Very Common
OTHER DIAGNOSES CONSIDERED
Other conditions or ailments that might also need to be ruled out by a vet.
Diagnosis
Conditions or ailments that are the cause of a problem that you see - your observation.
Your vet may diagnose
Intra-Muscular Injection Site Reaction
Summary
Intra-muscular injection of any medication causes some degree of inflammation. In some cases, that can be severe and cause visible swelling and pain.
Some medications are considered more irritating to the tissues and more likely to cause injection site problems. The incidence is also related to the injection technique used. Rarely, severe and life threatening bacterial infection can arise at the injection site.
Some medications are considered more irritating to the tissues and more likely to cause injection site problems. The incidence is also related to the injection technique used. Rarely, severe and life threatening bacterial infection can arise at the injection site.
my vet's role
Diagnostics Used
These are tests that might be helpful to make this diagnosis or further characterize the condition.
Treatments May Include
These treatments might be used to help resolve or improve this condition.
Very Common
Less Common
PROGNOSIS AND RELEVANT FACTORS
Generally, good for most injection site reactions. However, complications such as abscesses can occur.Clostridial infections can be life-threatening and result in widespread muscle and tissue damage and loss.
my role
I might observe
You might make these observations when a horse has this condition.
Very Common
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Heat, Swelling or Pain at Injection Site
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Skin Feels Warm or Hot, Heat in a Local Area
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Pain Response when Pressure Applied to An Area
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Difficulty Reaching Nose Down to Ground To Eat
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Neck Swelling
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Stiff Neck or Back, Resists Lateral Bending
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Reluctant to Move, Walk. Not Under Saddle
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Not Eating, Loss of Appetite, Not Hungry
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Sick or Depressed Soon after Vaccinating
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Depressed, Dull, Sick or Lethargic
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Difficulty Advancing Front Limb or Leg
Less Common
Skills I Might Need
I might need these skills if my horse has this diagnosis.
Questions To Ask Your Vet:
- Should I expect a similar reaction to injection in the future?
Prevention
Ideally, your vet should perform the intra-muscular injections on your horse.
If you give your horse intra-muscular injections, it is important to use proper injection technique, to only use appropriate medications prescribed by your vet, and to handle the medications properly from receipt, storage and injection.
further reading & resources
Helpful Terms and Topics
Written, reviewed or shared by experts in equine health
