Fur shots?

[csepulveda85]

I started giving my cat her insulin two weeks ago and notices last week the insulin came out... Which was true because the next dose her reading was super high.
Today I was holding her and noticed the smell of the Lentas... Plus felt small wet spot on my hand which smelled like insulin. So it must have happened today also..,

I usually pull her scruff up and inject her. She does react slightly when I pole her so I know she's getting poked but why is it coming out?
Will anything bad happen since she didn't get the full dose? She was at 330 this morning and I'm getting nervous she will skyrocket if she didn't fully get her shot.

Am I giving her a furshot?

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Hi,

If there's a little wet patch then it does sound like a 'fur shot'. Try not to worry. Most of us here have probably done that at some time or other. I certainly have.... :roll: Just carry on with the next shot as normal. (And never, ever, ever give more insulin in the event of a fur shot because you can't know how much has gone into your cat.)

You think the insulin is leaking out...? Hmmm.... Couple of things come to mind. Firstly, I wonder if you're so keen to get the shot over with that you're pulling the syringe out before you've actually discharged all the insulin? Is that possible? I always keep the syringe in the cat for a few seconds after pushing the plunger just to 'make sure' the insulin is in there. Then let go of the skin, and then remove the needle.

Another possibilty could be that your grip on the cat's scruff is such that you're squeezing the insulin out of the little hole made by the syringe. Is there definitely loose skin where you're shooting? Or does it feel really tight?

 

[csepulveda85]

I always keep the syringe in the cat for a few seconds after pushing the plunger just to 'make sure' the insulin is in there. Then let go of the skin, and then remove the needle

Yeah I usually leave it in the skin for like 5 seconds and then pull out the needle... I then pay it .. Maybe patting the area if squeezing it out?

Another possibilty could be that your grip on the cat's scruff is such that you're squeezing the insulin out of the little hole made by the syringe. Is there definitely loose skin where you're shooting? Or does it feel really tight?

Yeah the area that I poke her in, is all loose skin .. It's the area by her neck back... She used to be overweight And lost a lot of weight so she has a lot of loose skin. .. Hehehe

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Maybe patting the area is squeezing it out?

Hmmm, maybe....

Actually, I'm pretty sure I read somewhere recently that you shouldn't pat the skin after giving a Lantus shot. Nothing to do with leakage, but because the structure of Lantus insulin is fragile and can be damaged.... I can't remember where I read that, but maybe someone else here knows more about that....? (And maybe I've got that wrong...?)

 

[Angelavenger]

When i first started i had quite a few furr shots. I noticed that if the needles aren't super short sometimes it would actually have the tip go all the way through the other side of her skin. Usually i just gently pet her around the area the shot was at to see if its wet that way its not squeezed but you can definitely tell if you missed do to the smell left on your hands. Don't worry and keep at it. I think its natural to have some furr shots when starting out.

 

[BJM]

Have you checked for dehydration? If you gently tug the scruff of her neck up, does it snap right back or stay pulled up and slowly return to normal? The later suggests moderate to severe dehydration. This would keep the puncture from closing quickly, thus allowing anything injected to ooze back out.

What size needle are you using? The lower the gauge, the bigger the hole, and big holes are more likely to leak after removing the needle. Sub-Q fluid needles around 22 gauge seem to leak unless you gently pinch the area closed. You can try that with the injection site to see if that helps.

 

[Tara & Buster]

I agree with Mike in that hydration can be a significant factor. I noticed I did better once Buster got a healthy amount of water on board. I add small amounts of water to his food which helps quite a bit. Also, someone told me not to pull the tent up too tight, but I really don't know if that matters or not.

Try not to beat yourself up about it. I always feel like crap when I give a fur shot but there's nothing you can do but wait and try again the next go round. Keep at it!