over by the horse.
O Make sure all drugs are handled
properly, given according to
directions, and that sterile
needles and syringes are used. Click here for another video!
 Locations and
Procedures for Giving
Injections
Cattle
Intramuscular
Injections
 Intramuscular
O Given in the neck area in cattle.
O To reduce carcass damage and potential nerve
damage, avoid the rear quarters whenever possible.
O Choose muscle tissue of lesser value to
consumers for IM injections.
O Give IM injections deep into a muscle.
Use a needle long enough to penetrate
skin, subcutaneous tissue and fat to
reach the muscle. The needle should
enter the skin perpendicular to the skin
surface.
O Insert the needle into the animal, and
attach the syringe to the needle. Check
that the needle is not in a blood vessel
by pulling back on the plunger and
observing for blood flow in the tip of
the syringe. If blood appears, remove
the needle and put it in a different
location at least one inch away form
the original injection site.
Subcutaneous
Injections
 Subcutaneous
O The best location is half way up the neck in
front of the shoulder, or over the ribs well
behind the shoulder.
O Lift a fold of skin to make a skin “tent”. Insert
the needle through one side of the tent at an
angel of 30-45 degrees relative to the surface
of the body.
Intravenous
Injections
 Intravenous
O There are two major sites, the jugular vein and the tail vein.
O The jugular vein is much larger but cattle are often restrained in
a neck chute which can make it difficult to safely inject into.
O The tail vein runs straight down the underside of the tail but is
much narrower, so it is harder to inject into but is generally
more accessible in dairy cattle.
O This type of injection should be
given by a veterinarian or with
the supervision of a
veterinarian.

O There are many medications that

could kill or do serious damage
if injected into a vein and run in
too quickly.

O For example, when injecting

calcium solutions intravenously,
a veterinarian may listen to the
heartbeat to gauge the rate of
injection by the response of the
heart. Without this, sudden
deaths may occur.
Intradermal
Injections
 O Given directly into the skin.
O Bovine Tuberculosis tests are
administered this way.

A cow being tested for tuberculosis.

[Link] - Subcutaneous and intradermal injection video

Safety Procedures
O Some important
considerations are:
Giving the right product
at the right time
Having adequate
restraint of the animal
Placing the injection in
the right place
Using clean techniques
and sterile equipment
Be careful not to inject
yourself. The results
could be fatal.
 Locations and
Procedures for Giving
Injections
Sheep and Goats

[Link]
Intramuscular
Injections
 Intramuscular
O The best location is the heavy muscles of the
neck.
O To reduce carcass damage and potential nerve
damage, avoid the rear quarters whenever
possible.
O Insert the needle with a quick thrust. Care should be
taken to make sure the needle is inserted in the muscle,
not just under the skin.
O Pull back on the plunger to make sure that the needle
has not been inserted into a blood vessel. The
medication should slowly be injected into the muscle.
O The leg and loin
should be avoided
when giving IM
injections.
O IM injections can
cause damage to the
muscle tissue (meat).
Intravenous
Injections
 Intravenous
O The best location is in the jugular vein in the
neck.
O In lactating dairy goats, the milk vein can
sometimes be used to inject small volumes of
fluid.
 Intravenous
O This type of injection should be given by a
veterinarian or with the supervision of a
veterinarian.
O Procedures:
O Have someone straddle the goat to hold it
securely.
O The holder should elevate the goat’s head up
and to the side.
O Feel for the trachea on the neck. The area
between the trachea and the muscles of the
neck is the “jugular groove” and is where the
jugular vein lies.
O Put pressure at the bottom of the groove and
you will see the groove swell from your
finger up to the jaw of the goat. The vein is
now filled with blood.
 Intravenous
O Using an 18 to 20 gauge needle, direct
it at a 45 degree angle then stab
through the skin.
O Pull back on your syringe and see if
there is blood present. If not, adjust
the depth (deeper or more shallow) or
move up or down the side of the
groove until blood is obtained. The
presence of blood signifies that the
needle is inside the vein.
O Administer drugs slowly and monitor
the animal for evidence of respiratory
or cardiac distress. If there is any
adverse reaction to the injection, it
should be stopped.
Subcutaneous
Injections
Sheep and Goats
 Subcutaneous
O The loose skin on the side of the neck or
behind the elbow or on the side of the animal.
O Start by making a “tent” with the skin and
injecting the solution under the fold of the
skin, parallel with the muscle.
O The medicine should be slowly injected.
O A ¾ or 1 inch needle should be used.
Intradermal
Injections
Sheep and Goats
O Given directly into the skin.
Safety Procedures
Sheep and Goats
O Be careful not to inject yourself or others with
the vaccine.
O Make sure all drugs are handled properly,
given according to directions, and that sterile
needles and syringes are used.
O Be sure the animals are properly restrained for
the procedures.
 What could go
wrong?
Consequences of Poor Injection
Techniques
 Consequences of Poor
Injection Techniques
O Treatment failure, if product absorption is delayed or
block.
O Drug residues in meat or milk if the drug cannot be
absorbed and metabolized in a timely manner.
O Animal suffering and incapacitation due to nerve
damage or swelling from tissue reactions.
O Excessive trim at slaughter due to abscess, scarring or
broken needles.
O Shock or death of animal being treated, if medications
unintentionally enter the bloodstream.
O Accidental human injection.
 In Conclusion:
Knowledge and proper technique produces high quality
livestock and assures the health and safety of all
involved!