Administering Subcutaneous Fluids

[MarVistaAnimalMC]

SquishyFish, Kidney failure is not contagious this way and the fluid will not be harmful to you.

[SquishyFishVideos]

After poking my cat, the needle came out and stabed my finger, will I contract Kidney failure or will the fluid be harmfull to me?:(

[rastatrendkill]

Thank you so much, I have to give my cat his first at home IV tonight, its been a few weeks since his vet showed me how, I feel much more comfortable now ~

[afccapt07]

really good video.

[LisichkaLL]

thank you! 

[byebyerepugs]

Thank you! I just started fluids with my 15-yr-old cat (kidney issues) This is very helpful.

[Trishrg]

Thanks. Thank you so much for posting this.

This is a little different than what my dr showed me, and I think I like this method better. I def. do not have a cooperative patient though.

[west6008]

Thanks, we have found this very helpful,

Zoiee is much better now, it was tricky at first

[Jodie44]

Dr. Brooks, I've been a little nervous about giving fluids and this video really helps. Thank you very much!

[MarVistaAnimalMC]

If the cat tries to escape, you can try putting her in a cardboard carrier (the kind that opens from the top) so she is more confined. If you think the needle is actually hurting her, you can try a needle with a smaller diameter (but the fluid admin will take longer).

[nlavallo]

My cat screeches the whole time ... she does not want to be held in place during the procedure. She also tries to escape...any suggestions?

[lettuceexplain]

@nlavallo . We had the same problem. We have two suggestions and they worked for us. We administer the fluids in an unfamiliar location in our home. Kitty is busy checking out the new environment and not focusing on what we are doing. Our cat goes "flat" in her carrier/vet office, so we take her in her carrier to the new location in our home for her fluids. If this doesn't work, try giving kitty Rescue Remedy, 4 drops, in the mouth. It works immediately to calm kitty down.

[MarVistaAnimalMC]

Just try to be more careful about where you put the needle. You should still be able to bring up the "tent" even in a very thin cat but if you aren't sure, just try to keep the needle parallel to the cat's body rather than pointing down into the cat. If the needle goes too far forward and comes out the other side of the skin just back it up a little until the bevel is all the way inside.

[nifbit]

Any suggestions for giving fluids when the cat is very thin? It is so hard to make the tent because she's very emaciated.

[jaybeebug]

We're giving fluids to our cat right now, but the problem we're having is getting her to hold still . . . she keeps thrashing and the needle slips out. Anyone have any ideas on how to best hold an uncoopertive cat during this procedure? (We already use two, sometimes three people!)

[razorisland]

oh .. bladder control of the cat! not me, silly.

[razorisland]

This is the 3rd video I've checked tonight on SubQIV .. what I like most about this is .. what do I do if? answers. Sometimes, my injection doesn't go well and we're both unhappy. Tonight, kitty was so upset .. well, bladder control .. this is excellent is reminding me how to correctly give fluids. They have saved this cat's life! Thank you.

[iran747]

Thank you for posting! Our cat, Mandy, has been recently been prescribed subcutaneous fluid therapy for Feline Renal Failure:(.. Rachel and I love her so much.

[blissedtodays]

Thank you so much for posting this video. My 15 year old kitty now has to have sub-q every day and this video was very helpful. You explained it much better than the vet tech that showed me how to do this.

[juneyx78]

Thanks for the vid...very good : )

[juneyx78]

great one, very nice! Thank you from u.k

[teamsterswife]

Thank you so much! My 14 yr old cat now needs subcutaneous fluids. I made the mistake of taking our daughter with us while the vet was showing me how to do it. This video really helped me to fill in the blanks where my daughter had been a distraction during the instructions. Thank you! We did our first at-home treatment today, and it didn't go too bad for us beginners. Thanks!

[mmedefarge]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Very clear concise technique allowed me to nail it on the first try. This is a much better technique than was taught to me by the hospital tech which had me give up and resort to giving fluid by mouth every few hours, with little in results. Great video! I'd definitely recommend it to any one who has to give fluid tx. to their kitty.

[mmedefarge]

I was taught by the vet tech to insert the needle on the side of that skin grab, no wonder it keeps poking through the other side on my little old kitty! This method looks much better. I was taught to keep a slow drip which takes forever and the cat gets disgusted and bails. Good video. Il'' try it next time.

[MarVistaAnimalMC]

Usually the needle bevel is facing up when an injection is given but it really doesn't matter for SQ fluids. The angle of the needle is also not particularly important so long as it doesn't come out the other side of the skin.

[treepose10]

Good video but should show insertion of needle. Such as angle and if the pointier part of the needle should be on the top or bottom when inserting.

[dervin6030]

Fantastic video! The demonstration and explanation has been extremely valuable in helping me give Puffin her subQ fluids. It's full of great tips, like being confident which helps calm her. I have also learned to not rush it and rub her neck area and under her chin to get her nice and relaxed before starting. Great work Mar Vista! Thanks.

Dave in Portland

[EvilerLynn]

My cat has been very difficult lately with fluids (she has always been miss independent anyway). I was starting to panic as it had been to long since I'd gotten a significant amount of fluid into her, I had tried so many things, and nothing was working. Then I remembered this video.

Once I watch it and see how you do it so easily, I just feel more courageous. I got the needle in her easily and filled her right up.

I just wanted to say thank you again for this wonderful information!!!!

[jenfaithwhite]

Thank you! Last night I changed the fluid bag for only the second time and this time the fluid holder filled up so I couldn't see the "drips" and didn't know how to "un-fill" it! But watching your video I now know! Many thanks!

[ugbun]

Thank you, watching this helps calm my nerves when I have to do this myself.

[lovaholix]

thank you

this vid is very helpful

[adamatova]

Fearless! I am so intimidated by the whole procedure. Ach. Don't like hurting anything or one. You're very good. Thanks for the vid and advice.

[cherilynn64]

As the others have all said, thank you. My vet and vet tech were great at having me do it the first time with them, but it's always a different story when you are at home by yourself (and I don't have a 2nd person to help me). For anyone who has trouble restraining your cat, I bought a Cat Sack from Four Flags Over Aspen which is what my vet had me use at her office. It really helps as I can't restrain any of my cats in a towel either. Thanks again for the great video!

[adamatova]

the cat sack sounds interesting. you wouldn't happen to have a vid of giving the subq would you? It sure would help - i'm doing it alone as well and there are others out there for sure who could use pointers.

[melissakosmicki]

Thanks so much! I just wish my cat took it as easily as your patient; I would love a lesson in wrapping my cat up in a towel. She's wily.

[EvilerLynn]

I just wanted to thank you for this video! I was having a hard time giving fluids to my kitty with CRF. I was too timid and was doing the needle to slow I think. Now I watch your video every time before I give her fluids as it gives me courage haha.

[davetheguitarplayer]

Thank you SO MUCH for posting these videos!! I'm taking my German Shepherd to our vet for my fluid-therapy "training session" and I've been nervous about it for days. But knowing that I can come back to these great video clips to help me is a GREAT comfort. Plus, being able to see how pretty simple the procedure is helps a lot too! Thank you so much again!

[lopella]

That was very clear and helpful, thank you! There was some helpful info in there the vet tech forgot to tell me when showing me how to do this. Thanks again!

[JessicaClark]

Thank you so much, this was so helpful!!

[vanzarockin]

My cat will be coming home today and I have been rather nervous regarding my ability to administer fluids. Your video has eased my worries...thank you!

[joannamichelle72]

thankyou.

[karunald]

Thanks for posting this. I have to start doing this tomorrow.

[africanmarty]

very cool :) i see this every day at work (vet nurse) nice cat :)

[diademblues]

I just want to thank you for this video. I've been giving fluids to my elderly dog. My vet showed my how, but this video lets me refresh my memory when I get nervous.