how to give an injection?

[Spindown]

so i'm not actually confused about the actual injection process itself, as i've done reptile before. My issues lies in the fact that the antibiotic is frozen, and when it thaws i have to give .07, and there is a huge air bubble in there. How do i get the air bubble out? We played with one today, and couldnt figure it out. Thoughts?

If no one can tell me, I'll try and go to the vet down the street and hope they can adjust the dosage measurement for me. Thanks!

[Fatal_S]

Now keep in mind I'm a total newb with injections, but with oral medicines (and injectables in videos) you can hold the syringe pointing upwards and gently flick it to make the air bubble move to the top. Then you slowly push the thing until you get the air bubble removed. I'm not sure but you may need to pull a bit more air in first to get all the medicine out of the thin pointy part, then flick the air bubble up and push all the air out. Remember, total noob, so this is a guess.

[Bird_Brain]

If you give me a minute, I will try to do a photo tutorial to help. What size of syringe are you using? Like what is the largest measurement on listed on the syringe?

Im sorry. Next time before I offer to do a photo tutorial I verify that I dont need both hands to do the demonstration or I have someone else to take the pictures

Mels explanation is really good. I find it easier to draw up more than the dosage and while syringe is still in vial, flick the syringe, this should loosen the bubbles and float to the top of the syringe/needle. Then just inject the excess amount back into the vial until you get the correct dosage (Do all this while the holding the vial upside down and needle/syringe "hanging" from the vial).

[El Lobo]

I have not had to do any dose measuring for reptiles so far but I have done a few for birds and hundreds for rabbits, oral, IM and S/C. I use the method as described by ReptileKing with flicking the syringe held vertically, sharp end up. If the liquid is still cold it will most likely be much thicker and make it more difficult to move the air bubble. I have had this problem with Depocillin but found by holding the syringe body wrapped in my hand for a short while sufficent heat transferred to the syringe to help thin the abx and free any bubbles.

If the syringes have not been pre-drawn by the vet and you have to draw the abx from a vial, particularly the vials with a membrane on top, I would suggest exchanging the drawing needle for a new one to do the actual injection. Inserting through the membrane is enough to slightly dull the point.

How do you measure .07mls? The smallest syringe I have used is 1ml calibrated in 0.1ml increments?

[Spindown]

just a quick update:
We are going to try this again tonight, when i have some help to restrain Baneling.

The needles were pre loaded by the vet, and there are 9 of them (ha there were 10 X_X).
They are frozen, and I will wait until they thaw and then use some of the techniques you guys have mentioned.

I'm not sure how you measure .07, the needles are in .1 increments i believe? We're assuming its the 7 tiny tiny marks on the very top of the needle closest to the point. Thats about how much medicine is in there, anyhow so i think we are right.

Thanks for all the suggestions! they are definitely giving me more confidence to try this again.

[Spindown]

ha now that i've had your guys' advice and the advice I got on my facebook, this injection was a total success! (i think)
There was a tiny bit of blood...is that normal? I just put it under a scale on her left shoulder *they said i could do legs or front 1/3 of the skink* a bit and then injected. She didnt even squirm that much!

So...I'm not sure how we screwed up the needle goo in the beginning, now that i've tried again i knew exactly what to do. I feel so silly!

so, to sum up: thank you thank you thank you all!!!

[Karen]

I was also worrying so much before actually doing the injection, then felt silly afterwards. A little blood is normal, you are puncturing the skin after all. I just put a little pressure on it and it stopped after a second or two.