One horse I care for won’t eat anything…I’ve used a variety of dose syringes. While in Kroger, I stumbled across a Flavor Injector made by OXO Softworks in the kitchen gadget section. It has a large, easy grip handle and a larger hole for the product to be squirted into the horse’s mouth. I used it for Vermont Blend Pro last night and it worked beautifully. I feel like I won the lottery so thought I’d share. I hope this helps someone else.
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Did you leave the metal straw on the end?
No…it came w two different size needles for injecting flavoring. I did not use those… just the barrel/syringe. I threw the needles away.
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The timing on this is fantastic - my one horse needs his ulcer treatments and is being decidedly TOO SMART about me hiding them in treats/grain/whatever.
Hopefully Amazon has it!
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I think I can cut the nozzle (where the needle attaches) off, too, to make the hole slightly larger. I’m going to get another one first, so I have a backup in case I wreck it.
I discovered these last Summer when I had to syringe 60 days of SMZs. I used the 50mL, and you can get 60mL barrels to swap out too. The metal tip is really nice, with the rounded end, and curved, it makes it very easy to put that into the back of the cheek without rough edges or real hand contortions
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Those drenching guns are really handy to have around. We use them on my goats for deworming. I never thought about the horses but I haven’t needed to give any meds to them.
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I tried those, too, but they didn’t work well for products like Vermont Blend Pro which don’t dissolve completely.
I was wondering about that for the drench guns. I have some thicker, chunkier meds (okay it’s Abler granules in applesauce) that need a wide nozzle. A wormer tube works best but I don’t have one laying around.
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I have the same ones for my goats. They work great!
I know I’m fussing a bit here and trying not to be too Virgo here but, how much product gets left behind in the metal tip?
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For my goats, I just syringe a follow-up of applesauce/water slurry and that gets any stuck in the tip into them.
Plus it makes them forget that I almost tried to kill them with meds.
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If this is a serious concern, capping the payload of drug with something like molasses or frosting covers it. I do that often when pasting meds–ending the experience with something tasty keeps them from being too cranky with me for shoving meds into them!
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Can you fit the entire 1/4c dose of VPB in the syringe with some sort of flavor additive? I’m very intrigued for one of my fussy ones, but I’m not sure I’d ever be able to catch him again if I try this.
1/4 cup = 60 cc, so doubtful the entire dose + something to thin it and make it tasty will fit in a 60 cc dosing syringe. You could split the dose if you wanted to try, though?
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That’s what I was thinking. My concern is that if I get the first half down him, I’ll never catch him for the second dose! But maybe he’ll eat his bucket faster if I get 3 tbsp down him in the syringe, and the last tbsp in his bucket. Possibly worth a try I suppose.
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@barnesthenoble, I split it into two doses. I’ve been using a bit of apple juice without added sugar to make it tasty. He doesn’t protest at all. I discovered spraying the edge of the plunger w Pam helps keep the Vermont Blend Pro gritty material from causing a “drag” and the plunger works more smoothly.
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Thanks for the tip! I went ahead and ordered it, we’ll see how it goes. Worst case scenario I’m out $17 and have a good syringe for meds.
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