Painful  Injection Tips

            A few days ago, I posted a letter on the list about my dog, Casey feeling the needle
            lately and asking help from other members.  Just wanted everyone to know that
            things are going a lot better around here at shot time.  I received so much help and
            great advice from members on this list and I want to share it with anyone else that
            might be experiencing problems at shot time.  The following are some of the
            suggestions I received:

            1.  Do not use alcohol swab before injection...could sting and actually drag
                 bacteria into the skin.

            2.  Vary the injection spot...instead of concentrating on shoulder and scruff area,
                 try the sides or hip area.

            3.  Relax by spending some time petting or massaging him before
                 injecting.

            4.  A few times every day, pinch and pull up the skin so he won't always see
                 it as a warning that the needle is coming.

            5.  Associate injection with something positive...like when he is eating....or
                 give him a treat afterwards.

            6.  Make sure the contents of the syringe are not cold.

            7.  Hold the syringe flat, parallel to his body.

            8.  Try injecting the needle with the bevel side up.

            9.  Try putting the needle up to the body and touching different spots without
                 totally injecting and see if you can find a less sensitive area to inject at.

           10.  Stay calm in order to keep your pet calm and remember that even though
                  we hate to cause our companions any discomfort or stress that we are
                  protecting them from this disease.

more ideas at bottom

            I also had my vet check him out...his conclusion was that the area has just
            gotten tender in the four months...to try the hip area...and to leave off the
            alcohol swab.  So far, the hip area...and above the tail has been working and
            he doesn't even flinch...and we both have calmed down.
 

Carol & Casey

11. Check your needle size this is very important ...  the higher the guage the thinner the needle. Make sure you are using over a 29 guage needle. Some can also get away with a shorter needle but with Queenie I had to use a 1/2 inch length because of her body fat.  Now also some needles are easier to use for each individual person. I always liked monoject for injecting but most people prefer B & D
 
 
 

12. Do NOT reuse needles. Here is a picture that B&D put out showing how a disposable needle looks after multiple uses. Newer thinner, more comfortable needles are being designed and manufactured. Needles are described according to length and gauge. Gauge refers to the width of the needle. The higher the gauge-number the thinner the needle so a 31 gauge needle is thinner than a 25 gauge needle. To make the width of the needle smaller, the wall of the needle had to become thinner too. The thinner walls are strong enough for single use but not for repeated use. These fine needles that make for a more comfortable injection are easily damaged with repeated use. See the picture!

13. You do NOT need to pull back on the needle to check for blood before injecting.

I do know a lady that had to muzzle her dog for shots and unfortunately that never changed but as Rhonda said for something that had to be done twice a day and only lasted a couple minutes it was well worth keeping her Missy with her. Queenie never even turned around when injected (most of the time sometimes I hit a sensitive area and would immediately try somewhere else)

Where are you currently giving the shots??? Did you try above the tail area over the back?
It was a less tender spot for Queen.

Take care and hug your furbaby today.

 P.S.Blackie thanks you for the info-he especially likes the part  where you tell us to pet them first and also where you say to give the shot while eating or with a treat.Yummy.Makes his shots not so bad.I actually think he looks forward to them.He waits for them and expects a treat afterwards,which makes it easy.
From Cathy & Blackie

It gives an audible click when you push the button to inject. You can de-sensitize her by practicing - tell her in a happy tone "shot time" and put the empty tool on the tented skin and click it.  Give her a treat and
she should figure out quickly that it doesn't hurt and the click means a treat.  You inject into the tent just the same as with the plain syringe. We also tried force and a muzzle and that made him even more scared and determined to resist.  Plenty of reassuring and treats convinced him it was really OK.

Good luck, I know that the inject-ease saved Peter's life.
Jeanie & Peter (dd dx 11/01)

Many thanks to the people on the list who had discussed the inject-ease in the past.  I was very glad to know it existed when I needed it.   Maybe a link or some info on Judy's website could help others find out about it.
Here is a shorter address, and a search there on inject-ease will bring up more info about it.
http://www.bddiabetes.com/us/main.aspx?cat=2&id=421
Jeanie

BD™ INJECT-EASE® Automatic Injector

Designed specifically for the person who fears needles or has difficulty reaching some injection sites, the BD™ INJECT-EASE® Automatic Injector holds and conceals a filled insulin syringe. The needle is inserted into the skin at the touch of a button.

The BD™ Automatic Injector is made for use with the BD Micro-Fine™ IV and BD  Ultra-Fine™ 1 cc, 1/2 cc and 3/10 cc insulin syringes. 

When this device is used with a 3/10 cc syringe, the needle length is reduced from 1/2" to 3/8". People should consult with their doctor before deciding to use this device with a 3/10 cc syringe. 

The BD™ Automatic Injector holds a filled syringe and inserts the needle into the skin at the touch of a button. 

You still need to press down on the syringe plunger to inject the insulin. 

Complete directions are available through BD Consumer Services Department (888-232-2737).

The BD™ Automatic Injector can be purchased at any pharmacy. If the product is not on the shelf, it can be ordered by the pharmacist. The price of the injector will vary from pharmacy to pharmacy.

BD Catalog # 328245 
NDC/HRI #  08290-3282-45

Another Injector has been brought to my attention

Pet Injection  
 
Inject-EaseTM: Pet Injections Made Easy 
Re-usable device that makes pet subcutaneous injections easy. Simply place a loaded
syringe in the Inject-Ease, place the tip against the skin, and press the button to automatically deliver the needle through the skin.

You control the rate at which the medicine is injected.
  
 
 
 
   Usable with subcutaneous injection treaments, including diabetes and other conditions 
   Special tip & technique- helps reduce the pain by masking the needle puncture 
   One button use provides aid to the pet owner with limited dexterity and coordination 
   One press of the button inserts the needle through the skin automatically and easily 
   Allows use of different size insulin syringes-works with 30, 50, or 100 unit syringes 
   Spacer rings allow to vary the injection depth 
   Quiet so it does not startle the pet 
   Easy to practice injection technique to increase confidence 
   Stabilizes the device on the skin to reduce early withdrawal and loss of fluid 
   Affordable with 2 year warranty 
   Part# IE400V 
 
A link to their website and how to purchase Inject-Ease

 http://www.ambivetproducts.com/Inject-Ease.htm 
 

 This page was updated on June 3, 2012