VETS 265 Location of injections and needle selection

Dog/cat intramuscular injection location

Quadriceps

semitendenous

triceps brachii

semimembranosis

gastrochemius

epaxial

Dog/cat intramuscular needle size

20-21-22-23 gauge

¾ - 1 inch length

Dog/cat Subcutaneous injection sites

lateral aspect of neck, any loosely attached skin off the midline

Dog/cat subcutaneous injection needle sizes

20-21-22-23 gauge

¾ - 1 inch length

Dog/cat intravenous injection site

Jugular, cephalic, saphenous (cat only ; medial femoral)

Dog/cat intravenous needle size

20-21-22 gauge

¾ - 1 inch length

Dog/cat intradermal injection site

Anywhere nessecary for lump removal or suture cuts

External abdominal

obliques for allergy testing

Dog/cat intradermal needle sizes

25-26-27 gauge

5/8 inch length 

Hose Intramuscular injection sites

Lateral neck muscles

semitendonous

triceps

gluteals (off midline)

semembranosis

Horse Intramuscular needle sizes

16-18-19-20 gauge

1 ½ inch length

Horse Subcutaneous injection site

Lateral aspect of the neck

Horse subcutaneous needle size

18-19-20-21-22 gauge

  1 ½ inch length 

Horse intravenous injection sites

Jugular

facial venous sinus

Horse needle size for jugular intravenous injection

16-18-19-20 gauge

1 ½ inch length

Horse needle size for facial venous sinus intravenous injection

20-22 gauge

1 inch length

Horse intradermal injection sites

anywhere nessecary for lump removal

lateral aspect of neck

Horse intradermal needle size

23-25 gauge

5/8 inch length

Cow Intramuscular injection sites

Lateral neck muscles

Cow intramuscular needle size 

16-18-19-20 gauge

1 ½ inch length 

Cow subcutaneous injection sites

lateral aspect of neck

over ribs

Cow subcutaneous injection needle size

16-18-19-20 gauge

1 ½ inch length

Cow intravenous injection sites

Jugular vein

Coccygeal vein

Cow intravenous infection needle sizes

14-16-18-19-20 gauge

1 ½ inch needle

Cow intradermal injection sites

caudal folds of tail

lateral aspect of neck

Cow intradermal injection needle sizes

23-25 gauge

5/8 inch length

Sheep, goats, calves, swine intramuscular injection sites

lateral neck muscles

Sheep, goats, calves, swine intramuscular injection needle size 

16-18-19-20 gauge 

1 ½ inch length 

Sheep, goats, calves, swine subcutaneous injection sites

lateral aspect over neck

over the ribs

Sheep, goats, calves, swine subcutaneous injection needle sizes

16-18-19-20 gauge

1 ½ inch length

Sheep, goats, calves, swine intravenous injection sites

Jugular

Cephalic

Fermoral

(Swine: auricular & exterior jugular)

Sheep, goats, calves, swine intravenous injection needle sizes

14-16-18-19-20 gauge

1 ½ inch length 

Sheep, goats, calves, swine intradermal injection sites

Caudal folds of tail

Base of the ear

Sheep, goats, calves, swine intradermal infection needle sizes

23-25 gauge

5/8 inch length

Rodents intramuscular injection site

Gluteal off the midline

Rodent Intramuscular injection needle size

23-25-26-27 gauge

5/8 inch length

Rodents subcutaneous injection site

anywhere with loose skin

Rodent subcutaneous injection needle sizes

23-25-26-27 gauge 

5/8 inch length 

Rodent Intravenous injection sites

Coccygeal vein

(Rabbits : cephalic and articular)

Rodents intravenous injection needle sizes

23-24-25-26-27 gauge

5/8 inch length

Rodents intradermal injection sites

medical surface of hind leg in groin region

Rodents intradermal injection needle sizes 

25-27 gauge

5/8 inch length