How to Give a Horse an IM Shot

It is common for horse owners to have to give their animals a shot at one time or another. It is a lot cheaper to do it yourself than to have a vet do the job, and it can be less stressful for your horse, as it knows and trusts you. IM, or intramuscular, shots are the most common type of horse injection. An IM injection is one that is given deep into your horse's muscle. Your vet will normally prescribe the drugs your horse requires and the items you need to administer them.

Things You'll Need

  • Sterile needle and syringe
  • Alcohol wipe
  • Halter
  • Lead rope
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Instructions

    • 1

      Tie your horse securely using the halter and lead rope. You can also have someone hold your horse for you, if you think this would help to calm or distract the animal.

    • 2

      Identify the area in which you are going to inject your horse. There are three areas where you can give the shot: the base of the neck, the buttocks or the pectoral muscles on the chest.

    • 3

      Clean the injection area with the alcohol wipe to prepare it for the shot.

    • 4

      Draw the medication into the syringe by sticking the needle attached to the syringe through the foil at the top of the drug vial and pulling back the plunger until you have the required amount in the syringe.

    • 5

      Insert the needle quickly and firmly into the horse's skin. This will cause the least discomfort. The needle should be at a right angle to the horse's skin, not slanted.

    • 6

      Pull back the plunger slightly to make sure you haven't gone into a blood vessel. If blood comes into the syringe when you pull back the plunger, it means that you are in a blood vessel. Remove the needle and try again with a new sterile needle.

    • 7

      Push down the plunger slowly to administer the drug. Remove the needle from your horse.