We should not inject to the scruff of the neck?

[PH&MonkeyPenPenFaFaTiger]

Please see this FDMB page:

It says "Most people, including veterinarians, make the mistake of injecting the insulin into the scruff of the neck. This area has a very poor blood supply and insulin absorption is thus rather erratic from this area. Use an area further back around the hips or flank or, ideally, on the sides of the stomach. Try to rotate sites also, because repeated injections in the same site can cause a "granuloma" or knot of tissue that has poor blood supply (which means the insulin isn't absorbed well)."

My problem is I cannot find video that is not inject in the scruff of the neck or near the near of middle of scapula. According to your experience, does this matter? I am not fully confident to inject in other area because I afraid I can damage muscle, nerve, internal organ.

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

Peter the only place I ever injected was in Throuble's "scruff" . Unless there has been some huge change that I am not aware of thats where MOST people inject. I HAVE heard that some inject near stomach area but not many. Hang on for more advice I'm sure others will chime in on this one.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

Here ya go-- injection sites:

I think it's generally a good idea to move around so that you aren't always injecting in the same place. That can lead to scar tissue and other problems.

I have also heard that about the scruff having comparatively poor blood flow. Given that, if you start injecting in other places, it's probably good to keep a close eye at first just in case you get a stronger-than-usual reaction to the insulin.

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

Nan isnt it true you NEVER shoot into the muscle? I've been out of this loop for so long I see things changing all the time/ sigh

 

[Shelley & Jess]

I always shoot insulin in the sides & B12 in the scruff. More room to move around on the sides. And yes, I definitely found a difference between shooting insulin in the scruff vs the sides - absorbed better and most times more predictable response in the sides.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

Nan isnt it true you NEVER shoot into the muscle?

Right, not into the muscle. All those alternate sites have loose skin just like the scruff, so you do the same thing you do there and pinch up a bit of it to do the injection subcutaneously.

 

[PH&MonkeyPenPenFaFaTiger]

Nan isnt it true you NEVER shoot into the muscle? I've been out of this loop for so long I see things changing all the time/ sigh

Due to some reason I have tried to inject something to my muscle fibers, which is close to tendon and ligament . IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. Especially when you move your muscle you will feel that the fibers are rubbing the needle which can hurt very badly. And my doctor told me: "Wow you have high pain tolerance, many of my clients cry like hell"

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Please see this FDMB page:

It says "Most people, including veterinarians, make the mistake of injecting the insulin into the scruff of the neck. This area has a very poor blood supply and insulin absorption is thus rather erratic from this area. Use an area further back around the hips or flank or, ideally, on the sides of the stomach. Try to rotate sites also, because repeated injections in the same site can cause a "granuloma" or knot of tissue that has poor blood supply (which means the insulin isn't absorbed well)."

This is very old info, and seems not to be borne out by most peoples' actual experience (otherwise most people wouldn't be continuing to give shots in the scruff....).

I've been on the forum since Jan 2007, and at that time most people were giving shots in the scruff, with a few advocating to give shots elsewhere on the body.
In theory, you can give shots pretty much anywhere the cat will let you get hold of some loose skin. In practice, most people find it easiest to give shots in the scruff. If you find that giving shots elsewhere works better for your kitty then you should be guided by your own direct experience.

My first diabetic was on insulin for nearly 11 years (before finally going into remission at that point). He mostly got shots in the scruff over all that time without any absorption problems whatsoever. ...I did also experiment with giving shots elsewhere on his body. In my experience with my cat I found that the shots closer to the abdomen started to work faster than those given in the scruff, but that the overall drop in blood glucose was similar.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

Yeah, I think that particular article ("never" in the scruff) is too extreme in its recommendations, but it still brings up some good points to think about. Whatever the cause, it is interesting that there are so many anecdotal reports of different activity when injecting in the scruff vs. elsewhere, and I do think it is good practice to move the shot location around. The other thing about the scruff is that you don't have a lot of real estate to inject in the way you do in some of the other areas, so it's hard not to keep poking the same spots over and over. It's good to have other options.

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

THANKS guys lol I know I'm a dinosaur but felt pretty comfortable on this one

Peter are you diabetic? My husband is and he was told NEVER inject into the muscle.

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

With my diabetic cats I almost always have given insulin in the scruff. Witn was the only one I gave near the flank and it was on the days I would also have to give her fluids.

 

[PH&MonkeyPenPenFaFaTiger]

THANKS guys lol I know I'm a dinosaur but felt pretty comfortable on this one

Peter are you diabetic? My husband is and he was told NEVER inject into the muscle.

I am not diabetic. Because I have injured ligaments which result in instability in shoulder joint, the doctor inject plasma in the area that is near to ligament to heal it. Because it is very difficult for ligament to receive blood supply naturally. They do not heal easily like muscle. Yes, never try to inject in muscle. It won't kill, but hurt badly.

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

I am not diabetic. Because I have injured ligaments which result in instability in shoulder joint, the doctor inject plasma in the area that is near to ligament to heal it. Because it is very difficult for ligament to receive blood supply naturally. They do not heal easily like muscle. Yes, never try to inject in muscle. It won't kill, but hurt badly.

AHHHHH understood! and yeah I hear it hurts terribly. Glad you are not diabetic! yay

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

With my diabetic cats I almost always have given insulin in the scruff. Witn was the only one I gave near the flank and it was on the days I would also have to give her fluids.

AWWWWW Lisa

 

[Jacque- Tiger & Jazz Man]

The problem I have with Tiger is his skin is toooo loose. I can't shoot in the rear flank area because the needle would go clear through, he's a big boy 20lbs, has saggy Old Man Skin now. I shoot in scruff if not subq-ing fluids. If subq-ing I do side of chest or belly...actually wherever I can tent lol.

 

[Jacque- Tiger & Jazz Man]

The problem I have with Tiger is his skin is toooo loose. I can't shoot in the rear flank area because the needle would go clear through, he's a big boy 20lbs, has saggy Old Man Skin now. I shoot in scruff if not subq-ing fluids. If subq-ing I do side of chest or belly...actually wherever I can tent lol.

I take that back...I never shoot near the spine.