Made a complete mess of Bubs shot tonight | Feline Diabetes Message Board - FDMB

Made a complete mess of Bubs shot tonight

R

RoroB

Member since 2025
Hi I was injecting Bub's insulin tonight and I think I've possibly hit a nerve? Or injected it in the wrong place, muscle even?

I've only been injecting in his scruff but I try to vary left/right/centre and front/back. But only within about an inch square.

So tonight I've injected in what I thought was his scruff as normal. On the right side. He whimpered straight away and his right front leg started to curled in on itself within a few seconds. He also stopped eating. I immediately put my hand over where I injected and started massaging all around to try to distribute and get the contraction to loosen. Which it did in maybe 10-20 seconds. He then went back to eating and seems absolutely fine. I've had him walking around for treats and the leg is completely normal. It was all over in under a minute.

What did I do? How do I not do it again. I thought I was in a safe place in his scruff. I really hurt my boy 😭
 
Don't worry we have all been there and made mistakes, I know I have Cried my eyes out, and had sleepless nights over my mistakes, let me tag @Sienne and Gabby (GA) and @squeem3 they may may have an answer to your concern, breath in and breath out, cats sense pour stress and they stress too;):cat:🐱
 
Do a quick QC check of the needle. I've found needles that are completely bumpy or had some defect and put those directly into the Sharps container.

Insert the needle bevel side up so it glides through the skin smoothly.

Make sure to grab a good amount of skin to tent up. Pull up as far as the skin will go. Insert the needle more towards the base of the tent to avoid your fingers.
 
CORKY said:
Don't worry we have all been there and made mistakes, I know I have Cried my eyes out, and had sleepless nights over my mistakes, let me tag @Sienne and Gabby (GA) and @squeem3 they may may have an answer to your concern, breath in and breath out, cats sense pour stress and they stress too;):cat:🐱
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He came over as soon as he'd finished eating and sat purring and snuggling. He's a cuddly lovey cat anyway but he does pick up when I'm sad/worried and gives me extra attention.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
It's not unusual to do a muscle shot, it happens. :bighug:. I shot mostly below the shoulders, primarily cause that's where Neko didn't complain and her hair was shorter there. I alternated left and right sides.

There might be some tips in these posts to help you with shooting:
  1. How to "Shoot" Your Cat
  2. Testing and Shooting Tips
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I've read those but I'm going to reread! Thankyou

So that was a muscle shot then? Scared the pants off me, the way his arm contracted in and he was clearly in pain. Thought I'd broken him and we were going to the emergency vets.

He was sat hunched - which is how he eats. I'm wondering if his shoulder blade was higher than I realised or he was sat unevenly. I did pull up and tent the skin like normal and then inject with the needle parallel to his body which is how the vet showed me. But I've clearly ended up lower than I thought or intended to be.

Do you think shoulders are a better place than scruff then?
 
squeem3 said:
Do a quick QC check of the needle. I've found needles that are completely bumpy or had some defect and put those directly into the Sharps container.

Insert the needle bevel side up so it glides through the skin smoothly.

Make sure to grab a good amount of skin to tent up. Pull up as far as the skin will go. Insert the needle more towards the base of the tent to avoid your fingers.
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I do a quick visual inspection when I open the syringe before loading the insulin. I haven't seen any bad ones yet, but would get rid if I did. I have plenty of syringes, I'm not using a dodgy looking one it would hurt more.

Bevel side up is a good tip thanks if I've read that before I've forgotten it.

It's such a learning curve I thought I was doing fairly well with his shots. Helped a huge amount by the fact that he's lovely and easy and sits and eats his dinner and lets me get on with it. I've given his am shot now and it went fine
 
Good Morning! I see the big Red this morning, you had a Fur shot last night, it happens to all of us at one time or another, The last time I gave a fur shot, not too long ago, I was Frantic, I cried, and beat myself up, later to realize that at least some insulin went in, that's why we are told if believe you had a fur shot, not to shoot again, you did good. and it's ok, you are not alone, I even forgot not too long ago to give the shot! today is another day, you will probably get weird numbers changing from highs to lows, that's ok, but by tomorrow he will be ok with better numbers, You are doing a Great great Job!!;):cat::cat:
 
Wendy&Neko said:
It's what works for you and the cat. Neko was NOT fond of flank shots and let me know. Scruff is where I later had to do fluids, and you want to give the shot and the fluids physically separated.
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I shoot Corky behind the back front shoulders leg bone, I feel the bone, and move a bit lower, and pick up the scruff, I shoot him while he eats
 
CORKY said:
Good Morning! I see the big Red this morning, you had a Fur shot last night, it happens to all of us at one time or another, The last time I gave a fur shot, not too long ago, I was Frantic, I cried, and beat myself up, later to realize that at least some insulin went in, that's why we are told if believe you had a fur shot, not to shoot again, you did good. and it's ok, you are not alone, I even forgot not too long ago to give the shot! today is another day, you will probably get weird numbers changing from highs to lows, that's ok, but by tomorrow he will be ok with better numbers, You are doing a Great great Job!!;):cat::cat:
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I was so frustrated with myself last night! That's my first fur shot and was because I was trying the roll method and made a mess of it. I know not to shoot again though, just had to accept tomorrows another day - start again then. I'd had a lovely 24 hours without seeing any pinks or reds as well:cool:
 
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