Seven cats successfully vaccinated, four to go.

[Lyric]

I haven't had the courage to do the dog yet. The needle and syringe that came with his vaccine are larger, and I'm terrified of hurting my baby. :(

It was really easy to do the cats, though. I found a video of a vet tech showing exactly how to do it, so that helped a lot. By the time I did the last time, I had the whole system down pat--use a fresh needle and syringe to transfer the pink liquid feline leukemia vaccine into the powdered multi-vaccine vial, gently mix until everything is dissolved together, pull the mixed vaccine liquid back up into the syringe, hold the cat, tent the neck skin, a quick jab into the "pocket" of the skin tent, a push, and then release. Then dispose of vials, syringe, needle, and wrappers, and move on the the next cat. No sweat. All of my indoor cats were totally bored with it, like they didn't notice anything at all. The couple of strays we coaxed inside and vaccinated were more upset about being held still than about being poked.

We still have four more strays to catch, but all of our permanent cats are now vaccinated. Now I just have to face doing the dog. Poor Toby. It's a 3/4 inch needle for him, and I'm just going to die if he yelps or cries. That's my sweet puppysaurus rex. :(

[Guava Jelly]

1. Bless your heart green eyes for helping the stray kitty cats

:) :hi:

[Lyric]

2. At the moment, I am wishing that flvegan lived closer.

I would beg him and bribe him with vegan goodies if he'd just come give my baby his shot. Sticking a needle in Toby is gonna be like sticking a needle in LyricKid. And his needle is so darned big compared to the kitty needles! I wonder if the 5/8 inch cat needle would work for a big dog? Hmmm.

:hug:

[LeftyMom]

3. Good job.

:hug:

As far as Toby goes, don't get yourself nervous about it. If you think about it, assuming he's a decent sized dog, there needle is likely quite a bit smaller compared to his overall size than it is for the cats. If you feel bad for having to do it, give him a treat or a special meal afterward, not so much to soothe his hurt feelings, but so you'll feel better.

[Lyric]

5. I guess I'm just a wimp when it comes to him.

Two years ago, we were playing Fetch The Ball and he tore one of his nails on a rock while running to get the ball. He didn't even seem to notice, but I saw the blood and freaked. the. fuck. out. I put styptic powder on it and just cried and cried and cried. It wasn't even that bad! But still, I felt actual, physical *pain* just looking at it. Ugh.

Someday, years and years from now (god I hope,) Toby will pass away. I will be a complete and utter wreck of a human being when that day comes, and probably for years afterward.

:hug:

[leftyclimber]

4. I admire you so much.

Thank you for being such a caring human being toward our furry fellow travelers.

Toby will be fine, although he might be a little disappointed in you for a bit. ;) :hug:

:yourock:

[Lyric]

6. Hehe. Hey leftyclimber....

Ever given a shot to a dog?

:D

[leftyclimber]

8. No, but I've given subcutaneous fluids to a lot of ferrets

and that's a big-ass needle. Way bigger than a dog vaccine needle. I'll give him the shot if you'd prefer to take a pass. ;)

Mr leftyclimber's vaccinated livestock, so he could either administer or supervise, for that matter....

[Lyric]

10. Are you serious? OMG.

Yes, yes, YES. If you two have experience, I would TOTALLY take you up on it. We have everything here already. What day might the two of you wonderful, awesome people be free?

[leftyclimber]

11. As a heart attack.

We could wander over tonight if you'd like.

Mr leftyclimber has to pick up (oh, dear, this is going to be confusing) Mr leftyclimber Jr. tomorrow night and I'll be working Saturday, but we're not doing anything at ALL tonight except drinking ginger ale and puttering around....

[Lyric]

12. Give me an hour and a half to straighten up and get dressed, k?

We're all sitting here half-clothed, and the house is a wreck, because we've all been too busy with GH to bother with stuff like housecleaning. Ordinarily I wouldn't care, but we're gonna have to have some extra room, because Toby will inevitably go WOOEXCITEDBALLISTIC when you two get here, and he'll tornado around in circles like a crazy dog, and obviously we can't crate him this time--at least not at first.

Is that too late? If so, I understand. If not, see you around 10:00? Also, be careful--the roads are all clear, save for down here in our "corner," which is awful.

:hug:

[leftyclimber]

14. Mr leftyclimber has to work tomorrow (5 AM alarm)

and Sunday is dedicated to returning Mr leftyclimber Jr (leftystepson?) to Ohio.

Would Monday work?

[hippywife]

7. When the vet gave our dogs their shots

he did pretty much the same thing as you did with the cats. They never even registered they felt a thing. It'll be okay and think about how you are doing something to prolong his life.

Love you new names! :hi:

[Lyric]

9. Thank you!

And that's a comforting thought. I mean, he never seems to mind his rabies shots, right? So this should be a piece of cake.

:scared:

I feel like an idiot putting it off, really. I Googled to see if the cat-sized needles would work for him, but apparently it's not a good idea. Dogs have thicker skin, and need thicker, longer needles. *sigh*

[hippywife]

13. See, now that

could have caused a real problem for him and then you would have felt terrible.

You can do it, babe! :hug:

[Arugula Latte]

15. I used to give my horse shots.

Right in the rump. And horses have big rumps, so it was easy.

Thanks for helping the kitties! :hi:

[Lyric]

16. Update: Leftyclimber and Mrleftyclimber just left.

Mission accomplished--one dog, duly vaccinated. He didn't even seem to notice when Mrleftyclimber poked him, lol.

THANK YOU leftyclimber and Mr!!!!

:hug:
:loveya:

[Kali]

17. just like kids they will pick up on YOUR fear of what you are doing

otherwise it is nothing to them. Have confidence and try to keep in mind that it is really nothing to them. practice all the motions except the stick and it will be a piece of cake.

You should see the size of needles and syringes I use on calves!


edit: note to self - read the thread first