Vet Call Update - Blackie

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We don't have experience to offer, I'm afraid; but lots of hugs and strong hopeful vines for Blackie's feeling better with all the love and care you're giving him, Angela.

What a wonderful group we have in LL! :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:

Georgette and Clare
 
Angela, I'm sorry you're going through all of this right now (or ever), but especially when money is tight. It sounds like you've received a lot of great advice and lots of people are willing to help out. Sending positive vines and feel-better vines to you and Blackie and if there's anything else I can do, let me know.
 
I said I can't do fluids but I dif. I said I can't pill my cat but I did. I said I wint test BG but I am. I cried a lot in between. I had to have someone come to my place to teach me the best way to give fluids in my place. I had to enlist the aid of an unfriendly neighbor who hates people but loves cats until she stopped helping and I was forced to do it solo. You too can and will.
 
I had help from a good friend who taught me to do home testing for the insulin. The insulin injections I learned a very long time ago when my Mom had a diabetic poodle named Nikki. He was Mom's dog, and yet he allowed only me to give him injections, even with some 'tude. If Mom gave him injections, he would snap at her, and probably bite. He's snapped at me, but that was it.

I just need to come to grips with this and get it done.
 
How is Blackie this morning? You can do the fluids, they will help Blackie feel better, that's what got me through it, thinking about the cat. :-D
Liz
 
Angela, sorry to see what you are going through with blackie .. We just started my parents cat on fluids for kidney failure .. you can definitely do the fluids!! We just tent busters neck area, and insert the needle, bevel side up .. it literally takes less then 5 minutes of him sitting on my lap for the fluids to get in, about 100ml a day .. I don't think he even notices it to be honest .. We change out the needles each day, but use the same line each time .. we bought the fluids from KV pet supply, but I believe our fluids are something other then lactated ringers solution, hmm .. of course I can't think of the name right now, sodium something or other? But it was very cheap, I think 6.00 a bag, three bags maximum per order .. the needles were around .14 each .. You can do this! Sending out prayers to you while you are dealing with all of this ...
 
Blackie seems to be doing better this morning. She's eaten both small meals (around 21-22g each). The 2nd meal I put in 1 tsp. of water, and she lapped it up. She's eating slower now, not going to town like when she was first diagnosed. I still hold the bowl, and I'm fine with that. She doesn't take nearly as many breaks while eating. There's no purring. No turning away from food unless she's done. I let her be after that.

I woke up to 2 solid poos outside the litter box. I told my husband this morning that although we both prefer her to poop inside the boxes, as long as she's doing that, and peeing inside the boxes, I'll clean it up.

In the meantime, I'll be rewatching Marje's video to ensure that I'm doing it correctly. Perhaps by doing so, my confidence will rise to the occasion. I'll need help, though, and hubby won't be around until Sunday.
 
As long as you get everything up right, you should be ok doing it solo. I always have. I attach a coat hanger (or any hook would do) to the bag and hang it at head level somewhere. Make sure the line reaches easily to wherever you want to sit. Also, make sure the on/off valve is within reach while sitting.

Hang the bag, set up your line/needle, grab kitty and sit down. Tent the skin, insert the needle and start the drip. Doing it this way, I'm able to have one hand on kitty at all times - but I've never really had a cat try to bolt while doing this. I've always done it in the scruff of the neck and they rarely even notice the needle. One cat did start to notice it after awhile... but I was doing it twice/day for over a week - so there had been a lot of jabs by that point. Even so, the cat just flinched a little right at the poke. Still sat quietly the rest of the time.

Every once in awhile kitty would be "done" before the drip was finished. LRS sprays out pretty fast when this happens, but I just shut the valve off and call it good.

I wish you were closer, I'd gladly help.
 
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