drawing blood for first time

mmurrey · #1 06/09/08, 06:51 PM

well we drew blood today for the first time, I was very nervous about this. We got all of the girls done with no problem, but then we went up to the other farm and went to take it form the bucks. This was a chore because there is no where to keep them still enough and my 13 year old was the holder. Well we got the first one done and went to the next, mind you he out weighs my 13 year old by probably 100lbs. I couldn't get to the vein, is there a secret to drawing it from the big bucks? "I could not find it for anything. If someone can help with this I want to get it sent out tommorrow.
Thank you,
Mellissa

mmurrey · #2 06/10/08, 09:15 AM

Anyone with any advice?
Mellissa

jBlaze · #3 06/10/08, 09:20 AM

No advice, sorry, but I am so proud of you for doing the blood draws!!!!

mmurrey · #4 06/10/08, 09:28 AM

Thank You! I was nervous but after the first couple it went smoothly until I got to the bucks. Then it was kind of a mess

, I just couldn't get it in the right spot. Our does were perfect angels

, they stood so patiently for us. I have everything ready to send it off just need two more draws.
Mellissa

southerngurl · #5 06/10/08, 10:03 AM

I haven't drawn blood from any big bucks, but when we did ours, I was suprized at the size of the vein. This bucks vein is probably like a garden hose, it should be big. So press the length of your thumb horizontally on the side of the esophagus and it should fill up and be easy to see. You also have to push the needle harder than I expected to get through the vein. It is tough. HTH

hoofinitnorth · #6 06/10/08, 01:36 PM

Did you shave the area?

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #7 06/10/08, 03:06 PM

Boys just have alot more muscle to their necks than does and it can be down between those muscles. Lifting their head straight up also helps but when they are so darn tall it makes it hard. I stick the boys in the rear leg. Vicki

mmurrey · #8 06/10/08, 09:20 PM

Well I did not get his blood drawn today but, I will I just felt bad for him because I had tried and tried but couldn't find it. I will have to do it another day. I did get the two other bucks done, I found theirs with no problem but the other is so big and if his veins are the size of a garden hose it is hidding from me. I couldn't shave his neck but I did use scissors and trimmed it down to where I could see his skin. We had his head held up in the air. Oh well I'll give him a weeks rest and hopefully he'll forgive me in the mean time. Thanks for the advice.
Mellissa

Jcran · #9 06/10/08, 10:28 PM

I've done draws on my own twice now, ie, no vet required. Does were easy, and bucks were not...just keep trying...good luck.

DixyDoodle · #10 06/11/08, 05:33 AM

I can give injections but there is just something creepy to me about drawing blood. I've seen too many murder mystery movies where people kill others by injecting air bubbles into a vein.

I am SO afraid of doing that!

Maybe someone should post the proper way and sites for injections? Or maybe direct us to a site even---is that on Fiasco as well, I wonder? I'll have to check!