How to prepare and inject a dog vaccine
There are many costs in caring for a dog's health. Simple medical concerns can quickly add up to a hefty veterinary bill. Many people try to minimize the cost of caring for a dog by giving annual vaccinations themselves. If performed properly, at-home vaccinations provide the same protection as those administered by a veterinarian.
Instructions
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1
Draw back a small amount of air into the syringe equal to the approximate volume of the vaccine. Most vaccines are 1 milliliter in volume.
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2
Insert the needle into the vial containing liquid and inject the air. Invert the vial and draw out all of the liquid into the syringe by pulling out the plunger.
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3
If a second vial is present, inject the liquid into the vial and mix to dissolve the powder. Place the needle into the vial with the mixture and draw out the resulting solution.
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4
Tap the side of the syringe to dislodge any air bubbles that may be present. Press gently on the base of the syringe to push out all the air.
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5
Lift the skin on your dog's back, creating a small pocket in the skin. Firmly and quickly insert the needle into the pocket.
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Pull back on the syringe slightly. If no blood is present quickly inject the vaccine and remove the needle. If blood is present you may have placed the needle into a blood vessel. Quickly pull out the needle and select another location.
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Tips & Warnings
The method described is for subcutaneous (under the skin) vaccines. Some vaccines need to be given intramuscularly (into the muscle) and involve a slightly different process. Check the documentation that came with the vaccine to determine the recommended delivery method.
Keep the vaccine refrigerated until it is ready for use.
Retain the sticker from the bottle for proof of vaccination and to document the date it was given.
Rabies vaccines must be administered by a licensed veterinarian to be considered valid.
References
- Photo Credit dog image by Krzysztof Gebarowski from Fotolia.com
