Who else is administering subcutaneous fluids to your cat(s)?
How often do you give them, and how much at a time?
Any tips you’ve learned along the way that make it easier?
What are the most difficult/challenging issues you face?
I’ve been giving sub-q fluids to my cat, Thomas, for a little over two years now. He gets 150ml once a day.
I’m very grateful that he’s just a good boy. I don’t have to restrain him at all, he just lays there while the fluids go in. Afterwards he gets several treats and either he associates the fluid bag with treats or they make him feel good but he comes to me when he sees the bag come out. Thank God for treats! 
When I first started the vet gave me 18 gauge needles. I have to say that he didn’t like those at all and tried to bite me when the needle went in. I order the 20 gauge Terumo needles and it was smooth sailing ever since.
I also warm his fluids up. He’s much colder since the diagnosis so I get the fluids nice and warm for him, even in the summer. I’m sure all cats are different but that’s how we do it.
I use one of those over the door hooks like these. It makes it so easy - I use doors or curtain rods to hang the bag on and I just bring them to him. I believe in the easy way
Lines and needles I order from MedVet International. Prices are very good and fast shipping. You don’t need a prescription for them there.
Good luck with your kitty!
One of my older indoor kitties has chronic kidney failure and I have to administer lactated ringers (an electrolyte solution) to him sub-q. I give him 50ml at a time, which is a whole number to a half dash (or vice versa). I can tell he needs them when he starts to get more demanding for water and his urine clumps in the litter box get “stickier”. Kinda hard to explain, you just learn to tell the difference. It’s a signal to me that his kidneys are having a harder time processing the protein he’s ingested. I usually have to do it anywhere from every 2-3 weeks to once a month.
He knows what the bag is, so when he sees me hang it from the ceiling fan over the sofa, he knows what’s coming. I usually give him an hour or so to chill and let his guard down before nabbing him. For the most part he holds still, but I have to keep one hand in front of his chest and the other on his butt in case he tries to make a bolt for it. For other stuff, I’ve wrapped cats snugly up in blankets with only their head and neck sticking out if they panic or try too hard to escape. Hope this helps!
One thing that made a world of difference to me – and I hope to my kitty, who passed in June but NOT from CRF (was told by the vet that his kidney function had actually improved from almost a year before) – was going with a smaller-gauge needle. The vet gave me 18-gauges, which were big enough to be intimidating and required some force to insert. Hated them. Started a thread here myself and did some research online and ended up ordering 20-gauge Terumo needles, which according to some online “research” are actually sharper than other brands.
Whatever – all I know is that those Terumo needles went in so much more easily and they made a BIG difference to me in terms of the emotional/psychological challenge of sticking my sweet kitty and I hope it made a difference to him, too. If you want to order them, here they are:
http://www.thrivingpets.com/index.php/terumo-needles-box-of-100.html
I was pretty distraught when I first learned I’d have to give my cat subcutaneous fluids, but it got to be pretty routine and no biggie.
For what it’s worth, I also immediately switched my cat to an all-wet diet and also added a water bowl to the upper level of my apartment. I did not give fluids as often as the vet recommended but like I said, by the time he got sick with an unrelated illness his kidney function had improved and I think maybe the all-wet diet may be one reason why.
Best of luck with your kitty – they can go on a good long time even after a CRF diagnosis so do not despair!
Its not really an aseptic procedure but attempt to be as clean as possible what gets in the needle /line ends up in the bag of fluids. Make sure you change your needed to a clean one immediately after each administration…don’t leave the dirty needle on the set.
Most cats don’t need or should not get more then 10mls/lb a day so a 10lb cat could handle about 100mls once a day sub q. I would follow your vets advice/recommendations about amounts the above is just a general guide line.
Be careful not to over hydrate if you are dealing with a cat with any cardiac issues.
Find a comfortable way to hang the bag overhead and let gravity work. For large amounts of fluids a IV fluid pressure bag makes for quick work.
I think most cats tolerate it very well. The needle rarely bothers them for some the cold fluids under the skin can make them squirmy …keeping the bag at room temp helps with that.
Not doing it now, but have done it in the past. Ditto on warming the liquid.
I also recommend setting up a spot to work in that allows you to ‘hang’ the bag of fluids from a hook, so you can have both hands free for kitty management.
It can definitely improve and extend their comfortable life span.
I didn’t do it long enough for the needle gauge to be an issue. My cat didn’t care much, other than to get a bit fidgety about not being able to wander off. Wandering off being the main MO of cats everywhere.
If it’s difficult to manage with your cat, you could always feed them right after, so they get to know that the needle and fluids = dinnertime, yay!
Good luck.
Thanks, guys for your feedback.
I’m giving lactated ringers. I hang the bag from a hat stand and sit with the cat on the floor. She seems to be more sensitive to the needle prick than at first, so I will try the brand two of you have recommended.
How do you warm the fluids? I believe that the lactated ringers cannot be heated (my house temp is a steady 72-ish and the bag (which lasts about a week right now) hangs out all day.
I do take off the old needle and cap the line with the stopper that came with. I use a new line with every new bag.
Cat was prescribed 150-200 ml per day, but I notice she gets fidgity after 100ml, so I was considering administering 2x a day, but then worried about the needle discomfort.
Cat has pancreatitis and reduced kidney function. She used to eat anything in sight but now prefers gravy-type canned food.
I’m being random. Thanks so much for your support.
To warm the fluids you could put it in a sink full of hot water. (not ‘melt the plastic’ hot, just ‘nice hot shower’ hot)
[QUOTE=Lori B;7232359]
To warm the fluids you could put it in a sink full of hot water. (not ‘melt the plastic’ hot, just ‘nice hot shower’ hot)[/QUOTE]
Yep or run the line through a bowl of hotish water. Don’t go crazy the line is not much volume and heats up quickly.
I gave my cat 200 ml every 2-3 days. I’d sit her on my lap and just pet her as the fluids went in. She cat didn’t mind the needle, she hated the oral meds much more.
StG
Like the other posters, I warm mine in the sink. I did the baby bottle test (run a little bit of fluids on the inside of my elbow) until I figured out how long it took to get warm. Now I just set a timer.
I have plenty of Terumo 20 gauge needles on hand - I’d be happy to send you a weeks worth to see how your kitty likes them.
Thanks, ruby … the last couple of injections (cerenia for nausea) and sub-q sessions have been very quiet.
Just took the old guy to the vet this morning … I think his kidneys are failing as well. Not surprising since he’s been on neurontin for almost a year now. But I might be going through fluids even faster.
Thanks for that website reference, too, Windsor … I need a bunch more supplies now!
And St.G – the vet has even given me injectable pain meds because Kuska is impossible to pill. Even when she was on death’s door.
