NEEDLES AND SYRINGES

Needles

Needles are sized by gauge and commonly range from the small 25 gauge to the much larger 16 gauge for use with goats. The higher the number (gauge), the smaller the diameter of the needle and therefore the puncture it makes in the goat.

Needle gauge (size) to be used depends upon the thickness of the liquid being pushed through and into the goat. Most goat injections should be given using a 22 gauge x 3/4 inch needle. Thick liquids, such as oxytetracycline 200 mg/ml (LA 200 or equivalent), penicillin, Excenel RTU, and Nuflor, should be drawn from the bottle and injected with an 18-gauge needle. Pushing thick liquid medication through a small diameter needle is painful to the goat.

Oral dosing of thick dewormers such as 1% injectable Ivermectin should be drawn into a syringe with an 18 gauge needle, the needle removed, and the syringe placed in the goat's mouth. A 25-gauge needle must be used to inject Formalin into a Caseous Lymphadenitis abscess. Aspiration (withdrawal) of the contents of any abscess should be done with a 16-gauge or 18-gauge needle.

Buy the best needles available. Very sharp needles cause less discomfort to the goat. Monoject is a quality brand of needle. Plastic-hub needles are preferable over aluminum-hub needles, particularly if the producer is planning to sterilize them for re-use. Needles are inexpensive. Do not scrimp on needle quality.

Syringes

Luer-slip and Luer-lock are two different styles of syringes. The names describe how the needle attaches to the syringe. On a Luer-slip syringe, the needle slips on, while on a Luer-lock syringe, the needle twists on and *locks.* A Luer-slip syringe is used with most medications, but a Luer-lock syringe is needed to hold the needle securely in place when injecting thick medications, when injecting Formalin into a CL abscess, and when aspirating (withdrawing with a needle) the contents of an abscess.

Syringes most often used with goats are available in Luer-slip and Luer-lock styles and are sized as follows: 1 cc (often called a tuberculin syringe, it is broken down into tenths of a cc and is good for accurate dosing of very young kids), 3 cc (the most commonly-used size for goats), 6 cc, 12 cc, 30 cc, and 60 cc. The producer should have a supply of 1 cc, 3 cc, 6 cc, 12 cc, 30cc, and 60 cc syringes in both Luer slip and Luer lock styles. The 30 cc and 60 cc syringes should also be purchased in flared-tip style for use with stomach feeding tubes. Monoject produces quality syringes.

If the producer plans to clean and re-use needles and syringes. store them prior to sterilization by separating the syringe and the plunger and putting them in a jar of clean water (alcohol will destroy the rubber plunger tip); store used needles and needle caps in a jar of 70% isopropyl alcohol. Needles and syringes can be boiled in water for approximately 15 minutes, then allowed to thoroughly dry before storing for re-use. This procedure is helpful to very large producers. Small producers are advised to follow single-use directions and then properly dispose of them according to the laws of your state, county, or municipality.

The author, Suzanne Gasparotto, hereby grants to local goat publications and club newsletters, permission to reprint articles published on the Onion Creek Ranch website under these conditions: THE ARTICLE MUST BE REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THE AUTHOR'S NAME, ADDRESS, AND CONTACT INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REPRINT. We would appreciate notification from any clubs or publications when the articles are used. (A copy of the newsletter or publication would also be a welcome addition to our growing library of goat related information!)

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