Lots of Air In Sub Q Fluids--HELP

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LowRow

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Hi All. I have been treating Saffron for Diabetes for some time now and found this resource and invaluable help, so I am reaching out.

I just gave him sub Q Fluids for KD and forgot to flush the line on the first injection from a bag and quite a bit of air went into him and it is all crunchy under his skin. Can anyone advise if this is a hazard!? I am worried. Thank you so much.
 
Thank you for responding. Every site talks about "slight air bubbles", but I pushed the whole line of air into him and some sites are calling it Subcutanious Emphesymia (spelling) and saying it can kill! This can get very overwhelming at times...

Merlyn was a sweetie. I just read his link. Beautiful cats...
 
Occasionally you may hear a "crackling" noise under your cat's skin after giving sub-Qs and/or the cat may seem "squishy". This simply means that a little air has got under the skin (this is known as sub-cutaneous emphysema), and is not usually anything to worry about unless it happens regularly. If it does, I would recommend that you discuss it with your vet because it may mean that your cat is over-hydrated in which case you need to reduce the amount of fluid which you are giving; or you may need to refine your technique so as to allow less air under the skin. See Treatments for more information on overhydration.
Click to expand...
from http://www.felinecrf.org/giving_sub-qs_giving_set.htm

I think the terminology is also used for air trapped under the skin because of trauma such as a tracheal tear or ruptured lung, car accidents where bone punctures lungs. Those things obviously would be more lifethreatening and serious.
 
Hi Lowrow

SQ emphysema can be pretty uncomfortable; I'd call your vet this AM and tell him or her what happened anyway. If your kitty seems uncomfortable, I'd ask for pain meds for a few days.
 
Sometimes we can't help but get air into people getting fluids and it doesn't harm them. As long as there's not a ton it should be ok. No matter how hard you try some air still might go in.
 
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