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Chest sagging after needle: Should I be worried?

2K views 7 replies 6 participants last post by  mbender 
#1 ·
I recently had to give my horse a course of antibotics via needle. I was switching between either side of his neck and either side of his chest. He took the needles fine but recently I found that one side of his chest, were he was given a needle maybe two days ago, has began to sag down. I'm not sure what has happened, as far as I know the needle was given correctly. Should I be worried?

I can get pictures if anyone would like.
 
#4 ·
Does the area seem painful? Is it hot, was it swollen at all? "sagging" to me might imply that it was swollen at one point and went down very quickly, but the skin stayed stretched. Worse case scenario is that you quicked a nerve and the muscle needs a chance to go back to normal, or he is developing gangrene in that area (but usually the latter would result in major swelling and then peeling of the dead layers).
 
#5 ·
It's not bothering him at all. I mean, I was fiddling with it today and he didn't even flinch. That's why I'm not to worried, I just thought it was a bit sensetive and would be fine after a couple of days.

I'll try and get some pictures tommorow for you guys so you can see it.
 
#6 ·
We used to have to give a cat IV fluids, and he would almost always develop a "pouch" of fluid- it was just that his body couldn't absorb as much fluid as we were putting into him at one time, and so it would sit under the skin until the body could absorb it. Could this maybe be whats happening? (the cat was in kidney failure, btw, and the fluid helped to keep him hydrated, so he was comfortable until he passed)
 
#7 ·
Never give IM shots in the chest area. It is a bad area and very prone to getting abscesses and large swellings. They go away. Exercise helps.

IM shots should be given in the side of the neck or the back of the upper hind leg -- never in the top of the rump (cannot drain should you get a reaction or infection) or the chest.
 
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