Sub q fluids 1st time on own

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Benshuman

Benshuman

Member Since 2015
I just tried to give Ben sub q fluids for the first time on my own. He is on 200 and I may have gotten 100 in before he tried to take off and the needle came out and sub q fluids went everywhere including on me. He is looking at me like I have done something to traumatize him. I figure since this is the first time doing this on my own and not doing it at vets office in front of the tech there could be some minor issues like he is comfortable here and knows his surroundings and isnt as willing to just lay there.

Plus warming the fluids didnt work out very well and they were not as warm as vets office. If I can master the art of giving sub q fluids then I can work on glucose meter and the blood sample.

Saturday I will hopefully get 200 in him for his sub q fluids.

I feel like he is more of a pin cushion kitty between insulin, sub qs and the glucose meter.
 
Hi Windy. Don't get discouraged. Many times that has happened to me when giving fluids. Would it be ok to give 100 twice in a day? You and Ben wouldn't have to sit still as long at a time. Not sure if that is a way to go or not, just a thought. When I've given mine fluids, I hang the bag from a hook in my bathroom. I have a comfy chair to sit in and with the door closed to keep the others out, I hold my cat in my lap. I've still had a few get away, but I'm usually able to hold them. Maybe others will have suggestions for you, but in the meantime, keep trying. It will get easier.
 
Sharon14 said:
Hi Windy. Don't get discouraged. Many times that has happened to me when giving fluids. Would it be ok to give 100 twice in a day? You and Ben wouldn't have to sit still as long at a time. Not sure if that is a way to go or not, just a thought. When I've given mine fluids, I hang the bag from a hook in my bathroom. I have a comfy chair to sit in and with the door closed to keep the others out, I hold my cat in my lap. I've still had a few get away, but I'm usually able to hold them. Maybe others will have suggestions for you, but in the meantime, keep trying. It will get easier.
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Hi, I will ask vet tech about giving fluids twice in one day. I feel so bad poking him twice. I bought an iv stand to hang the bag from since I had no place to hang it. I only have one area I can give fluids where I have Ben set up. Unfortunatly its not enough room for a chair because of the two single ikea matress' I have there for him.
 
when you poke him it's to help him. Remember the day you found him how sick he was and now he's doing so much better thanks to your love and all those pokes!
 
My ex cat has CKD and is on subq fluids 100 ml 2x/week. At first getting her to sit still for even 100ml was difficult. We realized that being restrained for a period of time bothered her more than the poke. So he now uses a larger bore needle, so as long as it is in right, the fluid goes in quickly. Problem solved.
 
billysmom (GA) said:
My ex cat has CKD and is on subq fluids 100 ml 2x/week. At first getting her to sit still for even 100ml was difficult. We realized that being restrained for a period of time bothered her more than the poke. So he now uses a larger bore needle, so as long as it is in right, the fluid goes in quickly. Problem solved.
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I am using an 18 gauge needle. At the vet he pretty much just lays there but he was wiggly here where I live.
 
How big is Ben? 200mls is a lot of fluid. The rule of thumb I've always been given is that more than 10mls per pound in one spot can get uncomfortable for the cat. So if Ben is under 20lbs, then 200 could be a bit uncomfortable being given all at once and that may be why he runs off. Since our Taz has lost weight and is now under 10lbs, she starts to get antsy around the 70-80mls.
We've been giving subQs to her for 3 years now, most days. It might feel like we are being mean poking them, but they feel SO much better getting the fluids. We actually went to a smaller needle, use 20 gauge ultra thin wall on Taz. It is slower, but she doesn't try to kill us now and actually sits there and purrs while she eats treats.
 
I don't remember what gauge he uses now. I only do it when I cat sit. I can find out if you want. You could ask the vet if changing might help. Also maybe he will acclimate to the routine over time.
 
Melanie and Smokey said:
How big is Ben? 200mls is a lot of fluid. The rule of thumb I've always been given is that more than 10mls per pound in one spot can get uncomfortable for the cat. So if Ben is under 20lbs, then 200 could be a bit uncomfortable being given all at once and that may be why he runs off. Since our Taz has lost weight and is now under 10lbs, she starts to get antsy around the 70-80mls.
We've been giving subQs to her for 3 years now, most days. It might feel like we are being mean poking them, but they feel SO much better getting the fluids. We actually went to a smaller needle, use 20 gauge ultra thin wall on Taz. It is slower, but she doesn't try to kill us now and actually sits there and purrs while she eats treats.
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I am not totally sure on Ben's weight he weighed in at 8.9 lbs but then a few days later weighed in at 11 lbs. The last weigh in had to be inaccurate because normally he was in the 8.5 to 8.9 range. Usually the 18 gauge was fine with him at the vets it was just on my own first time was a bit of a challenge. I am guessing he will get used to this eventually.
 
billysmom (GA) said:
My ex cat has CKD and is on subq fluids 100 ml 2x/week. At first getting her to sit still for even 100ml was difficult. We realized that being restrained for a period of time bothered her more than the poke. So he now uses a larger bore needle, so as long as it is in right, the fluid goes in quickly. Problem solved.
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I wonder if an 18 gauge is being used because I read thats the largest to use on a cat.
 
Benshuman said:
I wonder if an 18 gauge is being used because I read thats the largest to use on a cat.
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Maybe you're already using the big ones. Recently th vet here started using tubing that is thinner walled and it crimps easily. Ie it doesn't always uncrimp all the way so it slowed down the drip. Probably not the issue if it was the first use though.
 
Just like hometesting, remember to give him a treat after his fluids. A couple things that may help is to feed him at the same time. I had one cat that I had to feed in order to get him to sit long enough. I also found that when you insert the needle, place the longer side towards the skin. It seems to go in easier that way.

I also agree, if you can split it into two doses it may be easier.
 
I will try again on Saturday for sub q when he normally gets it and see how he does and if needed I will split the dose. I do give him treats after insulin and gave him treats after his sub q fluids today as well. His glucose came back 238 today which was good. The vet tech did the ear prick and got the blood. I will try to do it the way she showed me on Wednesday when he normally gets it on my own and if I cant get it I will take him to the vet again and try to do it there. I set him up with an oil heater since he doesn't always lay on his heating pad. He is all stretched out enjoying the warmth from the heater, he looks really cute like he is nice and content.
 
Melanie and Smokey said:
How big is Ben? 200mls is a lot of fluid. The rule of thumb I've always been given is that more than 10mls per pound in one spot can get uncomfortable for the cat. So if Ben is under 20lbs, then 200 could be a bit uncomfortable being given all at once and that may be why he runs off. Since our Taz has lost weight and is now under 10lbs, she starts to get antsy around the 70-80mls.
We've been giving subQs to her for 3 years now, most days. It might feel like we are being mean poking them, but they feel SO much better getting the fluids. We actually went to a smaller needle, use 20 gauge ultra thin wall on Taz. It is slower, but she doesn't try to kill us now and actually sits there and purrs while she eats treats.
Click to expand...
What is the difference between a thin wall needle and a regular one, say for an 18 gauge?
 
Hi Windy, glad Bens comfy warm. If you get a chance I'd love to see some new pics of him. How's Chloe doing?
 
Benshuman said:
What is the difference between a thin wall needle and a regular one, say for an 18 gauge?
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Needles are identified by their outside diameter. A thinwall (there are also ultra thinwall needles) needle has a larger inside diameter because the wall is thinner and thus it takes less time to administer a given amount of fluids.
 
Larry and Kitties said:
Needles are identified by their outside diameter. A thinwall (there are also ultra thinwall needles) needle has a larger inside diameter because the wall is thinner and thus it takes less time to administer a given amount of fluids.
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I will make sure to get thin wall, those sound alot better.
 
Sharon14 said:
Hi Windy, glad Bens comfy warm. If you get a chance I'd love to see some new pics of him. How's Chloe doing?
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I will have to upload some Ben pictures. Chloe seems to be doing well. She is being picky about eating still but her upper respiratory infection is gone again. I am trying not to think about her going in for a tooth extraction and dental cleaning soon. I really dont like my pets going under anestisa for anything. I worry about them until they are back safely.

How old is Colin?
 
Colin is 11. I was scared too, but it has to be done, kinda like the pokes. Ask your vet to schedule her to be the first one done that morning. It makes it a little easier on them and us, I think.
 
Sharon14 said:
Colin is 11. I was scared too, but it has to be done, kinda like the pokes. Ask your vet to schedule her to be the first one done that morning. It makes it a little easier on them and us, I think.
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The vet tech said the older kitties are usually done first starting at 9 am. Since Chloe is 13, hopefully she will be the first one done and over with.

Twice now at 4:30 am Ben has called to me loudly because he wanted to eat wet food. When he did it this morning I thought something happened but just like last time he just wanted to have some wet food. It's kind of funny to see his personality coming out slowly, as he feels better, to see what he is like.
 
Benshuman said:
The vet tech said the older kitties are usually done first starting at 9 am. Since Chloe is 13, hopefully she will be the first one done and over with.

Twice now at 4:30 am Ben has called to me loudly because he wanted to eat wet food. When he did it this morning I thought something happened but just like last time he just wanted to have some wet food. It's kind of funny to see his personality coming out slowly, as he feels better, to see what he is like.
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Ben looks like such a sweetheart! So happy you've given him the opportunity to come into his own!!! :)
 
I gave Ben his sub q fluids this morning. I put him on a towel on a table. He wiggled a bit but I kept petting him. When I took the needle out he tried to run off. I do not like having to give him sub q fluids. I know it will get easier for both of us and its for his health but I just dont like having to do it. Even though it takes a few minutes for the fluids to go in him it seems like it takes forever. I gave him treats after but he seemed upset for about five minutes after I gave him the fluids and wouldnt touch the treats for awhile. I hate doing anything that upsets my pets. My cat Chloe I have to give cranberry to because of struvite crystals. I have to squirt it in her mouth by grabbing the back of her neck. I just feel like I am hurting my pets when I do this stuff to them even though I know its heping them.
 
I know how you feel. I hate it too. There have been times that I put off doing things that could help them because of that very feeling. Now I just try to take a deep breath and do what needs to be done(still feel bad though). I hope that Ben can get to where he won't need the fluids, at least not as often. Does Chloe have to have the cranberry forever, or is it a temporary thing? I think they make cranberry treats for cats, maybe check into that.
 
Sharon14 said:
I know how you feel. I hate it too. There have been times that I put off doing things that could help them because of that very feeling. Now I just try to take a deep breath and do what needs to be done(still feel bad though). I hope that Ben can get to where he won't need the fluids, at least not as often. Does Chloe have to have the cranberry forever, or is it a temporary thing? I think they make cranberry treats for cats, maybe check into that.
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I hope eventually he wont need the fluids but I was told he will probably be on them for life. He gets them Saturday and Wednesday. I dont know if I will ever get to give them less. I need to ask the vet how long Chloe has to be on cranberry and the special diet, she is finally eating it. I tried the cranberry treats and she wont eat them, of course my other cats eat them because they are not for them.

On a side note, there is a stray cat outside I started feeding, I am trying to tame it down so when I move I will take it with me so it has a home. Not that I want another cat but I would love to give this guy a place to call home where he is safe. My plan is to tame him down and take him to the vet to be checked and move him with me when I move. He waits outside now really far away for me to feed him. Its taken over a year to get to the point where he just sits in the backyard waiting for me to put food out. It may take another year before he trusts me enough to come closer. I just really hope he doesnt get hurt or eaten by coyotes before he trusts me. He lives in a wooden shed on the property, a board fell off of it about three feet from the ground. I feed him in the backyard where hopefully coyotes cant get into. I see coyotes all the time and saw one yesterday walking along the side of the house where I live.

How did you ever get over doing stuff to Colin you don't like doing?
 
That's nice of you to tame the feral kitty. I have one I named Dash, because all I ever saw of him for a long time was him dashing out my barn and across my pasture to the woods. He now sleeps with me, so it can be done with lots of patience! We have some coyotes and foxes here too. I haven't seen them up close to the house though.

I still hate doing stuff to Colin, and the others, that they don't like. For example he really needs his ears cleaned, but he HATES that, so I've been putting it off. I know it needs to be done though, so sooner or later, I'll take that deep breath and try to make it as pleasent as possible for him. Fortunately he doesn't mind the ear pricks. He comes whenever I sit in the chair-he wants his treat!
 
Your so lucky he is ok with ear pricks. I will be trying that on my own on Wednesday. I know our pets can probably tolerate alot more then we can and do feel better after getting some things done. Ear cleaning is not fun. I put it off too. Chloe had a reaction at the vets when she got her ears clean.

How many kitties do you have? How long did it take to tame Dash down to where he would let you pet him?
 
I have 14 cats. I've had several wild, ferals over the years. Some tamed fairly easily, others not so much. I was lucky with Dash because he made friends with one of the barn cats. He stayed far away from me, but watched me pet his friend and saw how much he liked it. Over time he came close enough and I touched him. He flew away, but must have thought it over because after that he let me touch him more and more. Some I've tamed by trapping them(I hate doing that because I know it terrifies them) getting them neutered then keeping them in a large cage I have. I can sit by the cage and read a book, pet the other cats, anything to be around them quietly. They usually come around.
 
I thought about if needed when I am ready to move trapping this cat too and then taking him to the vet for a health check and seeing if he needed to be fixed. I am not really into trapping either but I wont leave him here when I leave. I will even set him up with a bedroom until he tames down if I have to go down trapping route.

Do all 14 cats live inside?
 
13 come in at night. The 14th stays in the tack room in the barn . Some go out first thing in the AM, and stay out all day, but most only go out when I'm home to keep an eye out. Then in by dark.
 
Bailey has diabetes and CRF as well. I used to give him about 150ml of sub-q every 2-3 days. For the first 3-5 months it was lots of wiggling, tail swatting, sometimes growling. He would sense the time that I was preparing the fluids (warming up, changing needle) and go to the basement to hide :). Now he figured out that it is of no use and we do it fast and he is calm (we've been doing it for 2.5 years now). He had a DKA episode recently and his blood test results were out of this world. I gave him about 2oo ml every day spread over 3 sessions. I knew he has to let me do it if he wants to stay with me for a while longer. He decided that was the case :) and we are now back to 100 ml once a day. Bailey is 10lbs cat and 200 ml/day would be too much for him. You should ask your vet if you can scale back on the volume of sub-q fluids if you do it every day. I like using Terumo needles, we get 19 or 20 gauge. Our vet gave us 18 gauge needles and not Terumo brand and they look just awfully thick to poke my cat with...

Stick with it! Good luck
 
Benshuman said:
I see coyotes all the time and saw one yesterday walking along the side of the house where I live.
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And I thought I lived out in the wilds! I would probably have a heart attack if I saw a coyote walking along the side of my house! (Although years ago my late husband did see one about 5 miles away, just walking down the road, and several people claim to have seen mountain lions, including my neighbor, and I heard a scary roaring sound outside my window one night, which terrified me, lol!)

Windy, you are doing such a super job with Ben, and I think it's awesome of you to take on the feral kitty and make him part of your family. I wish more people would do it! You're a wonderful kitty Mom! :) :bighug:
 
Ben is very difficult to give sub q fluids to. He fought me and was wiggling and kicking. I tried putting him in a carrier the second time and managed to get 100 ml in him. There is no way I am going to try to give him fluids more then once a day. I called the vet and they said try giving fluids twice, try wrapping him in a towel, try having someone helping me. I dont have anyone else to help me so its on me to give him the fluids. I guess I will try wrapping him in a towel next. This is alot more complicated then I thought it would be.
 
I dont think the harness would work with him because he squirms and fights me. I think with the harness he would just run off and end up ripping the needle out of him. I think I am just going to have the vet techs do the fluids and glucose test. It will be easier for both of us. Hopefully he will only need the fluids once a week eventually.
 
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