My dog hates neck insulin shots. Can I inject her in the thigh?

An insulin injection can really be given anywhere on the body - just pinch up the skin a bit, and insert the needle :) Most cat owners prefer to use the scruff of the neck because the skin there is easily accessible and not very sensitive, but you could also give the injection over one of his hips, one of his shoulder blades, or on the side of his body over the rib cage if you prefer.

I know giving injections is daunting but I bet you are already doing a wonderful job. I like to use the skin behind the neck or between the shoulder blades. Pinch it up to make a "tent". Stick the needle in the center of that tent and parallel with the body. If you are using an insulin needle, you could be able to go all the way to the hub. Afterwards, the fur shouldn't be wet in that area. If it is then you may be putting it in the hair and not the skin. If you are unsure, you could always schedule an appointment at your vet clinic for someone to WATCH you do it so they can give you any helpful hints on what to do differently. If they don't have a time available for when the actual insulin is due to be given, just ask them to put some saline in the syringe and you can inject that for the demostration. I hope this helps!

The best things for diabetic dogs to eat are food items low in carbohydrates. Aim for food with higher protein and fat. As far as insulting goes, anywhere under the skin is okay but I aim for a loose area of skin such as between the shoulders. Most importantly, if the dog doesn't eat, don't give the insulin . Hope that helps

Diabetes is a disease that needs to be treated with insulin in dogs - there are no appropriate holistic or herbal treatments that could replace insulin injections. Most dogs tolerate injections well - the needle is very small and the injection is over quickly. I recommend distracting dogs with a tasty treat that takes awhile to eat - some canned dog food smeared into a thin layer on a plate works well - so that they don't notice the injection as much. A well regulated diabetic dog can have a normal life span with a good quality of life.

Hello, it depends on wether the prescription is to be given in the muscle or under the skin. These will vary, however both neck and leg can receive both injections under the skin and in the muscle. However, there several important structures that one must avoid in both areas when administering an injection, I would not recommend injecting in an area that was not instructed by your veterinarian. If Mabel is sore from being injected in the same spot, then discuss with your veterinarian showing you a different position to perform this injection. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Unfortunately this is something that can easily happen. Since there is a possibility that TobyToo got a little bot of insulin, I would be afraid to give another shot. So just treat this as if he had his insulin shot and give him the next injection when it is due. By the way, if you pull up a fold of skin and inject into that it may be easier to feel when you are in.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The point of tenting the skin is to help localize the subcutaneous space so that an injection can be given successfully. Without renting the skin, it is difficult to do that and you would be left with uncertainty if it went in the right place to be absorbed and used by the body. For that reason, if possible I would recommend tenting the skin. if not possible, do it like your vet suggested. Best of luck!