Hocks carries the Ulti-Care brand, I believe.
U-40 syringes are only available in 28ga and 29ga. And only in 1/2" needle length, no 1/2-unit
markings.
You can use U-100 syringes with U-40 insulin....most of us prefer to.
Here is a write-up I did quite a while ago....hope this helps.
**** Begin Lecture ***
You can get U-100 syringes at most large chain pharmacies,
including WalMart, Fred Meyer, Longs Drugs, Rite Aid, Walgreen's etc.
Pharmacies only carry U-100 because that's what people use.
U-40's are for veterinary use here in the USA.
Going to U-100's means you have more choices in needle length
and gauge. U-100's are available as small as 31ga and 5/16-inch
length "shorts". The shorter, smaller gauge needle is more
comfortable for your cat.
Be sure to get U-100s with 1/2 unit marks. The marks on a U-100
syringe are ***closer together*** than on a U-40.
To put U-40 strength insulin into a U-100 syringe,
a bit of simple math is required.
U-40 units times 2.5 = number of MARKS on the U-100 syringe.
Example:
.2u U-40 x 2.5 = .5 MARKS on the U-100 syringe
.4u U-40 x 2.5 = 1.0 MARKS on the U-100 syringe
.6u U-40 x 2.5 = 1.5 MARKS on the U-100 syringe.
.8u U-40 x 2.5 = 2.0 MARKS on the U-100 syringe.
1.0u U-40 x 205 = 2.5 MARKS on the U-100 syringe.
I try to stick with even-numbered decimal doses (.2 .4 .6 .8)
of U-40 insulin
to make filling the U-100 syringe easier. You can do
the odds (.1 .3 .5 .7 .9), but then you still have to eyeball. Like
.5u U-40 = 1.25 MARKS on the U-100 syringe...you have to eyeball
between the 1.0 and 1.5 Marks.
Please note that we always state the dosage in the number of
TRUE UNITS given, not the number of marks on the syringe.
It doesn't matter if you are using U-40 syringes, U-100 syringes,
or a turkey baster, use the number of TRUE UNITS of U-40 insulin
when stating your dose.
A unit of U-40 insulin in a U-40 syringe is just the
same as a Unit of U-40 insulin in a U-100 syringe. A UNIT is a
UNIT !!!!. But you must measure to a different MARK in the U-100
syringe.
U-100 syringes can run as cheap as $10 for a box of 100 at the
big-box pharmacy stores. Many here use Reli-On brand (WalMart).
I prefer the GNP brand that I mail order from Hocks.com. I use
the 31ga "shorts" with 1/2 unit marks. They aren't any cheaper
than U-40s from my vet (about $20 per box), but I have fewer
problems with air bubbles.
If you hold a U-40 syringe up next to a U-100 syringe, you will
see that the 1.0 mark on a U-40 roughly lines up with the 2.5
mark on a U-100 syringe. (There might be a slight difference if the
barrel size of the U-100 is smaller).
That is why the multiplier of 2.5
to determine what mark to load the U-100 syringe.
The idea is to load the same LIQUID VOLUME as if you were using
the U-40 syringe.
There are four different "properties" of a syringe: U-Number, volume, needle length, and needle diameter.
U-Number: tells you the concentration of insulin that the syringe is calibrated for. The marks on the syringe deliver that many units of the corresponding concentration of insulin. In the U.S. most insulins are U-100 and most syringes are U-100. Each mark on a U-100 syringe corresponds to giving 1 unit of U-100 insulin. A U-40 syringe measures the same way with a U-40 insulin. The only time you need to do some math is if the U of the syringe does not match the U of the insulin (e.g. using a U-100 syringe with a U-40 insulin, or using a diluted insulin).
Assuming you are using a U-100 syringe and U-100 insulin following are true:
Volume: a 3/10cc syringe will deliver between 0 and 30 units of U-100 insulin A 1/2cc syringe can deliver 0-50 units of U-100 insulin. Using the smallest volume syringe you can will help in making the doses more accurate.
Needle length: commonly 1/2 inch, some needles are shorter.
Needle diameter: is measured in gauge. The larger the gauge, the skinnier the needle. So a 29 gauge needle is skinnier than a 27 gauge needle.
Hope this helps...please PM me if you have further questions.
