Sub-Q fluid

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tortie58

tortie58

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Ive searched through the forum on info on Sub-Q fluid but was unable to find detail. I know there is a Sodium Chloride & a Lactated Ringer. What is the difference in useage?
My Rosy struggle when I give the Sodium chloride solution. Is it salt content hurting her?
Can somebody point me there? Tks
 
tortie58 said:
Ive searched through the forum on info on Sub-Q fluid but was unable to find detail. I know there is a Sodium Chloride & a Lactated Ringer. What is the difference in useage?
My Rosy struggle when I give the Sodium chloride solution. Is it salt content hurting her?
Can somebody point me there? Tks
Click to expand...


Are you getting the SQ fluid kits from your vet to give Rosy at home?
What size needles do you have to use to give the fluids?
My vets usually tried to give me size 18gauge, but they are HUGE and it must feel very uncomfortable because both of my cats squirm and try to get away. The fluids may flow quickly, too quickly on the thick needle so that may bother the cats too.

Whenever I get needles for fluids, I tell the vet I want size 22ga UTW - 22gauge Ultra Thin Wall - and both of my cats are fine with the thinner needles. Sure the fluids may take twice as long to get into the cat but at least the cat is not uncomfortable.

If you can't get the 22ga needles, then the 20ga are OK.
 
Lisa and Merlyn (GA) said:
Are you warming them a bit? Check out http://www.felinecrf.org
And I don't have the link (on phone) but Google weird stuff we make. It's a link showing how to do it.
Click to expand...
Gayle Shadoe & Oliver said:
tortie58 said:
Ive searched through the forum on info on Sub-Q fluid but was unable to find detail. I know there is a Sodium Chloride & a Lactated Ringer. What is the difference in useage?
My Rosy struggle when I give the Sodium chloride solution. Is it salt content hurting her?
Can somebody point me there? Tks
Click to expand...


Are you getting the SQ fluid kits from your vet to give Rosy at home?
What size needles do you have to use to give the fluids?
My vets usually tried to give me size 18gauge, but they are HUGE and it must feel very uncomfortable because both of my cats squirm and try to get away. The fluids may flow quickly, too quickly on the thick needle so that may bother the cats too.

Whenever I get needles for fluids, I tell the vet I want size 22ga UTW - 22gauge Ultra Thin Wall - and both of my cats are fine with the thinner needles. Sure the fluids may take twice as long to get into the cat but at least the cat is not uncomfortable.

If you can't get the 22ga needles, then the 20ga are OK.
Click to expand...


Yes, I did warm the fluid a bit so that its not cold when inject. And I am using a 9%Sodium Chloride from vet. I am using a 21G 1TW. It is when the water started to accumulate that she struggled. I am giving her 100ml in the morning.
 
tortie58 said:
Ive searched through the forum on info on Sub-Q fluid but was unable to find detail. I know there is a Sodium Chloride & a Lactated Ringer. What is the difference in useage?
My Rosy struggle when I give the Sodium chloride solution. Is it salt content hurting her?
Can somebody point me there? Tks
Click to expand...
i've only used Lactated Ringers Solution when administering sub-q fluids, but you can learn more about the types of fluids here: Choosing a Fluid.
it discusses the different kinds of fluids available.

i did find this...

Saline Solution (Sodium Chloride or NaCl):
"Saline solution is sometimes suitable for cats with high calcium levels, but it is usually too acidic for a CKD cat, plus it can sting when injected sub-cutaneously which may make the cat resist fluids; it also lacks the buffer contained in lactated ringers, and does not have added potassium, which many CKD cats need. It is also not usually suitable for cats with hypertension or liver problems. However, it may be helpful for cats with hyperkalaemia (high levels of potassium)."

i'm not sure if that's what you're using. you might want to talk to your vet about kind of fluids are best for Rosy.

hope this helps...
 
tortie58 said:
Yes, I did warm the fluid a bit so that its not cold when inject. And I am using a 9%Sodium Chloride from vet. I am using a 21G 1TW. It is when the water started to accumulate that she struggled. I am giving her 100ml in the morning.
Click to expand...
maybe it's too much fluid to give at once (making her uncomfortable).
you could try giving 50ml twice a day rather than 100ml in one sitting.
 
ok here's an idea.... split the fluids into 2 sittings.

I never had issues with Oliver, but sometimes Shadoe gets impatient when we get to the 75ml mark, so I may be aiming for 100ml but as soon as she is struggling, I stop the session.

You may have better luck if you can give her 50 in the morn and 50 in the evening. The last thing you want to do is to get Rosy hating her fluids. I bet she'll be better with 2 sittings.
 
My lactated ringers are hanging in the room at air temperature, however they still feel cool in the IV cord as I inject them. I too changd to the smaller needles. I think the time difference is about 2-3 minutes for 100 units, if even that much. If Grayson has his face in a bowl of food, he barely notices. If not, he's wiggly. Just like with testing and shooting, you need to find a comfy place to do the fluids, spend some quality time there - even when NOT doing fluids, and reward them afterward.

Something I read this morning that I wasn't consciously doing... and may not be on others' radar as well. In an article on how to shoot your cat, it described the position of the needle... chiseled side of tip should be facing up to minimize discomfort for your cat. That may have been the issue I had w/ Grayson being VERY uncomfortable the other day - that and the larger needle.

Lastly, if your cat is small-framed, you may want to do the fluids in smaller doses as discussed previously. I actually asked the vet about that yesterday, as I remember the HUGE "Hunchback of Notre Dame" bump when she gave 100 the first time... and the much smaller hump when I've done it since. Some of the fluid is absorbed quickly, but apparently it also just goes where gravity takes it - to the ankles, the neck, etc.

Hope the fluids are working well for your baby.
 
Grayson & Lu said:
My lactated ringers are hanging in the room at air temperature, however they still feel cool in the IV cord as I inject them. I too changd to the smaller needles. I think the time difference is about 2-3 minutes for 100 units, if even that much. If Grayson has his face in a bowl of food, he barely notices. If not, he's wiggly. Just like with testing and shooting, you need to find a comfy place to do the fluids, spend some quality time there - even when NOT doing fluids, and reward them afterward.

Something I read this morning that I wasn't consciously doing... and may not be on others' radar as well. In an article on how to shoot your cat, it described the position of the needle... chiseled side of tip should be facing up to minimize discomfort for your cat. That may have been the issue I had w/ Grayson being VERY uncomfortable the other day - that and the larger needle.

Lastly, if your cat is small-framed, you may want to do the fluids in smaller doses as discussed previously. I actually asked the vet about that yesterday, as I remember the HUGE "Hunchback of Notre Dame" bump when she gave 100 the first time... and the much smaller hump when I've done it since. Some of the fluid is absorbed quickly, but apparently it also just goes where gravity takes it - to the ankles, the neck, etc.

Hope the fluids are working well for your baby.
Click to expand...


Thankyou Grayson & Lu. There is so much to learn from here!
Maybe I'm going it too quick because I thought its better to get the sub q over as quick as possible to let Rosy leave. She is stressed by all that pricking for test already.
I'll try to go slow.
 
Tonight was the first time Grayson was pretty committed to NOT eating when I needed to do the fluids. I held him in my lap - pulled up to the table to kinda wedge him in place. I petted him & talked to him, then put the needle in (chisel facing upward), and continued to stroke and chat. Before you knew it, 100 mL in, I held the point of insertion so he didn't "leak", and we chatted some more. Not stressful this time.

But I like it better when he's distracted with food!
 
Grayson & Lu said:
Tonight was the first time Grayson was pretty committed to NOT eating when I needed to do the fluids. I held him in my lap - pulled up to the table to kinda wedge him in place. I petted him & talked to him, then put the needle in (chisel facing upward), and continued to stroke and chat. Before you knew it, 100 mL in, I held the point of insertion so he didn't "leak", and we chatted some more. Not stressful this time.

But I like it better when he's distracted with food!
Click to expand...

Oh! It's great that Grayson took this happily! 100ml do take some time to go in especially when the needle is fine. Is that a 22g you're using?
I'd better get a bag of lactated Ringer instead of using the current sodium chloride.
 
I'm not familiar with the sodium chloride (does that make him tell the truth? :lol: )

I was using an 18 gauge needle; I'm using the 20 instead, which is smaller yet. With the bag running wide open, it probably takes 5-7 minutes for 100 mL, which doesn't seem that much longer than the larger needles (seemed like it took longer at the vet's office) - and he didn't wince/cry/squirm when I inserted it. He's SUCH a good little trooper!

I'm sure either would be fine.
 
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