How To's
6
How To Give a Goat a Shot
Learning how to properly give your goats shots is something that every goat owner should know. It will save you a lot of money and worry.
Start with clean hands, sterile equipment, and the correct medication in the correct dosage. Secure the goat. Clean the injection site with alcohol.
Subcutaneous (SQ)
Pull up a bit of skin right behind the shoulder to make a "tent." Gently insert the needle at a 45 degree angle making sure that it hasn't gone through the other side. Push the plunger down completely. Rub the area a little and give the goat a treat.
Intramuscular (IM)
Insert the needle into the muscle at a 90 degree angle being careful not to hit bone. (The most common places are the sides of the neck or thigh. Withdraw the plunger slightly to make sure you have not hit a vein or vessle. If you see blood in the syringe, pull the needle out and start over. Depress the plunger slowly and withdraw the needle.
Rub the area gently.
When giving IM shots, be careful not to hit the sciatic nerve. If you hit it or inject an irritating agent near it, you may cause permanent paralysis.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
If a goat unexpectedly collapses or goes into shock after an injection, administer epinephrine immediately (the dose is 0.5 - 1.0 cc per 100 pounds), and call your vet immediately.
Never use the same needle or syringe for different medications or different goats. Mixing medications can make them less effective or cause an unexpected chemical reaction.
Sharing needles may spread diseases from one goat to another, and can cause infection.
For a demonstration of how it's done, click on the video link above.