Single-use needles in animals

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill & All,

 

Jill wrote:

> Phil, Do you think that disposable needles should be used on cats

> and dogs as well to safeguard from prions or...? I will share your

> answer with my vet here. Thank you, Jill Likkel

 

Apart from the (very minimal) risk of transmitting prions by needles,

there are many animal viruses that can be spread EASILY between

animals by dirty needles.

 

Some years ago a vet in mainland EU, was struck off for spreading

Foot & Mouth Disease between several piggeries. He used the

same needle to vaccinate sows, and cross-transferred the virus

from an infected herd to several clean herds.

 

One cannot be 100% certain of needle sterility, even after

autoclaving. Therefore, I am adamant on not using needles

BETWEEN HUMAN patients.

 

However, I sometimes use only 2-3 needles to needle multiple

sites in an animal. IMO, this is OK so long as these needles are

not used on a different animal.

 

Also, because I place animals " lower " on the priority scale, I take

occasional shortcuts when dealing with animals, especially if I have

not enough needles in the car. For example, (though it is not

advisable) I have occasionally used needles ACROSS animals, but

only within the same group / farm. This is rare, and only happens if

I have no more needles available.

 

But for humans, cross-needling, +/- autoclaving, is a no-no for me.

 

Best regards,

 

Email: <

 

WORK : Teagasc Research Management, Sandymount Ave., Dublin 4, Ireland

Mobile: 353-; [in the Republic: 0]

 

HOME : 1 Esker Lawns, Lucan, Dublin, Ireland

Tel : 353-; [in the Republic: 0]

WWW : http://homepage.eircom.net/~progers/searchap.htm

[Guest guest]

, " "

<@e...> wrote:

> Hi Jill & All,

>

> Apart from the (very minimal) risk of transmitting prions by

needles,

> there are many animal viruses that can be spread EASILY between

> animals by dirty needles.

>

>

> Also, because I place animals " lower " on the priority scale, I

take

> occasional shortcuts when dealing with animals, especially if I

have

> not enough needles in the car. For example, (though it is not

> advisable) I have occasionally used needles ACROSS animals, but

> only within the same group / farm. This is rare, and only happens

if

> I have no more needles available.

>

> But for humans, cross-needling, +/- autoclaving, is a no-no for me.

>

 

Phil,

Thanks for your answer. Do you recommend using (if available)

disposal needles on animals as opposed to autoclaved needles? I'm

thinking in the context of a small animal clinic, dogs, cats and

birds mostly.

I imagine the more times a needle is used the more the possibility

it has of having something nasty sitting on it and the practitioner

is exposed to it.

I don't know of any human practitioners that autoclave needles

anymore but I do know some vets that do autoclave their acupuncture

needles.

Thanks again,

Jill Likkel