Nice ! Glad today has gone smoothly ~ Jingles & AO continue for Nigel ~
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My picky cats like this fountain. https://usa.catit.com/shop/flower-fountain/ if that helps. I hope Nigel feels better quick!
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Great instructions. I had one cat that needs fluids who is the worst patient. I will try the laundry basket trick.
I use an 18g - the fluids go faster and I figure a needle is a needle.
Needles can be found here
Big Dee’s (bigdweb.com)
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I just ordered this last night, thanks! My biggest worry is that Hammie will play with it and knock it over; let’s hope not. He loves getting into the bathtub and playing in the water, though.
Thanks for these tips!
The vet tech mentioned that Nigel preferred his crate when she did his subQ’s on Wednesday, so we tried that again yesterday. We pulled him out, inserted the needle, then let him go back in his crate. He sat there quietly until it was done.
After this morning’s fiasco with the boiled chicken, we will definitely be doing any subQs in the bathroom with the door SHUT against Hammie and the Itty-Bitty, though. They both feel they need to be right in the middle of anything going on.
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Jingles !
how about a second fountain for Hammie & Itty Bitty …
sounds like a fun weekend of adjusting to the new protocols …‘they’ just want to help ? well ?
‘they’ just want to have fun … be like Cyndi Lauper !
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Um, maybe not . . . the house has been flooded already thanks to overrunning toilets, a leaking washing machine, and a pipe that burst under the kitchen sink (not all at the same time, thankfully!) . . . that might be the last straw!
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How is Nigel today? Does the vet know if something caused the kidney problem?
He’s still good - hungry, but doesn’t want to eat what I have. Feels like histo all over again. He’d be better if I could get that damn needle in him.
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You’ll get there. It will get easier. The first few times are the hardest. If you can give a shot to a horse or worm a horse or pill a cat you can do it. 
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It will come; try again later. I practiced my whole procedure with a small pillow … took me awhile to get the needle insertion smooth - due to my nerves.
There will be time this evening -
Well unless you’re busy taking the ‘Ham’ & ‘Itty Bitty’
to the Water Park ….
^ just kidding trying to keep your smile from stress.
I know how stressful this fluid therapy was for me and mine ! But before we knew it was just a routine.
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OMG, so stressed! I feel like a total failure. I can do IM injections with horses fine. But it felt like I could never get the needle under the skin, and every time I try he tells me it hurts - and then I want to cry.
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What size are the needles? When I used 17 or 18 gauge on Dewey I could tell he felt it going in. But with the 20 gauge he usually didn’t react much (if at all).
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CHILL - walk away awhile - if he misses one administration he will still be fine. If crying helps let it go but not in front of Nigel … go for a walk. Your tears are from being sad & worried - we all are like that when facing this … but it will get better.
practice on a pillow … practice in the same location - simulation
Needle size matters - plus massage the skin area first - just calm your nerves first YOU CAN DO THIS … maybe tomorrow you will have a breakthrough on this fluid therapy.
And remember you can always take him to the vet and have a tech administer the fluids til you are skilled at the technique.
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They used an 18 on him yesterday. I tried the 21 today. I almost had it a couple of times but it wasn’t in all the way.
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Try again tomorrow. It does get easier. I felt like I was almost torturing Thomas when I first started but I tried many different needles, different spots for him and finally found my mojo.
20 gauge thin wall terumo needles, warm fluids, him on the bed and lots of treats afterwards.
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That’s exactly it - torturing him! That’s what it feels like.
I got him some mirtazipine and he’s happier now. 
I also got some SD kidney canned food - he’s not a fan, but I can mix it with water and syringe it into him until the other I ordered arrives.
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You can do this. I know you can. Just relax. I know how you feel - it’s not fun. But it will get easier.
Also, when they are dehydrated their skin is tougher to get a needle into; also if that particular spot has been used too many times. Just my personal experience.
Still jingling and a big (((hug))) for both of you.
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Mine scratch and pull at it all the time and it never moves. Of course most of the scratching and pulling is from the lightweight. I do have it on a mat as when the filter gets old and clogged a bit it splashes a little. I also have a drinkwell platinum, but they like the catit better. Good luck!
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I DID IT!!
Sorry, but I had to tell someone! He was drinking at the sink, the stuff was right there - so I tried it and it worked!
(I did practice last night on some pillows, and that helped, thanks @Zu_Zu)
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