Sub-Q Fluids

[smorten50]

We've been giving our kitty Sub Q injections for 2 months. Our vet suggested warming the water bag first, which has made a HUGE difference!. Put the bag into a pitcher full of hot water (I also put most of the tubing in). Before injecting, open the flow and run the fluid until warm water comes out, which can be somewhat hotter than human body temp (not just lukewarm). Since loss of appetite can be part of the disease, the vet prescribed an appetite stimulant for every 3rd day, which has helped.

[smorten50]

We've been giving our kitty Sub Q injections for 2 months. Our vet suggested warming the water bag first, which has made a HUGE difference!. Put the bag into a pitcher full of hot water (I also put most of the tubing in). Before injecting, open the flow and run the fluid until warm water comes out, which can be somewhat hotter than human body temp (not just lukewarm). Since loss of appetite can be part of the disease, the vet prescribed an appetite stimulant for every 3rd day, which has helped.

[ecotts]

Poor little thing :(

[nwbowen73]

I wish my kitty was as cooperative as yours! Rudy (8 y.o. ginger tabby, CRF diagnosed end of June '10) also used to require two people. I can manage it by myself now, but he stands for the whole thing - which is making the stab a challenge. Maybe I'll try your treat maneuver, see if that gets him to park for it. Thank you for posting this video!

[ChristIsMyStrength]

I just found out last week that my kitty has CRF, I am very devastated. I have been giving Romeo 100ml of fluid for the past 4 days and it really seems to help. He is 10 years old and still full of life and not ready to go. With Gods blessings our family will have him around a while longer :O). This video is very clear about how to administer the much needed fluids, THANK YOU!!

[xAnukisx]

What a sweet kitty :) my cat midnight is very active while the needle is in and it takes all three members of my family to make sure she doesn't pull out the needle or jump off the counter we put her up on... it's really frustrating for everyone but the poor old girl needs them. Thanks for sharing, it makes it easier to know that my family isn't the only one having to do a truly scary task for people who aren't used to it!

[Lamdennison]

Tuesday appears to be a very good patient. Our baby Marble (age 17-1/2) has just started the sub-q treatment. We tried our first at home treatment tonight and didn't do so well. She squirmed and pulled the needle out once, and then became so agitated we decided to stop pretty early to prevent further problems. I came looking for videos to reassure me that we were doing everything correctly. It sounds like it will just take her (and us) time to adjust. Thank you so much for sharing.

[rob052067]

In my earlier comment, I said "She's a cutee." From the location of the sentence, it looks like I was referring to my kitty, but I intended to complement Tuesday. :-)

[rob052067]

WOW! My little girl would never just sit there like that. She's a cutee! I've been giving her SubQ since she was diagnosed with CRF in 9/08. She's a very sweet 15 year old Torti and is doing well. I live alone, so I needed to be able to do the SubQ on my own, but she tries very hard to hide when she senses that it's treatment time and she does her best to squirm away during the treatment. I can hold on to her best on a towel on top of the washing machine with the bag hanging on the wall.

[webkinkgirl94]

wow she has no amoon thin wow

[jorgerod1975]

Probably I got to start givin fluids to my 6 yo. cat very soon. I'm very scared and this kind of videos helps a lot. Isn't the skin of your cat damaged with the needles, day after day after day? I will appreciate any answer and advices that you can give to me. Thank you very much.

[nyissa64]

Hi,

I am sorry to hear you may have to start giving fluids to your 6 yr old kitty. It is pretty scary at first but you can do it. I felt the exact same way in the beginning, but it does get easier.

As far as doing any damage to the skin with the needle day after day. I searched online & didn't find anything about it. I looked at her skin where the needle is inserted & didn't see any scaring or anything. I try to get it in a different spot each time so I am alternating.

[OceanKingNY]

Thanks so much for posting this video. My cat (age 14) was diagnosed with CRF 2 weeks ago, and when the vet first described this procedure to me, I was very hesitant about trying it. But after doing research on the net and watching videos like yours, it seemed much less scary. I started giving him his fluids this week. Wish us luck...

[nyissa64]

Thank you very much! I am glad it made the process less scary. I know how scared I was when we first started and how much it helped to watch other videos.

Much luck to you and your baby!!

[maryblackchurch]

What a great little girl she is..have a question, my vet told me if the fluid falls to the legs it's wasted liquids..not absorbed prperly of at all. I was also told to give mine 150 mls every 3 days. Have you heard of Azodyl..something new in the treatment of CRF.

Thanks so much for sharing this.

[raj3]

What do you do if the needle comes out?

[nyissa64]

In the beginning when we first started this process, it would come out because she would be freaking out, so I would have to hold it in place, but now it never comes out but if it did I would just re-insert it back in. She is such a good little patient!!!

[AutymnRosa]

Hello! You won 2nd place! Was it for this vid?

[nyissa64]

Tammy, no I think it was on "If time could stand still..." or "Tender Moments with Tuesday" video.

[EdenTrek]

This is Tammy here girl..OMGosh, Polly, Herm and I sat here and watched this. What a good girl I am so glad she adapted to it. Sweet little thing! Hope to talk soon, I work this weekend, but myabe Mon or Tues unless u r on during the day. Soon we r moving back to Poconos. Miss you! XXOO

[nyissa64]

Hey Tammy!!

I am also glad she has adapted to it. There for a while I wasn't sure that was going to happen.

Although this weekend she has been acting strangely and not eating. Hmmmmm

[wastedwinter]

Wow! She is an amazing cat! I have to admit the thought of the little chubby legs did give me a giggle!

I can't imagine doing this with either of my cats. Maude has a violet reaction when she gets her flea & worm treatment (one of those little tubes you squeeze onto their back). She freaks out, then takes off sulking for the rest of the week. Tuesday must feel the benefits of the treatment.... that or there is magic catnip in those treats!

[nyissa64]

Amazing she certainly is!!

You know when the vet first asked me how I felt about Administering the fluids to her at home, I thought the same thing as you, that I couldn't imagine Tuesday even going for it. But I got to thinking, she tolerates her asthma treatment, it couldn't be any worse. lol but it was... in the beginning.

[nyissa64]

But she is cool with it now. I think you are right, she must feel the benefits of the treatment... or just maybe there is some magic catnip in those treats!! LOL What ever it is.. it works!

[suziblutube]

wow! Ive been doing poohs for a little over 1 year. he gets 200 every other day. I have to put him in a kitty burrito and hold him the whole time or he runs away your kitty is SO GOOD! ha. wow. Hey, have you ever had it where you get the needle in and turn it on and it doesnt really drip? I have the bag up very high I dont understand what causes this.

xoxo

sue

[nyissa64]

Tuesday started out getting 150 ml every other day, but then her vet changed it to 100 every day.

I thought I was going to have to get one of those burrito things in the beginning, but after our last visit to the vet the tech showed me a different way to put the needle in & Tuesday got to stay in her soft padded kennel that zips on top, & amazingly enough Tuesday stayed put & didn't move a muscle. So when it came time to give fluids the next day,

[nyissa64]

in the kennel she went with a rolled up towel (that helped her feel more snug) and it went beautifully. That was the 1st night I did it all by myself. I was so happy because everytime it came time to give the fluids to her, I would get this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach because she would fight it so much. Also the other thing that helped so much was the direction the needle was put in. The 1st tech showed me to insert the needle with the rubber thing pointing toward her head

[nyissa64]

and Tuesday would buck her head backwards causing pain & making the needle fall out, by that point I was in tears & ready to throw in the towel cause I didn't want to poke her again. But now I insert the needle with the rubber end toward her tail. Works wonderful now!!!

[nyissa64]

In regards to the needle not dripping once you get it in. Yes I have had that problem. Here is what I do. Before I even poke her, I crimp the tubing, then I loosen the valve to move the clamp up or down, because the tubing will get squished after so long.

[nyissa64]

So that helps get it going, if it still stops or if it is going slow, I just turn the needle a little bit or lift up the skin and the flow starts back up again. Do u warm your fluids up before giving them to Pooh? When we first started, I didn't even know that I should warm them up, & when I did, it made a big difference, Tuesday enjoyed getting her fluids more if they are warmed a little vs being room temp.

If u have any questions please feel free to ask! The links I listed has a lot of info.

[nyissa64]

Wow that was long!!! I hope it all made a little big of sense! ‹(•¿•)›

[jenfaithwhite]

Question: Sir Kitty Kat and I are in our 2nd wk. of sub-Q. Definitely still learning. Our vet hasn't said to warm the fluid (we keep it at room temp. but you say you did too?) How did you warm yours? KK is Himalayan (long hair) which makes this process very hard...I can't see where the needle is going. Any suggestions?) Thanks for your video. Awesome! Jen!

[nyissa64]

Hi Jen!

Thanks for stopping by. Our vet said "could" warm up the fluids if we wanted to, that it might make it more comfortable for her rather than putting the fluids in at room temperature.

When I 1st started with the sub-q's I didn't warm them, then decided to & it seem to make a big difference.

Tuesday's fur isn't too long but when I 1st started with the fluids I couldn't see either so I would try to part the hair so I could at least see the skin where the needle was going in.

[nyissa64]

After you have been doing it for awhile you will just know where your going with the needle. :-)

As for how I warm the fluids. I have an oblong shaped container & it's about 3 1/2 inches deep. I put about 2 1/2 inches of water and place it in the micro for a couple of minutes. Then I place the bag of fluids in a bowl full of hot water, making sure that the entrance to the bag is not immersed, and leave to warm for a few minutes depending how warm the water is.

[nyissa64]

I usually run a little fluid on my wrist to test the temperature, just like you would when testing a baby's bottle.

I have an wonderful place I found online that has alot of helpful info on it. I will see if I can send it to you in a private message since I can't post links in the comments!

Good luck with Sir Kitty Kat, and please feel free to ask more questions if needed.

[toolgirl150]

what a patient kitty!

[nyissa64]

She really is! I couldn't ask for a better patient!!!