Injection Help!

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buttonsandlollie

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Greetings!
Buttons and I would so appreciate some advice. I have been injecting twice daily for 10 days. Some days I do a fine job, but there are times I have "leakage". I tent and shoot at the base of the tent but obviously I am doing something wrong. Is there a secret on how to get a perfect shot every time? I want my lovie to benefit from the insulin but I have to get it inside him for that to happen. Thanks in advance for your help.
Mary-Anne and Buttons
 
Hi Mary-Anne,

When you inject the needle into the tent, try pointing it down at a slight angle. That may help avoid the "fur shot". Also, the next time you buy syringes, ask for the short needle syringes. Syringes come in two lengths, 1/2" and 5/16". I suspect that you may be using the 1/2" length needle. If you change to the 5/16" syringe, you may find that you have fewer fur shots.
 
Maybe these hints will help.

I pinch up the 'tent' with my thumb and forefinger. Then I rest my third and fourth finger on the back side of the tent. When I insert the needle I can just feel it in the tent with my 3 and 4 fingers. Press the plunger all the way in, wait 1 or 2 seconds, and then withdraw the needle.
 
My 9 yr old Simba was just diagnosed w/diabetes on 4/25/11. I'm totally heartbroken. Have pretty much cried all week. I'm using the 1/2" needle lenght. I love the idea that I can probably get a smaller needle 5/16". I feel like sometimes I don't do a good job with the injections (I just started doing them on 4/25/11). I fear that my Simba is not getting the medication into him and I totally burst out crying. If I was doing fur shots wouldn't I feel the fur wet ? - Since I don't feel the fur wet, I'm hoping that my injections are going in correct.

Does any know if you can buy insulin or the needles cheaper than the vet ?

I pay $102.89 for Prozinc (Insulin)

I pay $37.00 for srringes-UltiCare u-40
 
oh, and try squirting a little insulin onto your finger and learning the smell, that really helped me know if I was giving a furshot or not. When I get done giving Saatz his shot I rub the injection site then smell my fingers, lol, I know it sounds funny, but you can tell right away if you have any on you. <3
 
Deborah&Saatz-Su said:
I do not know how many syringes you are getting for 37 dollars, but that seems expensive to me. I buy mine here:

http://www.americandiabeteswholesale.co ... &fltrdesc=

That is the page listing all their U40 syringe options, but they pretty much come out to 15 dollars for a 100 syringe box.

Hope that helps and hang in there, it gets better.
Click to expand...

WOW -Thank you so much for this site. It is so much cheaper than what I'm paying at the vet. I need to check if this company carries the insulin. Thank you again.
 
Im new too at this but maybe it's not going in enough?

I hate the needle part... If she moves and meows I cant help but pull it out, and then I have to do it again. Some days I end up poking her 5 or more times... at that point I am heading towards tears and getting mad so I walk away and try again in a few. I always ask the angels to help me after that, lol.
 
Skylin, That pretty much sounds like my first few weeks with Saatz! It really does get better, just like all the pro's on this truly helpful site say. What worked well for Saatz and I was to have me be relaxed (good job on walking away when you get upset, btw), to use the burrito method if necessary, and to give the best most favorite treats right away when we were done. He quickly learned that behaving for the shot meant not getting burrito-ed and having his favorite treat, how could he lose! Keep trying and relax!
 
been there with the tears and uncertain if you got it in or not! here's what i've learned to do with punkin, maybe it will help you.

i put his food bowl on the floor so i can box him in. his body is parallel to the wall, tail is by a hutch (so he can't back up) food dish in front of his face and i am on the floor, kneeling by the other side of his body.

on my forehead i now wear a miner's light - stupid, i know, but punkin's long hair is light near his body, same color as the skin and i couldn't see if the needle was going in or not. i bought it from REI online, a headlight for hiking & camping. i got a bright one - it has made a ton of difference. after i got it several friends told me they had one, so you might want to ask first if one of your friends has one you can borrow.

anyway, i have the syringe ready to go the second i put down the dish. i lift up a tent of skin, insert the needle and push it in fairly quickly. before i set down the dish i've held the syringe in my fingers for a minute or so to warm up the insulin so it doesn't sting.

some of the information in this link is specific to either Lantus or Levemir insulins, but most of it is REALLY helpful for anyone. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=18139

if you try the ideas everyone's tossed out and still need help, ask again. i'm sure more people have more ideas!
 
Thank you for all your great suggestions. I have had 3 straight injections with no leakage! Buttons has been a trooper and he never realizes what I am doing. He is eating....I am shooting! I am going to look into the shorter needles. That sounds like it would rectify some of the issue!
Buttons and I are truly grateful for all your help!
Mary-Anne
 
everybody here likes to help, so if you need other ideas, just ask. the place is full of knowledge!

i was going to add that somehow i had the idea that you just pinch up a tiny bit - i do the scruff - and i had nothing but trouble and a mad cat when i didn't pinch up enough. now i grab a pretty good chunk, the important thing is to separate the fat from the muscle. you'll know the difference when you lift it up, i think.
 
buttonsandlollie said:
Thank you for all your great suggestions. I have had 3 straight injections with no leakage! Buttons has been a trooper and he never realizes what I am doing. He is eating....I am shooting! I am going to look into the shorter needles. That sounds like it would rectify some of the issue!
Buttons and I are truly grateful for all your help!
Mary-Anne
Click to expand...

Yes, I think I doing the same thing looking into a shorter needles. I spoke with the tech at the vet, apparantely the tech didn't know what I meant about the leakage and said I should NOT have leakage. I think I missed Simba's injection today. I only started doing this on 4/25/11 since my baby was diagnosed w/diabetes....poor little guy. I really get upset with myself if I think I missed an injection, it really stresses me out so much.....

Winni & Simba
 

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