What is a good technique for giving an injection?
Chum is doing great. She's still a bit lame and shaky in her front left paw but her enthusiasm and energy are unbelievable -- even better than before this all happened. I'll have to take some pictures. She is so bright-eyed and smiley!  Thank goodness she started showing signs of recovery or else it might have been bye-bye leggie! 
Actually, I had been leaning against the surgery due to the pain and weakness in her hips. I wasn't sure she should be forced to rely on one good front leg and two weak back legs. Hopefully the adequan will help with that. I just gave her the first injection today. She was surprised by the jab and spun about before I could press the plunger but the second attempt went fine. Does anyone know if it is better to jab quick or slow? With a subQ injection, I found it was better to go fast. I am not sure if the same is true for an intramuscular injection. . . |
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| I had to give myself allergy shots and I always preferred the slow method to a quick jab, but that's just me. (and I'm a person) |
| Medium speed unless you have really good motor control, then it's either way, patient's preference.
really good motor control means for fast you aren't jabbing sideways or too deeply, and for slow means you aren't wiggling a lot on the way in. Didn't I say that like I know? I don't. lol This was just from the patient's perspective.
Actually, I prefer it when the injection giver pinches up the skin a few times the plunks it in, injects then gets the heck out. But that's just me. The last flu shot I got (a number of years ago) I didn't even feel it at all. Good luck! |
| Thanks for the input! That's very helpful. The needles are short (maybe an inch long) so they said I couldn't go in too deep. I will try to go slower and avoid wiggling. I think I would need three hands to pinch her but maybe I can figure out a way to do it.
Seems very odd that something injected into the muscles could help restore joint cartilege. |
| I'm totally with Ron on this one. I got allergy shots for 15 YEARS (still have horrible allergies). I like the pinch and stick me as fast as you can. When they gave it slow, I felt a burning sensation when the serum went in. That is the time I usually got a bump too. OUCH! |
| Did I mention I had blood drawn a week ago last Monday?
The phlebotomist kept digging around inside, the flow kept shutting down, they needed 5 or 6 tubes... it was a little painful but not terrible. I expected a huge bruise, but all I got was a good lump that lasted two days and it was a little tender. I guess my blood didn't even flow out under my skin! Too much cholesterol in my diet I guess, when drawing blood is like sucking mashed potatoes through a straw.  |
As a nurse giving shots for over 20 years I have OFTEN been told I give the best shot around.  My technique is to pinch a BIG WAD of surrounding tissue (skin if sub q, muscle if intra muscular) the pinching of the tissue is a distraction from the actual shot. THEN give the shot with a very FAST JAB. Injection speed depends on what is being injected. Some things burn and are better injected slowly, if they don't burn inject quickly and withdraw the needle quickly. THEN, with the alcohol wipe that you have swabbed the skin with press down on the injection site (don't rub).
VIOLA shot given |
| I think pinch and jab is better personally.... |
| Take the old syringe and practice with water and an orange that you will not be eating. My mom had me practice this before I started nursing school. It helps you become comfortable handling the syringe one handed.
Like Tasker's Mom said, the speed of delivery depends on the thickness of the medication. Quick in and out is best. |
| I only have experience with sub-q injections. I have Darby or Panda lie down on the bed and Jim scratches their ears. A lab tech showed me how to make a "tent" http://www.pomeroys.com/EmmaDarby/MakeATent.jpg and wipe it with an alcohol cottonball. I then inject into this center of this raised area. I do more of a medium-fast jab that is controlled; once in, I pull back gently on the plunger to make sure I'm not in a vein; then administer the dose of serum (1.0ml).
I don't like giving shots but I've gotta do it... should probably practice with an orange so I can be quicker at it. I'm always afraid I'll inject into a vein... in the past year I've entered a vein once and had to reposition the needle before plunging. If you're injecting into a muscle, do you still pull back to look for blood? I believe in giving them a super reward after their shots. The ding-a-lings look forward to getting a shot because they get a few minutes with a rawhide chew. And Darby pouts if it's not her shot day so she's adapted well over the past year. Panda takes it all in stride too though she's more wiggly. Jaci |
| Thanks everyone!
I'm comfortable with needles because I had to give my cat subQs daily for 18 months but going into muscle feels different than going into a skin tent. Because these shots were attached to an IV fluid bag, there was no way to pull back to check for blood but luckily I only caused him to bleed twice. I will try pinch, stab, press, and reward.  |
| MO gets Adequan shots. Fortunately she has major muscles in her rear legs........her arthritis is up front. So finding a big muscle is easy even on this tiny sheepdog. We go to the rear of the steer, grasp the upper leg the flex up the muscle using our thumb to find the right spot. Only once has she told us she felt something.
susan |
| Today was much better. I am not even sure Chummie noticed. Thanks so much for the advice. It really helped. |
| OK I think I've got it down! The pinch with slow delivery is working really well. Chum barely flinches. I am relieved to be able to do it.
Thanks for the tips. |
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| As a nurse too, I was going to add my input, but as I kept reading posts, I see you have it under control! I give tons of IM and subcut shots - I work on the floor of an ortho/neuro/trauma unit - for 18 years!
I do the quick jab, slower injection, quick remove the needle. Most people say they didn't feel it. I tell them having lots of practice pays off! I do our animal vaccinations too - I'm sure they benefit from my expertise too - although I've never gotten any feedback from the sheep! |
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