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Injection Guidelines for Large Animals Here are recommendations for how to and where to give injections in large animals. Whether vaccinating or administering medications, we recommend using clean procedures on your animals. Ensure that the medication your are administered is according to labeled instructions. If in doubt as to how to administer a medication, contact your veterinarian. Ensure that all injectable products are kept in a clean and climate-controlled area. Some antiobtics require refrigeration and disposal days after reconstitution. Other antibiotics are safe to keep unrefrigerated, but within a temperature range of 55-88 degrees F typically. Some medications are present in dark amber bottles as light may degrade the product. Vaccinations require refrigeration and modified-live vaccines require use within an hour of reconstitution. We recommend using a sterile syringe and needle per animal as this will reduce the risk of spread of diseases that are blood-borne. When administering an injection in the muscle or under the skin, draw back on the syringe to ensure that you are not in a blood vessel. If you see blood in the hub of the needle, reposition the needle. If giving a medication intravenously (we do not recommend that this be done without a veterinarian present), use a large gauge needle and use the jugular vein in the top third of the neck. There is a risk of carotid artery injection if the needle is too deeply placed in the neck. For more information on how to administer injectables, contact your veterinarian. HORSES:   
The above 3 locations are ideal for intramuscular injections in horses: neck (note the location of the triangle demarcated by the shoulder, the jugular furrow and the crest), the semitendinosus/semimembranosus muscles in the hindquarters and the pectoral muscles. The gluteal muscles should NEVER be used for injections! CATTLE: 
In cattle, intramuscular injections should only be performed in the neck. Some medications can be given under the skin, and I recommend using skin on the neck or behind the forelimbs. GOATS & SHEEP  
Please note the locations for intramuscular and subcutaneous injections. Vaccinations administered to goats can result in a lump in the skin; I recommend giving goats and sheeps vaccinations under the skin behind the forearm, particularly if the animals are show animals. When vaccinating food animals, please be aware of the withdrawal times for medications and vaccinations. For extra-label use of medication, contact your veterinarian for withdrawal times. Medications that are not licensed for use in certain species or age categories will not have a withdrawal time listed. Your veterinarian may be able to help you establish recommendations for extral-label use.
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