Stupid question: How do I know when the needle is in?

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grapey

grapey

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This may be the dumbest question ever, but here goes: I've just started giving Lily (see earlier thread) Lantus twice a day a
nd I've never given shots before. I thought I would "feel" the needle going in her skin, but I don't. So a couple of times I've pushed in too hard and hurt her. :( And I can't see the entry point because of her fur.

Could I get a better of idea of what I'm doing if I shaved a small spot near her shoulders? I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to push the plunger too soon and get the insulin on her fur. But I also don't want to hurt her. :(

Any suggestions for this newbie? Thank you!
 
in the beginning i could feel it go in. if i wasn't distracted by another cat or anything like that. :-) i've been doing it so long i just put it in the tent and push and hope it got in. i have to say i've never felt a wet spot or smelled the insulin for a few years now so i must be getting it in there.

but yes, you can shave a little spot there so you can see better. it's not something you'll always have to do but for now while you're figuring everything out, it's not a bad idea to. for that matter some people have to shave a spot on the ears in order to see the blood appear so it really isn't any different than that
 
Thank you! I think I will shave a spot to help me at least for now. I guess I just didn't realize the needle would be so thin. When it's done right, she hardly notices it going in at all.
 
Are you pulling the skin into a tent before injecting? You want to lift the skin away from the muscle and inject close to parallel to the cats body. Here's a pic

skin3.jpg
Propinj.jpg


Are you are using short needles 5/16" or half inch? You can stick 5/16" needles all the way into the tent. But don't pull the tent too tight and shoot the insulin out the other side of the tent!

If she's a good eater and you can count on her eating well at preshot time, you can feed her while giving the shot. That helps distract them from the discomfort of the poke. I shoot Scooter while his face is in the food bowl and he doesn't even flinch.
 
You can also wet the fur with water at the spot you will be injecting - takes out the fluffiness factor and you can see what you're doing!

Not a stupid question at all. :cool:
 
I believe that the needle is 5/16". I do make the "tent" and stick the needle in horizontally in the "door" of the tent (my weird phrasing), so I think I'm doing that correctly. I just wish I could see the skin better. A hairless cat would be handy right now. :)

I have given her the shot while she was eating, twice, but both times she made a little squeak/meow. :( I just hope that once I slide the needle in I don't continue to push, because that will hurt her. I think that's what I've been doing.

I like the idea of wetting down the fur! Thanks!

So far the shot's been harder for me than the glucose testing. Go figure!
 
How calm is she? would she let another bean look on while you were doing this? if so, perhaps you could share where you are located and someone could come 'coach' you and that might make a word of difference?
 
Well then lets see if we can make that happen!

I live in texas so out of the question for me :cry:

But, lets work on that for ya.

I know when my civvie needed to be burrito wrapped to dropper feed, I was having a hell of a time and Patricia came and helped me for days straight.... I learned and she taught and my Slappy girl made it thru it! What a blessing she is. I know I could not have done it without her help!

I dont think Bean would allow someone to watch on or help me at first, but I think if someone visited a couple of times, Bean would get used to them. We have such a quite home that my girls are very stand offish with visitors.

Poor Slappy was so sick, I really dont think she cared at the time.

You might think about putting on your profile where you live? just an idea
or start a new thread listing needing help in Colorado Springs????

Hang in there, I know it is just around the corner as this place is GREAT!
 
Not a stupid question at all!

Grayson is a DSH, but his coat had looked like it exploded when he was dx. He had had a mat (matte?) in his hair on his hip, so I trimmed it off w/ a little cordless mustache trimmer (also great for trimming hairy paws!). For some time he got shots there, then I trimmed a little patch near his shoulder as well. It didn't look too bad, and he didn't seem to mind. By having the two places, I could switch around where he got the shot. This DEFINITELY made it easier for me.

The needle length can also be a factor. I started w/ 1/2", but currently use the shorter needle. The other day I used one of the longer ones, and was convinced some of it went in-and-out. Having the hair trimmed so you can see the needle makes it much easier for me!

Fortunately the shot hasn't been that much of a challenge for me - but getting him to bleed was difficult - and still is to some degree - even after 3 months!

Good luck!

Lu-Ann
 
I believe Sue & Oliver (GA) are also in Colorado Springs so I sent her a PM to see if she can pop in and offer some local help. :-D

Musette is a Himalayan and an extremely fluffy girl, the easiest way I have found with her to make sure that I'm getting the needle in is to tent and then gently blow on her fur to kind of part it so I can see what I was doing at first, now I can simply tent and shoot. it does get easier with practice.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang
 
I live in the Springs but am in Washington state visiting grand kids till mid April. I'd be glad to help you when I get back in town. There was another Springs person who hasn't posted lately. We'll see if she is around.
 
Hi, I got a PM from Momma of Muse. I'm in the Springs :) Haven't been around since before Christmas (!) but we're still going and did away with the SS because I got too stressed! Lucky seems to be regulated for the most part now on pretty consistent 1.3 unit doses, just have to work on pushing things a little further and still hoping for remission! He's going with us to a mountain cabin in May for a vacation :) He's a well traveled kitty, lol

Anyhow! I would be glad to help a newbie out. Hubby is away right now with the Army so it's just me against the kids but I will try to help as much as I can :) Just PM me and we can work something out. If you want to see how I give Lucky his shot, I give it at 11:30am. Can't help you out with the Lantus part since we still do ProZinc but I can definitely help out with any testing questions or administering the shot :) I use a 1/2 inch 29 gauge Relion needle and Lucky does just fine with that.
 
You guys are amazing! Thank you so much! Nice to meet some people near me. :) Today's shot went better, no yelping, so that was good. I may be in touch. Life is a bit crazy right now with work and health problems (my own) but it would be really helpful to see somebody else in action.

You're all amazing.
 
How wonderful a post response. Everyone here is great and will pitch in when necessary!
Lilly is in good hands and I just know you will go the extra mile for her.
Happy happy furry Easter bunnies to us all!
Still wishing I was in your area ;-)
 
I hope you didn't think I meant that I wouldn't come to you and help with your kitty! I can do that but I just thought I'd offer for you to see me give my own kitty his shot as well, if you wanted to ;-)

I understand about the crazy life thing! I just wanted to mention that it doesn't necessarily have to be at shot time for me to help you. If you feel like you need help with where to inject and how, just PM me! I don't want to say what part of town I'm in on the board so if you want to exchange information on what part of town we are in, just send me a message.

Don't worry, there will come a day when you'll be able to give a shot without even giving anything a second thought....speaking of, Lucky is due for his right now ;-)
 
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