22/01/2026
Do you still change needles after drawing up vaccines, just in case it’s “sharper”
I do. Or at least, I used to, because it felt like a small comfort win for the patient.
But a new randomised, double blinded, crossover clinical trial in 75 dogs found no meaningful difference in heart rate or visible reaction when the needle was replaced vs not replaced.
The injectors also could not reliably tell which injection used a changed needle (46 percent accuracy, basically chance).
The interesting bit: heart rate was higher when rabies was given second, hinting order and location might matter more than needle swapping.
My takeaway: if the needle is not damaged or contaminated, routine needle changes for comfort alone may not add benefit, while adding handling, cost, waste, and needlestick risk.
What do you do in your clinic? Will this change your practice?
Reference
Sagaser J, Jones J, Baird M, Statton D, Kreisler RE. Needle replacement before subcutaneous vaccination in dogs: a randomised clinical trial finds no clinical benefit. J Am Vet Med Assoc. Published online 24 Dec 2025. doi:10.2460/javma.25.10.0661
