dosing gun problems

farawaygrass

hi all, was dosing the lambs with albex yesterday, but is seemed too thick to go through the dosing gun, so had to do all but syringe. any ideas if i can do anything to the dosing gun to solve it? i know some people have to warm up other doses, but would that work with albex? doesn't seem to be of the consistency that will run easier if heated. dosing gun is new, bought from cormac, not too dear, 30e ish. thanks

aneala

Did you check your air inlet valve was working properly?

Heating dose to body temp def wouldn't do any harm either.

Username John

farawaygrass wrote: »

hi all, was dosing the lambs with albex yesterday, but is seemed too thick to go through the dosing gun, so had to do all but syringe. any ideas if i can do anything to the dosing gun to solve it? i know some people have to warm up other doses, but would that work with albex? doesn't seem to be of the consistency that will run easier if heated. dosing gun is new, bought from cormac, not too dear, 30e ish. thanks

I had the same issue with my dosing gun. I took it apart, and I found the inlet was all clogged with crap, which was causing an issue for thicker doses.

Solved it for a while - but now I have an issue where the spring that opens the inlet is busted

I can't find a pic of the one I have, but it's a metal one, with one screw on the top at the back. Be careful opening, as you don't want to crack it.

farawaygrass

the one i has is plastic kinda material. i was dosing colbalt last week and no problem, and it just back from shop where it had the once over so air inlet should be ok, but i'll check anyhow. hope to get it working as its a godsend. thanks lads

AnFeirmeoir

My one is in the bin . It was a metal wrong looking one . Needed to tKe it apart regularly and it began comeing apart in the middle of jobs . Been dosing wit a seringe for the last month .

Seems to be a lot of bad guns out there . Anyone recommend a gun

eire23

http://www.fanevalleystores.com/product/147098/phillips-automatic-dosing-gun-20ml
https://www.agridirect.ie/p/henke_drench_matic__23ml

Have these two guns here at home, prefer the phillips as it goes up in 1ml graduations and the henke goes in 2.5. Clean them out after using them and put a bit of linseed oil through them, tis the making of the gun.

Wooly Admirer

Mullinhone do a great little dosing syring - see this link - http://www.mullinahonecoop.ie/catalog/partdetail.aspx?partno=SYG00005

I find it great for getting cobalt/worm doses into lambs which can be tricky with the automatic guns. They tend to unload into the mouth too quick at times.

Rinsing the automatic gun out with water is important, especially after the thick worn doses - left in the gun too long, that stuff is like glue. If the gun is giving trouble its probably problems with the rubbers at the inlet and outlets. It may not be necessary to replace, even a shot of WD40 or glycerin would moisten them up and get them sucking again. The springs attached to the rubbers on the inlets and outlets might be shot in the gun also

Service kits for most guns are to be got easily enough - Mullinahone again would be an option - link here http://www.mullinahonecoop.ie/catalog/search.aspx?keywords=dosing%20gun%20service%20kit

Neighbour of mine always mixes cobalt with his wormers. Make sure to work out volumes accurately. Saves him going in twice - must try to find out if there is a risk in reducing efficacy of the wormer - he reckons both cobalt and wormer will end up in the belly anyway, so why not put them down together. Perhaps you could dilute with water and increase your dose rate also.

Id get advice from the manufacturer before using of the above suggestions!!!!!!

MayoAreMagic

Albex only treats adult fluke. Have you dosed for immature fluke already?

farawaygrass

no i havent, i wont lie. they were dosed a few weeks ago with albex aswell, seemed grand till few starting getting scoury this week past. they are all still out grazing on good grass. should i be using a dose that does immature and mature fluke in your opinion?

razor8

farawaygrass wrote: »

no i havent, i wont lie. they were dosed a few weeks ago with albex aswell, seemed grand till few starting getting scoury this week past. they are all still out grazing on good grass. should i be using a dose that does immature and mature fluke in your opinion?

You always should if sheep are outside IMO

eire23

razor8 wrote: »

You always should if sheep are outside IMO

Yes but a triclabendazole based dose is the only that kills mature, immature and early immature fluke so ya need to be careful about over using it. Supposed to be a far bit of resistance around to it.

Farmer Pudsey

Do not use WD40 0r minerals oils on dosing guns or on any rubber seals it will perish same. Use silicone or vegetable oil's only. The same with Vaseline do not use on rubber seals etc.

Silicone or vegetable oils will not damage rubbers seals or ''O'' rings

farawaygrass

ya i was at a meeting last year and a vet was on bout nearly just dosing the lambs that are scoury or leaving a few not dosed. they seem to be fairly heavy and healthy so wont change. cobalt dose turned them inside out, must have been well short of it

MayoAreMagic

Well this time of year immature fluke are more of an issue than mature. It can all depend on where you are and the kind of year it was also. It wasnt a bad year this year with the heat in the summer knocking it back.

Here is a handy list of doses and their effects:
http://www.farmfile.ie/images/fluke3.jpg

Personally, I used a Rafoxinide based product at tipping (Curafluke or Panafluke), Im going to use a Closental based product later on (Flukiver) and Im going to use Levafas Diamond after lambing. The Levafas is for mature only but at that time of year the threat is mature fluke. It also treats rumen fluke (not convinved about these lads but no harm treating for them) and it also has a levamisole based wormer, which I wasnt using last year.

Hope that helps you, or anyone else that isnt sure about dosing, it can be a headache.

Lano Lynn

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Do not use WD40 0r minerals oils on dosing guns or on any rubber seals it will perish same. Use silicone or vegetable oil's only. The same with Vaseline do not use on rubber seals etc.

Silicone or vegetable oils will not damage rubbers seals or ''O'' rings

use windscreen wash to clean dosing gun the lubericate with veg oil

Farrell

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

Personally, I used a Rafoxinide based product at tipping (Curafluke or Panafluke), Im going to use a Closental based product later on (Flukiver) and Im going to use Levafas Diamond after lambing. The Levafas is for mature only but at that time of year the threat is mature fluke. It also treats rumen fluke (not convinved about these lads but no harm treating for them) and it also has a levamisole based wormer, which I wasnt using last.

Would it be harmful th give levafas diamond to February lambing ewes now, & maybe albex next spring

arctictree

Suction gone on my dosing gun. Is this repairable or do I need a new gun?

ganmo

arctictree wrote: »

Suction gone on my dosing gun. Is this repairable or do I need a new gun?

Is it a nj Philips Gun?

Check the front valve, a bit of dirt can prevent it closing properly

arctictree

ganmo wrote: »

Is it a nj Philips Gun?

Check the front valve, a bit of dirt can prevent it closing properly

Heinke-sass gun. I'll check the valves...

Username John

arctictree wrote: »

Heinke-sass gun. I'll check the valves...

Have a look if the vales are clean...

If it's the springs, you can get new kits...

https://www.agridirect.ie/product/henke-valve--seal-kit-

Now maybe you can get em cheaper other places, just this is the only place I know of that have em,..

arctictree

Username John wrote: »

Have a look if the vales are clean...

If it's the springs, you can get new kits...

https://www.agridirect.ie/product/henke-valve--seal-kit-

Now maybe you can get em cheaper other places, just this is the only place I know of that have em,..

Thanks, I might give that a try. I took the gun apart but still doesn't work so this could be it.

rangler1

arctictree wrote: »

Thanks, I might give that a try. I took the gun apart but still doesn't work so this could be it.

Did you look at the valve in the plunger, it could be blocked too, plungers are usually easy enough to dimantle