Despite my cat drinking a lot of water, it gets dehydrated quickly due to diabetes. So I've been administering SC fluids per the vet's instructions three times daily. The skin is getting coarser and more hard to penetrate and that worries me a little. Will this problem resolve on its own after stopping the injections or is it permanent?
Frequent SC fluids
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Tracey&Jones (GA)
Member Since 2016
Is your kitty getting insulin? If so, what insulin are you using. When was your kitty diagnosed? How long have you been giving subq fluids?
When you say the skin is courser do you mean that you think it is denser?
When you say the skin is courser do you mean that you think it is denser?
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Red & Rover (GA)
Member Since 2016
Are you using a new needle each time you give fluids?
He's been receiving 2 units of Lantus twice daily for a month now. He's been diagnosed a couple of days late so he lost a lot of weight burning fat. I've been giving the fluids ever since but with different frequencies, depending on his condition. And all I mean by coarser is that the skin is hard to penetrate and I have to insert the needle in another place so it would go in smoothly. I only use the needle a couple of times then get a new one. I don't know the exact age of my cat but he's not young at all. All I'm worried about is running out of places for injections in the future.
Amy&TrixieCat
Member Since 2011
How much fluid are you giving? Is it fully absorbed before giving the next round? Three times a day is quite frequent...even when Trix was in advanced CKD, we only gave fluids twice a day. I’d be concerned about over hydration with giving fluids that frequently. Also, have other conditions been ruled out as a cause for the dehydration?
You absolutely need to use s new needle every time you give fluids. For one thing, one stick dose make the needle dull, which will worsen scarring and make the stick more painful. One of the stickies at top of the forum had pictures of what needles look like after use (sorry I can’t remember which sticky and I’m posting from my phone do hopping around is a pain).
For another thing, reusing s needle created opportunity for infection.
You absolutely need to use s new needle every time you give fluids. For one thing, one stick dose make the needle dull, which will worsen scarring and make the stick more painful. One of the stickies at top of the forum had pictures of what needles look like after use (sorry I can’t remember which sticky and I’m posting from my phone do hopping around is a pain).
For another thing, reusing s needle created opportunity for infection.
I'm giving him 50 ml three times, and yes he absorbes the fluids as when I pinch his skin it doesn't return to it's place fully. Also might be because of the fat he lost? We've done a lot of tests and there is no other reason for the dehydration
Amy&TrixieCat
Member Since 2011
Is there a reason you're doing fluids 3 times a day? I know it can be good to spread them out depending on the circumstances, but I wonder if 75mls twice a day would work - fewer needle sticks, less scar tissue.
How are his BGs? Are you home testing? Once the diabetes is better regulated, his need for fluids should go down. Let us know if we can help with tracking his BGs.
How are his BGs? Are you home testing? Once the diabetes is better regulated, his need for fluids should go down. Let us know if we can help with tracking his BGs.
Unregulated kitties will drink and pee a lot. Are you home testing your cat (name?)'S blood sugars. Getting him regulated will help the hydration. Instead of fluids, you might wNt to try adding extra water to his food. Are you feeding low carb wet food? Adding a bit of water to each meal is good for diabetics and much easier than giving fluids.
Thank you for caring. Unfortunately I don't have a home monitor yet, but each time I go to the vet's his BG levels range from 200 to 500. But no matter what the levels are, he drinks tons of water and still I feel that he is dehydrated when I do skin turger. I feed Farafero (my cat's name ^^) low carb wet food. I'm getting a glucose meter as soon as possible.
That is a lot of subq fluids even for a cat with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We don’t usually give fluids to unregulated diabetics on a routine basis and it is always much better for a kitty to get their fluids from what they drink or you can add to their food. This is true even in the case of cats with CKD until it gets to a point where they can’t keep up.
Amy and Wendy are correct in that (a) you should never, ever reuse a needle and (b) he’s better off with you adding more water to his wet food and then allowing him to drink what he needs to. Once you use a needle, it becomes blunt and warped. It will be painful to him to reuse it. Here’s a photo of what happens to needles that you reuse:
If you build up scar tissue in his scruff, you’ll have to shoot the insulin in his chest or flank areas or else he will not be able to absorb the insulin. If he were mine, I’d either lay off the fluids or give 75ml every other day and let him drink.
What gauge needle are you using for the subqs? If you are using what the vet gave you, which is usually 18g, those are like harpoons. I use and recommend 21g needles. It will take longer for the fluid to go in but it will leave a much smaller hole. I gave my CKD kitty fluids daily for four years and he never got any scar tissue.
Have they done labs to be sure it’s only diabetes and not hyperthyroidism or CKD both of which could also make him want to drink a lot of water.
Amy and Wendy are correct in that (a) you should never, ever reuse a needle and (b) he’s better off with you adding more water to his wet food and then allowing him to drink what he needs to. Once you use a needle, it becomes blunt and warped. It will be painful to him to reuse it. Here’s a photo of what happens to needles that you reuse:
If you build up scar tissue in his scruff, you’ll have to shoot the insulin in his chest or flank areas or else he will not be able to absorb the insulin. If he were mine, I’d either lay off the fluids or give 75ml every other day and let him drink.
What gauge needle are you using for the subqs? If you are using what the vet gave you, which is usually 18g, those are like harpoons. I use and recommend 21g needles. It will take longer for the fluid to go in but it will leave a much smaller hole. I gave my CKD kitty fluids daily for four years and he never got any scar tissue.
Have they done labs to be sure it’s only diabetes and not hyperthyroidism or CKD both of which could also make him want to drink a lot of water.
I am going to lay off the fluids a little because I also think that it's too much. I was just doing as the vet instructed. As for the needle I don't know its type but it belongs to a 10 ml syringe.
Regarding other diseases, we've done some tests at the beginning and his BUN and blood urea levels were high but he was also severely dehydrated and the vet said that could have been the reason. I'm supposed to have him tested again soon to know for sure.
Regarding other diseases, we've done some tests at the beginning and his BUN and blood urea levels were high but he was also severely dehydrated and the vet said that could have been the reason. I'm supposed to have him tested again soon to know for sure.
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