How to Give a Dog a Vitamin Shot

Some dogs require regular vitamins that must be given via injection. Rather than having your veterinarian do the injection, you can give your dog the shot yourself. This saves time and money, and it may be less stressful on the dog to receive a shot at home rather than making regular trips to the vet clinic. Calm dogs may not require an assistant, but if the dog is nervous, you may want to have someone help you out.

Things You'll Need

  • Needle
  • Syringe
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Cotton ball or gauze
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Instructions

    • 1

      Read the instructions that come with the vitamin injection. Some vitamins have recommended injection sites or methods. Discuss potential injection sites with your veterinarian.

    • 2

      Use a sterile syringe and needle for each injection. Do not reuse equipment. Draw the vitamin solution by piercing the rubber top with the needle, then inverting the bottle and drawing out a little more than the recommended dose by pulling on the plunger.

    • 3

      Turn the bottle right side up, then extract the syringe. Hold the syringe needle up, then expel any air in the needle by pressing on the plunger.

    • 4

      Part the hair at the injection site and swab the skin with a cotton ball or gauze dipped in rubbing alcohol. Allow the skin to dry before giving the injection.

    • 5

      Insert the needle in all the way at a 90-degree angle. Depress the plunger smoothly, then withdraw the needle in the same direction it went in.