Balling Guns — Pattern and Clinical Use
A bolus must be delivered past the base of the tongue so the animal swallows it rather than spitting it out, and doing that by hand risks injury from the molars. The balling gun holds the bolus in a head at the end of a long shaft and releases it at the pharynx via a plunger. Head design must retain the bolus during insertion but release it cleanly on the plunger stroke.
Heads are supplied in flexible plastic or rubber as well as metal, because a rigid metal head can damage the soft palate if the animal moves. Head size must match the bolus diameter being used.
Balling Guns Variants and Specifications
Standard balling gun patterns.
| Variant | Specification / use |
|---|---|
| Cattle pattern, large head | Standard cattle boluses |
| Sheep and goat pattern | Smaller head and shaft |
| Flexible plastic head | Reduced soft-palate trauma |
| Rubber-tipped head | Cushioned bolus retention |
| Stainless shaft | Durable, easily cleaned |
| Spring plunger | Positive bolus release |
Material, Finish and Quality Control
We forge balling guns from 316L austenitic stainless. Head retention and plunger release are cycle-tested so the bolus is held during insertion and released cleanly at the pharynx. Each batch passes Rockwell hardness testing, dimensional checks on bolus retention and release, and visual inspection under our ISO 13485 system before passivation and final finishing. Mirror and satin finishes are both available — satin is usually specified where glare under operating lights is a concern.
Who Sources Balling Guns From Surgical Star
Balling guns sell to livestock merchants and veterinary distributors, and are frequently ordered alongside Frick specula and drenching equipment as an oral-dosing group.
OEM, Certification and Ordering
Every balling guns can be produced as a private-label line: your logo laser-marked on the shaft, your catalog numbers, and your own printed packaging, manufactured from your drawings or a reference sample. Manufactured under an ISO 13485 quality system, CE-marked to EU MDR 2017/745 and covered by US FDA establishment registration. A certificate of conformity and an ASTM F899 material certificate for the exact steel grade ship with your order.
MOQs are low and new-brand friendly, and vary with pattern, finish and branding. Pricing is direct from the factory and tiered by volume. After you approve a branded pre-production sample, bulk production typically runs four to six weeks and ships worldwide DDP with HS codes handled. See how OEM & private label works →
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why use a balling gun rather than hand-dosing?
It places the bolus past the base of the tongue so it is swallowed, and keeps the operator’s hand clear of the molars.
Metal or flexible heads?
Flexible plastic and rubber heads reduce the risk of soft-palate trauma if the animal moves, and are increasingly preferred over rigid metal.
Does head size matter?
Yes — it must match the bolus diameter in use, or the bolus is either not retained or not released cleanly.
Can you manufacture these under our own brand?
Yes — full OEM and private label. We laser-mark your logo and catalog numbers, pack in your branded boxes, and work from your drawings, tech pack or a reference sample, with a pre-production sample approved before any bulk run.
Send your pattern list, drawing or a reference sample and we’ll quote MOQ, pricing and lead time — standard catalog or fully private-label.
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