Why do vets use a new needle for each pet during vaccinations?

Question

Hi I have a technical question about hypodermic needles. I'm a technician and I use one needle per animal to vaccinayte against rabies. I've been asked if I don't sterilise my needles for re use. I would like your oppinion on why one should use it only once and also not use a needle on more than one animal while busy vaccinating. I'm looking for advice on how to respond to individuals who think it is ok to use one needle on more than one dog or cat. Thanks. Pet's info: Bird | Unknown - Bird | Female | 21 years and 8 months old

Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA · Accepted Answer

The needle is sharpest and least painful on the first stick making the process less painful and traumatic for the patient. There is a risk of transmission of blood borne infections (including blood parasites and many viruses if in viremic stage of illness) when reusing needles with potentially infected fluid and tissues being transferred between patients. I would never reuse a needle between pets from different households for this reason. This may be less of a concern when vaccinating a colony or herd in close contact where it can be presumed that they are all equally exposed to a similar infectious load and reuse of clean, undamged needles such as with large animal repeat use vaccination guns is quite common until dropped/damaged or blunt. It is not uncommon to see an increased presence of localised swelling and inflammation where these are used!

Why do vets use a new needle for each pet during vaccinations?

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