Sharpvet elastrator pliers, stainless steel

Details

The failure on a set of elastrator pliers is almost never the handle, it is the prongs going out of alignment. Once they splay, the ring no longer opens evenly, placement becomes a fight, and you find yourself doing two-handed work on an animal that will not hold still. Stainless steel prongs hold their shape through far more use than plastic ones do. The tool works the standard green elastrator rings, opening one over four prongs so it can be positioned before the handle is released. Stainless steel also means it can be properly cleaned and disinfected between batches or between properties, which is not something a plastic-bodied tool handles as well, and it will not corrode from being washed. It is the heavier of the two models, and that weight is the point on a long session, because the tool stays where it is put and does not flex under the ring tension. Rinse it, dry it and check the prongs for spread before each batch. A set caught early can often be brought back into line, while a badly splayed set cannot. When and how these procedures are carried out, and what pain control is required, are questions for your veterinarian.