Does the needle length matter?

[MelanieP and Ninja]

Hello all! Until yesterday, I was using 31 gauge syringes with 5/16" (8mm) short needle length. Walgreens was out of them yesterday so they gave me 29 gauge, 1/2" (12.7mm needle length). Ninja doesn't seem to mind the 29 gauge or the longer needle, but wondering if the longer length has disadvantages over the short needle? Is it just a matter of risking more fur shots (if the longer needle comes out the back end of the tent) or is there some other reason I should be using the short needles? Thanks!

 

[Hope + (((Baby)))GA]

Needle length is personal preference. I have always used the 1/2" on all of mine......I do not like the short ones. I can't tell if I am in. You tent and shoot at an angle...not a level shot....so you shouldn't go through the tent.

 

[MelanieP and Ninja]

Glad to hear that! So far, I am liking the 1/2 inch better myself too. Ninja has black hair which makes it hard to see where I'm injecting sometimes; but for some reason the 1/2 inch needle seems to penetrate through the hair forest easier. Have only been using them since yesterday, but so far no fur shots. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[knolet]

I wondered about needle length too, I started out using 1/2 inch (12.7 mm), 30 gauge, then switched to the same length but 29 gauge because the pharmacy was out of the 30 gauge. Zeus noticed the difference, I think he felt it as he would flinch, and actually tried to bite me a few times. I am now using the shorter 3/8 inch (9 mm), 31 gauge - Zeus never even moves. However, At about the same time of the switch, Zeus started showing higher and higher numbers (but I was also trying to switch food, and had increased the dosage as well, so I don't know if it was just a coincidence). The vet said the shorter needles were ok as long as I was still using the u100 syringe.

 

[arozeboom]

Ruby felt the shots more when we used the longer needle. She didn't flinch nearly as much with the shorter. They were the same gauge. We switched to the shorter when we switched to lantus. I think its possible that she felt the lantus less than PZI, but I'm not sure. (You know how sometimes when you get a shot, you feel a bit of a burn, but other shots don't? Does that make sense?)

 

[Julia & Bandit (GA)]

My vet originally prescribed me the 1/2" needles, so I used them for the first 6 months of Bandit's treatment. When I switched to the 5/16" needles, I was amazed at how much easier they were for me to use. I don't think I got a single fur shot after the switch, but they happened a bit with the 1/2" ones because the needle would sometimes go right out the other side of the tent and I wouldn't realize it.

As for Bandit, he didn't care either way because I shot while he was eating. I was long done by the time he was thinking about anything other than food.