This document provides guidance on safely performing injections in horses and dogs. It discusses maintaining distance, wearing gloves, using the proper needle size, cleaning the injection site, and disposing of medical waste properly. For horses, it describes performing jugular vein injections and gives examples of intramuscular and subcutaneous injection sites like the neck, rump, and hindquarters. For dogs, it discusses restraint, vein selection, and provides examples of forelimb and jugular vein sites for venipuncture as well as thigh, back, and leg sites for intramuscular injections. Complications from injections like irritation and nerve damage are also mentioned.

2. SAFTEY FIRST

3. PRECAUTIONS
 Maintain a proper and safe distance.
 Wear gloves.
 Read the label.
 Make sure you use the sterile syringe &
needle.
 Choose appropriate needle size.
 Clean the injection site.
 Dispose off the syringes & needles properly.

4. VENIPUNCTURE
 First, find the jugular vein.
 Locate the jugular furrow.
 Occlude the vein.
 Raise the head.
 Watch for the rise of the vein.
 Push the patients head slightly away from you while holding it up.
 Wet the hair with alcohol.
 If your patient is anesthetized, place a pillow under the neck.

5. SITE

6. JUGULAR VEIN AND COMMON CAROTID ARTERIAL ANATOMY AS IT
AFFECTS THE IV INJECTION

7. NEEDLE PLACEMENT
 Placement of the needle into the vein should always be done with the bevel facing toward you
Correct bevel orientation decreases resistance to skin puncture.
•Incorrect bevel orientation can cause the bevel to rest flat against the wall of the vein, occluding the
lumen.

8. Alignment and Orientation

10. Correct Alignment and
Orientation

11. Intramuscular Injection
 Made directly into a major muscle mass with 18-20 ga needle that is 1”-1½” long

12. INTRA-MUSCULAR INJECTION SITES
 Base of the Neck:
 Buttocks Region:
 Pectoral Muscles:
 Top of the Rump:

13. Base of the Neck
 The base of the horse’s neck is an injection site favored by most veterinarians
 This site is a triangle defined by the nuchal ligaments
 The cervical vertebrae
 The point of the shoulder, and the scapula (shoulder blade).

15. Buttocks Region:
 Below the point of the horse’s buttocks is another large muscle mass (semitendinosis)
which is a good injection site
 .To find this injection site simply locate the bony protrusion which makes up the point
of the buttocks (tuber ischii). Drop about 1 inch below the tuber ischii and inject
anywhere in the large muscle mass along the back of the leg

18. Pectoral Muscles
 The pectoral muscles in the chest are another possible injection site.

19. Top of the Rump
 Many veterinarians use the top of the rump (gluteal muscles) as an injection site.
 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.

20. Injection Techniques
 There are a few basic rules
to follow no matter which
injection method you use.
 Insert the needle
perpendicular to the skin.
 Sink the needle all the
way to the hub .
 Always aspirate.
 Insert the needle quickly
and decisively.
 Be prepared for an
adverse drug reaction.
 Rotate injection sites.

21. HOW TO DISTRACT?
PINCH METHOD TAP & RUB METHOD

22. Subcutaneous Injections
 Beneath the skin, on top of the muscle layer

23. Ideal site for horses is side of the neck.With needles being
18-20 ga and 1”-1½”

24. INJECTION TECHNIQUE IN
CANINES

25. SAFTEY FIRST

26. PRECAUTIONS
 Maintain a proper and safe distance.
 Use muzzle tape.
 Wear gloves.
 Read the label.
 Make sure you use the sterile syringe &
needle.
 Choose appropriate needle size.
 Clean the injection site.
 Dispose off the syringes & needles properly.

27. Venipuncture
 Indications for venipuncture
 Restraint and Positioning
 Vein selection
 Site preparation
 Equipment

28. Forelimb:

29. contd:;

30. Lateral saphenous vein on the hind
limb can also be used:

31. Contd;

32. Contd;

33. Jugular Venipuncture

34. Contd;

35. Intra-muscular Injections
 Appropriate sites for intramuscular injection are
the quadriceps (muscle on the front of the
thigh), lumbodorsal muscles (muscles either side
of the lumbar spine) or the triceps muscle
(behind the humerus (arm bone) in the front leg).
The hamstrings (muscles at the back of the
thigh) should generally be avoided due to the
possibility of damage to the important sciatic
nerve that runs in this area.Volumes of injection
should not be more than 2-6 ml in dogs.

36. Different Intramuscular Injection
sites in dog:
The triceps muscle belly located caudal to
the humerus is one IM injection site. The left
thumb is placed on the humerus, isolating the
muscle belly in the left hand. The needle is
placed in the muscle belly. The plunger is
withdrawn to create negative pressure. If no
blood is aspirated, the injection is given, the
needle is withdrawn and the muscle belly is
massaged to facilitate dispersion of the
injected material.

37. Contd;
The quadriceps muscle is located anterior to
the femur. The left thumb is on the femur. The
needle is inserted at a right angle to the
muscle belly.

38. Contd;
When administering an injection into the
semimembranous/semitendinosis muscle
group, the tip of the needle should be
directed toward the caudal aspect of the limb
so if the patient moves, the needle will not
advance toward the sciatic nerve. Notice the
left hand is being used to isolate the muscle
group caudal to the femur.

39. Contd;
The dorsal lumbar muscles on either side of
the midline can be used for IM injections. With
left thumb feel the lumbar vertebrae and give
injection away from them.

40. Sub-cutaneous Injections
 For Sc (subcutaneous) injections, in general, use:
 An 18 or 20 gauge needle, 1 to 1.5 inches long.
 SC medications are deposited into the loose connective tissue just
below the dermis.
 This tissue is not richly supplied with blood vessels so the absorption
rate is slow.
 There are many pain receptors in this tissue so only non-irritating,
water-soluble medications in small doses should be given by the SC
route.

41. Placement of needle for Sub-Cut.
Injection

42. Complications from Injections
Irritation / Inflammation.
Allergic Reactions.
Nerve Damage

43. ALTERNATE SITE FOR INTRAVENOUS INFUSION- Cattle

44. ED
C
B
A
HOWTO
SECURE IV
LINE
IN LARGE
ANIMALS

45. SQ INJECTIONS