Having Problems with Insulin Injections

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Bdon

Member Since 2015
I have been giving insulin injections to my cat for three weeks. He is a cat who doesn't like to be picked up, held, or touched very often. At first he tolerated the shots, but now he cries when we pick him up and jumps and hisses when I give him the injection. Since he jumps during the injection, I sometimes don't get all the insulin in. I just dread giving him the shots and it is so upsetting for him. Any suggestions I can make it easier for both of us?
 
I'm sorry you and your kitty are having a hard time with the injections (my Saoirse didn't like them much, either). Is there any chance you could let us know which insulin your kitty receives, please, because that could help people to give you better answers? For example, Lantus (insulin glargine) can sting when it's administered.
 
Thanks for the tip! Do you inject when Patches II is still at the food bowl? My kitty's name is Kramer.
 
I shoot mine while she has her head buried in her food dish, she never even looks up. Also where are you shooting? Some cats have a place they like better than others, when I still had two on insulin Cass wouldn't let me touch his neck so I shot him in the side, right in front of his hind leg, Autumn will flinch if I shoot her anywhere but her scruff or between her shoulder blades.

Mel and The Fur Gang
 
MommaOfMuse said:
I shoot mine while she has her head buried in her food dish, she never even looks up.
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Ditto to what Mel said.
I give the shot when Bert is eating his food or is munching on a few crumbled treats and he rarely looks up. The exception to this was in the very early days when my shot technique wasn't so great. (And I do sympathise with you because I remember - all too well - that 'dreading giving the shot' thing....)
So......
Are you holding/restraining your kitty for the shots? If so, there is no need to do that. Holding/restraining can cause way more stress than the shots themselves.
Giving a shot should not be painful.
Are you pulling up a handful of skin when you give the shot? Or is there a chance that you're being kind of tentative about that and shooting into the muscle below?
Can you take us though your routine? Maybe we can spot where the problem is?

Eliz
 
Thanks everyone for the great feedback! When I first started giving the shots, I would wait until Kramer was finished eating and laying down. I give the shots in the scruff of his neck, alternating between the left side, right side, and center. He seemed to tolerate the shots well, never even made a peep! Then he caught on, and started turning his head and hissing at me or trying to bite or scratch me. I thought perhaps a standing position might be better for him, and I now have my husband hold him on the counter. He
 
I inject Gracie while she's eating. She's on the floor. Ikm bending over, getting a tent of fur, then shooting.
 
Thanks everyone! I will try shooting Kramer up while he is eating. I use a 40 syringe - I think that is fairly small?
 
Typically U40 syringe have a larger needle diameter than available on human U100 syringes. You can get U100 syringes as small as 31 gauge. The larger number the smaller diameter.
You can use human U100 syringes with a U40 insulin. You need to convert the reading:
Drawing up a U40 insulin to the 2 1/2 units marking on a U100 syringe equals 1 unit of the U40 insulin. Each 1/2 unit markings on a U100 syringe is 0.2 units of a U40 insulin
 
Last night I tried approaching Kramer while he was eating as a test. I didn't have a shot ready, I thought I would see how he reacted first. Once I got near him, he stopped eating and walked away. My husband and I tried another approach. We put him on top of his cat pole shelf and let him lay on his side unencumbered for the shot. He was less fussy, but he still yelped and jumped when I poked him. I believe I am giving the shot correctly. I pull up the skin to make a tent, and shoot horizontally through the excess skin. I can't feel that I am hitting anything like muscle. When I poke him and he jumps, sometimes the needle comes out a little, and his fur gets wet.
 
It's a real pain isn't it ? Try putting him on top of his shelf, then get your husband to tickle him under the chin, or rub his hand round his head to distract him . Get a bit of the loose skin just in front of his hind leg & try shooting him there. I tried that today with my husband holding Squiggs & she didn't notice. It doesn't sound as if your hitting muscle.

Perhaps he's just got very sensitive nerve endings round his neck. I've read here that if you don't think all the insulin has gone in, don't be tempted to top up the shot.

Good luck, it's a bit nerve wracking til you get the right technique :(
 
How about making injection time a little bit special. Does Kramer like being groomed? If yes, then maybe try grooming him for a few minutes to relax him and then give the injection.

I've read that cats need to be able to see an escape route. When administering injections, testing, or giving medications to Saoirse I always sit or stand behind her so that she has sight of an 'exit'. I think it helps her to tolerate the treatments better because she can see a way out.

I echo Lyn's advice above. If you're not sure whether or not the full dose of insulin has been administered successfully, NEVER give more. Wait until the next scheduled injection time. If it's a critical time, test more frequently during the cycle when you think all the insulin dose may not have been delivered successfully.
 
Like others, I let food help me. Is there a low carb treat that Kramer absolutely loves? You could possibly give him his shot while eating a special treat. Have you tried freeze dried chicken? I have never seen a cat that didn't go crazy for freeze dried chicken.
My girl is a lovebug also but quite fractious, and I could not do her injections any other way. I call it "chicken and a shot" :)

When she was first diagnosed, I never thought I would be able to get the shots into her. The first week was horrible, I was like you, chasing her around, trying to find a good time, place to do it, and every time I touched her to would swat at me, scream and run off. Add the anxiety never giving injections before and unsure if I was even doing it right...oh what mess! You can practice the injecting to make yourself a bit quicker and more comfortable with that aspect of it (I used a stuffed animal)

I managed Katie's 2x daily injection (by myself) with this routine- About 20 minutes after her meal, I announced it's time for "chicken and a shot".
I prepare the shot, crumble up freeze dried chicken on a plate and set it on the counter (our "shot spot). WHILE she was eating her treat, I did the injection.
It became a routine and she expected it.
I always chose the same shot for shooting, and don't chase her around. On the rare occasion she refused to get up to the "shot spot", I placed her there and immediately give her the chicken and shot. Most of the time she waited in the "shot spot" for it. I think having a "shot spot" (giving the shot in one place of the house w/treat) all the time is better. They begin to learn that's the only place it happens and they get a treat, and they aren't fearful of you every time you get them near in between shots. If you inject them in random spots, they never when to expect it and become fearful. It becomes an unpleasant experience. You want it to be pleasant, and the treat makes it a much happier experience...a reward of sorts.

Hope this helps. Try using a treat he absolutely loves and cannot resist.
 
Wow! First of all, I want to thank each and everyone one of you for your detailed and understanding posts. It has meant the world to me knowing that I am not the only one that has struggled with this issue and that with your brilliant suggestions, there may be a way to make this easier for both Kramer and myself! I am going to show these to my husband and try a new technique tonight. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks again!!
 
I also usually do it while he's chowing down..he doesn't even notice now. Or he's between me knees on the ground, if he's tense i pet him and coo so he relaxes..go in with confidence and its easier to do it quickly.:)
 
I avoided having to give the shots at all for a while because i found them so awkward! I never felt i was getting the skin / tent right. I was always worried dweezy would move suddenly whilst the needle was in him, and the first time i did do it by myself, it was a fur shot!!!! I had NO confidence!

Now, i am much more comfortable, thank goodness. It just takes a bit of time.
 
Another concern might be the manner of the injection. Are you inserting the needle at an angle or going straight down. You might be sticking a bit of muscle instead of just under the skin. If so, that is painful to the cat. I give my injections in the scruff of the neck. Another friend of mine gives them in the loose folds of the belly. Maybe changing sites might help. Good luck from Jane e and Stewey.
 
Well, I combined some of the helpful suggestions from all the posts for the shots last night and this morning. First, I practiced the injection on a stuffed animal. Then I put a towel on our countertop and my husband brought out the treats. He put Kramer on the towel so he could see an exit, and started feeding him treats. I injected him a little lower than the scruff of his neck, in case it was sensitive. He was enjoying his treats so much, that there was not a whine, a peep, or a jump when I poked him! He was fine for both shots!! I am hoping this lasts and things will go smoother from now on. Thanks everyone for the support!!
 
That's great news. Using a finer gauge needle should help, too.

I will add that some vets say you can use the same syringe more than once. That is false! It gets dull after the first use. I'm not saying you are reusing them, but I thought I would add that just in case others were doing it.
 
Bdon said:
Well, I combined some of the helpful suggestions from all the posts for the shots last night and this morning. First, I practiced the injection on a stuffed animal. Then I put a towel on our countertop and my husband brought out the treats. He put Kramer on the towel so he could see an exit, and started feeding him treats. I injected him a little lower than the scruff of his neck, in case it was sensitive. He was enjoying his treats so much, that there was not a whine, a peep, or a jump when I poked him! He was fine for both shots!! I am hoping this lasts and things will go smoother from now on. Thanks everyone for the support!!
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Yay!!
 
Bdon said:
Well, I combined some of the helpful suggestions from all the posts for the shots last night and this morning. First, I practiced the injection on a stuffed animal. Then I put a towel on our countertop and my husband brought out the treats. He put Kramer on the towel so he could see an exit, and started feeding him treats. I injected him a little lower than the scruff of his neck, in case it was sensitive. He was enjoying his treats so much, that there was not a whine, a peep, or a jump when I poked him! He was fine for both shots!! I am hoping this lasts and things will go smoother from now on. Thanks everyone for the support!!
Click to expand...
Sweet success! Congratulations! We give my little Hannah's insulin on a table, next to a window, overlooking the yard. She doesn't mind her injections at all. She's apparently too busy keeping an eye on things outside.
 
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