He’s fine with tubes of wormer or banamine in his mouth, so it seems to be a specific fear reaction. The previous owners probably used it for the farrier and clipping, so he must associate it with bad things.
I was going to try rubbing some vick’s vapor rub in his nostrils so he can’t smell it. Any other ideas?
Thanks!
Use the injectable instead?
I can’t do IV injections. My trainer who usually clips him is in Florida, and I would like to do at least a bib clip on him. That’s why i want to try the gel again.
Put a twitch on him and be done with it. There is a time and place for using a twitch. That’s why they are available and just about all vets have one with them. Or bring him here and I will inject him for you, lol. Buy me lunch and I’ll come there.
Dorm can go IM.
Find a way to associate this with a positive experience. Maybe start putting it towards his mouth and then giving him a reward (a treat would work best but a pat or a good boy would be okay too) keep practicing this with him, make sure to be very thorough and don’t rush or you’ll make it worse.
Since he he already has a negative association with this it will take a lot of time for him to learn that this can be associated with a happy and positive experince so be patient.
Save an empty dewormer tube or use a 60cc syringe with tip cut off.
See if using a “familiar, not scary” dosing device plus yummy applesauce in it will change his mind.
Practice several times with NO Dorm in dosing device, maybe finding something that he really likes and will gladly reach for the dosing device to get. Applesauce, fruit baby food, frosting from a can, whatever horse might like. When he is eager to get the dosing device, layer in the Dorm.
Put some applesauce/whatever in dose syringe, add the dose of Dorm gel, top off with applesauce/whatever.
Check with your vet about doing a trial dose of Dorm.
Sometimes we just have to out-think them.
Is this the same horse who was freaking out about bit checks? If so, he is probably still freaked out about mouth stuff and even though worming is fine, he hasn’t learned that all mouth stuff is ok. Keep working with him to associate people putting stuff in his mouth = good thing!
Yes you can give IM. Just maybe double check with your vet on dose.
Yes same horse. He doesn’t mind tubes in his mouth in general, just the dorm. But putting yummy stuff in a syringe is a good idea.
ETA: He was much better with his next bit check. I got off of him and talked to him while it was happening and he stayed pretty chill (for him).
Lol, I may do that Larry!
I forgot that dorm could be given IM–I use to do that years ago with another horse that had farrier issues. That should definitely be easier than trying the gel again. I’ll discuss with my vet.
Thanks guys!
You don’t want him to swallow the Dorm gel, it needs to be absorbed under the tongue. If it goes to the stomach, then it is absorbed there and immediately goes to the liver where it is broken down before it has a chance to do it’s job. This is called “hepatic first pass” and certain drugs are more affected this. Others, much less so, depends on their formulation. That is why it is a very good idea to use a 60cc catheter tip syringe to rinse out a horses mouth with water before administering it (and most other meds, so they also don’t spit it out). With your horse, who may not like the syringe, perhaps just make sure he’s been off any feed or nibbles prior to the Dorm.
Yes, I know, I am a neuropharmacologist:). That’s what happened last time is that in the struggle he ended up swallowing most of it. But I think I am going to pass on the oral dosing next time, and try IM.
Thanks!
NEUROPHARMACOLOGIST. Wow! That’s fun to say! 
I wonder, too, if he’s resistant to the oral because of the under tongue administration. It’s got to be hard to do that without jabbing the sensitive tissue under there, and even if you’re not nailing him, he probably got poked in the past.
IM is just so much easier!
kcmel…Now that I know your prof status, I certainly will defer to you!!! Your neuropharm definitely outranks RN. 
Well, I used to teach that stuff to medical students, but now I’m in the drug development field. I’m trying to forget that stage of my career lol!
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