Your veterinarian has just prescribed Procaine Penicillin G for your horse.  This medication is in a suspension and needs to be shaken well before each use.  Keep in the refriderator.

It is very important to give this medication in the MUSCLE ONLY.  We recommend dividing the dosage amount in two separate locations if the horse is getting more then 20cc per treatment.  For example, if the horse is getting 25cc-give 12.5 cc in two separate muscle sites.   

We recommend to put the needle DEEP into the muscle first – perpendicularly – all the way to the hub (don’t be shy) and then attaché the needle.  Pull back on the syringe to check for any blood.  You do NOT want blood in the syringe.  If this happens, take the needle out and try a new location.  Procaine Penicillin will cause and adverse reaction if it is injected directly into the bloodstream.  Possible reactions include: horse trembles temporarily, the horse bolts forward, seizure, head pressing, collapse, and very rarely, death. 

We recommend using a different site each time so your horse won’t get too sore.  The two main muscle groups we recommend are: the back of the thighs (buttocks area), and the neck.  For example, left neck in the morning; left buttocks in the evening.  Next day, switch to the right side.  Although some people use the hips and chest, these muscles tend to be more susceptible to swelling and soreness; therefore, we don’t recommend them.

Areas for Injection

Thighs/Buttocks: back of the thighs and below the tail head.  See below diagram: