Posted 2010-05-17 7:01 PM (#120293) Subject: Vet cannot draw Blood
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Florida
Our APPY decided the vet was not going to draw blood this year.
After we figured we couldn't even get a twitch on him, she left us with 1cc of a tranq. We hit him in the rump an hour before she came back a few days later and it barely effected him. So she left us 1.5CC to try a third time this Sat.
We generally have to use the 1cc for floating but this is a new trick.
Posted 2010-05-17 11:15 PM (#120298 - in reply to #120293) Subject: RE: Vet cannot draw Blood
Location: KY
Can't they be little hellish children when they so choose. I have had some luck with giving shots by first filling the mouth up with wormer. One of our geldings is super ticklish and we had to put him in the stocks at the vet's, cross tie him and Bill held onto to his lead rope in order to draw his blood and give him his shots this year. So you have my sympathy.
Posted 2010-05-18 12:27 PM (#120316 - in reply to #120293) Subject: RE: Vet cannot draw Blood
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
Personally I dont think I would administer a tranq just to draw blood. Seems a bit radical for a vet, and I am surprised they left it like that. If that was the route they suggested, why not them administer it and wait a bit rather than keep driving back. They could always administer more if needed. It works alot slower in the muscle though., and of course you get charged for more visits. I have a stud horse that is needle shy. Cant get a twitch on him either, but I can get a lip chain on him and that works well. Why dont you just try that as a restraint method. Another thing if you have a slant trailer you can load them, turn them around, shut the slant and use it like a set of stocks. Snug their head up with the lead rope and you have them. I have also used a "body twitch" by taking both hands and taking up a roll of skin on the shoulder and pulling it up and holding it tightly as a distractiion while the blood is drawn. Sometimes a blindfold can work.
Posted 2010-05-18 4:45 PM (#120322 - in reply to #120293) Subject: RE: Vet cannot draw Blood
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Florida
Thanks for the advise we thought of the trailer idea, but he is so good at loading and unloading we didn't want to mess that up.
The vet is not charging for the return visits or the additional tranqs. (she is as frustrated as we are). And no I will not be switching vets (I will get rid of the horse first).
We tried a blind fold but will try that again.
It seems to be more the presence of the Vet than anything. He is not a new people person. But go figure he is great for the farrier.
I was wondering why we just didn't give more tranq the other night. I will ask on the next visit. Maybe there is a medical reason.
I foresee a tranq and twitch of some sort coming his way all at once Sat. I imagine the trang will get us to the twitch and the twitch will get he blood drawn.
Posted 2010-05-18 6:30 PM (#120323 - in reply to #120293) Subject: RE: Vet cannot draw Blood
Location: KY
You all are probably already doing this, but I would reduce his feed to hay only for a few days before the vet visit. And maybe even give him a bunch of vitamin B1 too. Good luck with your horse.
Posted 2010-05-18 8:50 PM (#120330 - in reply to #120293) Subject: RE: Vet cannot draw Blood
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Iowa
I don't even use a twitch anymore. I have a plastic clamp, spring loaded, like woodworkers use. Just put it on the side of their lip behind the nostril, but before the corner of the mouth. Upper lip only. Works like a charm. It's fast and easy. It's difficult for them to strike when you are standing on the side, instead of in front trying to grab the end of their nose.
Posted 2010-05-18 9:31 PM (#120332 - in reply to #120293) Subject: RE: Vet cannot draw Blood
Veteran
Posts: 186
30 some years ago When I was in high school my friend had a wonderful calm QH mare that would start going nutz when the vet got a mile form the barn, my friend would have to draw the blood for coggins, the vet would watch from a crack in the door.
Posted 2010-05-19 10:18 AM (#120351 - in reply to #120293) Subject: RE: Vet cannot draw Blood
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 391 Location: Columbia, KY
I feel your frustration... one of my horses is fine for everything else but freaks out with injections/blood draws. Sounds like you've done the blindfold thing but this is how we do it and it may work better for you. We put a halter on him, put him in the stall, then place a towel over both eyes and most of the head and tuck it under the halter. sometimes he'll panic and hit his head on the wall but quickly stops and stands still. then we give him a food reward and while doing that give the injection or take blood. by then he is standing very still. then give more treats and remove the blindfold.
Posted 2010-05-20 9:35 PM (#120407 - in reply to #120293) Subject: RE: Vet cannot draw Blood
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: MS
If this is a horse you are keeping, I would do everything I could to keep from using a twitch. They will remember and next time it will be even harder.
If it is the sight of the vet, you will have a problem, but what I did with my mare that was a terror to give shots and pull blood was work quickly and with assurance. Go in first and get the horse if the vet will let you. Put your hand behind the horses eye on the side the vet is working on. Act like everything is totally normal. If you can, massage the horses ear on the tip. That is very soothing to most and releases endorphins. Keep up a distraction, maybe pinch the horse on the neck or the nostril. As soon as it is over, if you accomplish your goal, give the horse a treat.
I wish you luck...this worked on my Paint that would rear or whatever she had to do to get out of getting stuck!
Posted 2010-05-22 8:06 PM (#120467 - in reply to #120293) Subject: RE: Vet cannot draw Blood
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Florida
We got it and the only one that hurt was me. But first....
I hit him with the tranq 1.5cc began with a d..
The vet showed up 45 minutes later (no effect)
He was loaded for bear you might say when he saw her.
So we put him on his trailer and gave him another injection of the tranq that begins with D and a mix of what sounded like Tobygesic.
Got him off the trailer and in his stall. 45 minutes a lower head but really nothing.
SO I mentioned Sinful's idea with the work clamp on the lip. The vet said go get it. I had a little tiny one and a regular size one. 1st we put the tiny one on his nose. took a minute to calm. Then we snapped the larger on on his lip. even better results.
But while trying to get the blood he pulled away and I got rope burned and raked against a fence post (feel bad for me I have bandaides on my knukles ).
My wife stepped in about time I said while applyng bandaides. (he still had his clips on) She chained his lip and the vet was able to get her twitch on him.
In a sec we had the blood! He was released and fine.
Vet cannot draw Blood
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