Help! I'm hurting Pnut!

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kcapps

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Apparently I'm terrible at giving insulin shots! The first 2 I gave went awesome...but since then I am doing something wrong....I've definitely hurt him a couple of times and now he wants out of there every time we pull up his skin. I feel so bad...I even watched some youtube videos....sigh!

Kelly
 
Unless you are shooting a high dose like 5 or more units or store the syringes in the fridge, the syringe will warm up the normal insulin dose.

What gauge (diameter) needles on the syringe are you using and what length needle are you using? 31 gauge (the smallest diameter available are the least painful and the shot (5/16 inch) make the shot quick since I just tent and stick the needle in all the way.
 
Something I was doing without realizing it was pinching the 'tent' harder as I got the needle closer which did hurt him. Maybe you're doing that too???? Just a thought when I read this....
 
Where on his body are you injecting? (scruff, sides?). Are you sure your holding the needle parallel to his body and not hitting muscle?
Carl
 
I'm trying to tent....that's how the vet showed us. We've been doing it in the scruff of the neck...but the vet said after we are comfortable we won't want to always do it there.

We do store the insulin in the fridge and give him 3-4 units. I just checked the needles and they are 25G x 5/8"....do you think I should get a different size?

Kelly

eta- It might be that I am pinching the tent without realizing it...
 
I would definitely go down needle size- BD makes a good 100U insulin needle/syringe combo that uses short 31g needles (3/10cc). The problem I have with these is that they only have whole unit markings. I use Lantus and need half unit markings and the only ones I've found that are still made are ReliOn and are only available at Walmart. Also, after I got more comfortable giving shots, I tried locations other than the scruff and Smokey did NOT like those... I've read reports of other kitties reacting the same way...
 
.25 gauge is big, and the other thing is the 5/8" length. I used 29g 1/2, which I think is kind of "standard", but they don't have 1/2u lines. I've read here that many people use needles that are only 5/16" long, and they seem to work the best with kitties that don't like the needles, and help people avoid "fur shots".

carl
 
This is where I get Musette's syringes and I love them, they ship extremely fast and even though it doesn't show it, they do have 1/2 unit marks.

http://www.americandiabeteswholesal...t-ultra-comfort-insulin-syringes_2552_178.htm Musette is a very tiny kitty only 7lbs and she doesn't even notice these when I give her shots. Not only is she tiny but was very thin when I adopted her, but I can slide these in and out without her even looking up from her bowl of food. :-D

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang
 
kcapps said:
I'm trying to tent....that's how the vet showed us. We've been doing it in the scruff of the neck...but the vet said after we are comfortable we won't want to always do it there.

We do store the insulin in the fridge and give him 3-4 units. I just checked the needles and they are 25G x 5/8"....do you think I should get a different size?

Kelly

eta- It might be that I am pinching the tent without realizing it...
Click to expand...

Uhhhh 25 gauge are HARPOONS !

Are they insulin needles. Look on the syringe. It should say something like "for U-100 insulin" or
for "U-40 insulin". It sounds like you might be using Tuburculin syringes (some vets give those).

Are they marked in UNITS of insulin, (not ml of liquid) ?

What is your insulin, again ?? Is it U-40 or U-100 strength.
 
If I squirt the insulin in really quickly then Max will flinch and give a little yelp, especially with doses 2.5 upwards (small doses seem ok). I have to push the plunger in really slowly over 4-5 seconds and then he doesn't feel it and will keep purring the whole time. This is something else you could try if you haven't already.
 
Agree with Karen, are these actual insulin syringes....are they u40 or u100? I'm thinking of the harpoon I gve Tom subQ fluids with was about that size.
 
Wow that is a big needle...I would yelp too. I use a 29 gauge lancet, which is smaller than you are using for a needle, and they look huge to me. I use a 33 gauge syringe needle and Musette doesn't even look up from her food at shot time. (Remember the bigger the number the skinner the needle).

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang
 
In addition to the terrific advice from the previous posts, you should massage and "tent" his skin several times a day when you are NOT giving the injections so he won't think anything is odd when you do. Try to put him in the same location and position where you would administer the injection and tell him what a good boy he is. Good luck!
 
Also make sure you are not pointing the needle down into her, into the muscle. It should be sideways, almost like you are laying the syringe on her back and sliding it into the tent.
 
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