1st Sub q treatment

lucky luke

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I'm sorry if this is turning into a blog of sorts...

I was surprised and happy to find out they (at the Renforth Vet Clinic) could see Sasha today. Agreed Sasha was a bit unhappy of being confined to the pet carrier and he did meow in protest at first...

But he was quiet on the way to the Vet. Along with the sub q I asked the Vet to check out his teeth and to have a urine culture done.

Sasha also had his BP checked - normal.
He does have gingivitis, but his teeth looked normal for a cat his age.
He was prescribed a low dosage antacid.
He got his sub-q...

But he peed all over the treatment table, so the urine culture will have to wait until Thursday where he's scheduled for his next sub q treatment.

I also got a sample of Medi Cal dry since he doesn't seem to dig the Hill's K/D very much.

Oddly enough, as soon as I let him out of the pet carrier, he went to his bowl of kibble and ate some of the K/D dry
I served him 2/3 of a cup of the Medi cal kibble on the side and he attacked that one too. He didn't polish off the bowl but he did seem to like the taste.

Looks like the sub q wet his appetite pardon the pun! I'm supposed to give him his first antacid today...lemme get that tub of margarine...
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Are you going to learn how to give the Sub-Q's yourself? We just started our Sven on weekly Sub-q's about a month ago. We're still getting used to doing it, but each time gets a little better! Sure is cheaper that having the Vet do it!)
 
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lucky luke

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Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens

Are you going to learn how to give the Sub-Q's yourself? We just started our Sven on weekly Sub-q's about a month ago. We're still getting used to doing it, but each time gets a little better! Sure is cheaper that having the Vet do it!)
Yes, the technician will show me how to do it myself this Thursday. I have weird fears, like I won't stick the needle in properly and have it poking out of Sasha's skin between the shoulder blades...agreed, the needle shouldn't be that long and they will teach me how...I just don't want to hurt my little buddy trying to make him feel better!
 

darlili

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It'll be fine - a friend at work was terrified her first few times, but kept her guy going for over three years - she said it got better each time.

Heck, when I first had to do my diabetes testing, I messed up all my test strips - it becomes routine. But, it's worse when you're working on someone else - but it's really going to be for the best.
 
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lucky luke

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Originally Posted by darlili

It'll be fine - a friend at work was terrified her first few times, but kept her guy going for over three years - she said it got better each time.

Heck, when I first had to do my diabetes testing, I messed up all my test strips - it becomes routine. But, it's worse when you're working on someone else - but it's really going to be for the best.
I feel this sense of relief now that the treatments have started. While a wet kidney diet is preferable, knowing that there's a dry kidney food he'll eat is a weight off my mind. Again, I'm thinking in terms of those times my spouse and I have to be out of town; if the pet sitter misses a day I know Sasha won't starve.

I gave Sasha his first Pepcid (as prescribed by the Vet too, the off the shelf stuff has a dosage much too high) pill, covered in margarine (I need to bring some more butter to room temperature). Sasha reacted in his usual way: jumped off the bed, peed the floor and ran out of the bedroom.

He returned soon enough, giving me a chance to clean his mess. I'm curious to see how much of a difference in appetite the fluids/antacid will do?
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Originally Posted by Lucky Luke

I feel this sense of relief now that the treatments have started. While a wet kidney diet is preferable, knowing that there's a dry kidney food he'll eat is a weight off my mind. Again, I'm thinking in terms of those times my spouse and I have to be out of town; if the pet sitter misses a day I know Sasha won't starve.
Just be aware that he might not like it for long. You never know. But don't be discouraged if he suddenly stops eating it. There are other dry K/D foods to try. My Sven loved one of them, then suddenly just quit eating it, so I tried another one, and he ate it with gusto for awhile, then quit overnight, so off i went to the Vet for a prescription for yet another one, and he loved that one for awhile. But the key really is, he must eat. Our Vet says let him eat anything. K/D is preferable, but whatever he'll eat, let him (because he's skin and bones)

Originally Posted by Lucky Luke

Yes, the technician will show me how to do it myself this Thursday. I have weird fears, like I won't stick the needle in properly and have it poking out of Sasha's skin between the shoulder blades...agreed, the needle shouldn't be that long and they will teach me how...I just don't want to hurt my little buddy trying to make him feel better!
We've stuck the needle all the way thru and ended up watering the table instead of the inside of the cat
. If that happens, just pull back a little on the needle until it's back under his skin (sounds too easy, but it really is just that simple) And the key to remember is, you're not hurting him, you're helping him.

BTW, there are tons of videos of giving cats Sub-Qs on YouTube. I check them again before Sven's weekly dose just to make sure I'm ready again, until I get really comfortable at it. (we gave another cat Sub-qs years ago, but it's been so long that it's no longer as comfortable as it once
was, but it's starting to come back!)
 

clpeters23

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Originally Posted by Lucky Luke

Yes, the technician will show me how to do it myself this Thursday. I have weird fears, like I won't stick the needle in properly and have it poking out of Sasha's skin between the shoulder blades...agreed, the needle shouldn't be that long and they will teach me how...I just don't want to hurt my little buddy trying to make him feel better!
I did that once (put the needle all the way through), but it didn't bother Simon a bit. He was so good about getting his fluids. He just laid down and purred! You'll get the hang of it!
 

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Hi,

I find all of these posts by people who administer their own fluids to be encouraging. I haven't gotten up the nerves yet to attempt this, but I think I'm moving in that direction. It would indeed save the $42 each time at the vet. My cat really doesn't seem to mind it at all, and so maybe next time I'll let the technician give me the needle and give it a go. She had asked if I wanted to try it this last time and I was just too tired to think about it. I enjoyed the stories about the needle passing all the way through! I'll probably wind up doing that...

Best,
Keith
 
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lucky luke

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That brings up the topic of having a GIF tube installed - you forgo using needles at all; but I'm ambivalent about it: the surgery itself might kill Sasha, (then again maybe not), the risk of infection is always there...

I confess I'm nervous; sticking my little buddy with a needle...sigh. But if it helps him manage the CRF, that's what I'll do!
 

otto

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You'll learn to do the sub q. Every one of us who do it at home felt the same in the beginning.

And don't worry about making mistakes. It's normal. I've poked the needle all the way through a time or two. The worst is not realizing it until half way through the session, when I've got a wet lap and nothing under the cat's skin.


That also happens when the needle comes out and I don't realize it. (wet lap and nothing under the skin)

And can't count how many times I stabbed myself (make sure your tetanus shot is up to date)

And when I forgot to hang the bag so I could see the numbers, so I didn't know how much I was giving.

But after a few months it all comes together, and it becomes routine. And Sasha will begin to realize that after he has the fluids he feels better, yes they do indeed make the connection, so that will make it even easier.

Keep us posted!
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Originally Posted by Lucky Luke

That brings up the topic of having a GIF tube installed - you forgo using needles at all; but I'm ambivalent about it: the surgery itself might kill Sasha, (then again maybe not), the risk of infection is always there...
Just from those risks you listed, I, personally, wouldn't do a GIF tube, not to mention that I think you said it still has to be moved every month. Sounds much more traumatic on your baby than just doing the Sub-Q!
 

otto

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I would not do a gif tube, my own personal opinion. I know some who have, with success, and I know cats can adjust to almost anything but I just don't like the idea. so much more chance for infection, for one thing, and it just seems so...I don't know, I don't like it.
 
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lucky luke

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...was actually yesterday. Sasha seesm to have a slight boost in appetite right after the treatment. On top of the antacid, the Vet also prescribed an appetite booster (1/4 a tablet every 3 days)...ah nice, Sasha gets pilled twice every 3 days!


The Vet's assistant showed me how to give the Sub Q fluids, and it seems to be pretty straght forward; Sasha didn't even yelp when the needle went in!

The needle is skinny enough and short enough that I'm not likely to poke through...pull the skin, feel the "little tent", poke at an angle. Not straight down as it could hurt his spine, not "horizontal" as it could poke through the skin; a 45 degree angle should do. The real challenge will be to keep Sasha still: he kept squirming at the Vet's and the needle kept popping out!

I was also provided with a sterile container (to collect Sasha's pee) for the urine culture. I also got a bag of Purina (dry) prescription food (came highly recommended from the Vet's receptionnist whose cat also has CRF and just loves it) and my Sub Q kit. They took back the Medi Cal canned food that Sasha won't eat (nice credit on my last Vet bill).

As I got home, Sasha ate a bit, smelled the same spot on the plastic where he likes to pee...so I grabbed the sterile vile, placed it between his legs and collected urine...brought it to the Vet...DONE! The results should be in by next Tuesday.

So...for once, Tiggy doesn't seem as interested in Sasha's food (canned or dry). I left some Hi Tor and Purina Prescription dry out overnight; and I saw Sasha eating his wet food in the whee hours of morning and munch on some of his crunchies.

He seems to eat about a level tablespoonful of wet food a day per serving: once overnight, once when I fed both cats in the morning, once before I left for work and once again while I'm at work...that's about 4 tablespoonfuls a day, perhaps a bit more...not the can and a half a day Dr White said a cat his size shoudl be eating; but he's eating and that's a relief!
 

otto

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Well done on the pee catch!


Yes, the fluids do make them feel better right away. And it doesn't take them long to make that connection, either.

Keep us posted!
 
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lucky luke

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Went okay I guess...

Used the bathroom for privacy & for use of the shower curtain pole to hang the bag.

Sasha didn't meow in pain when I put the needle in him, no "poke through"; no leakage from the puncture hole after the treatment (I pinched it for about 30 seconds...Sasha kept squirming, he wanted out of the bathroom!), though the needle did slip out when he'd had enough, and some serum did leak to the floor until I could shut the valve.

I'm just unsure of how much fluids did go in: was it a full 100CC's a bit less, a bit more? I was sitting on the floor, keeping Sasha still between my right leg and the wall, my left hand on his chest; my right petting his head (and sometimes making sure the needle was secure under his skin).

My view of the bag made it hard to tell: the way it hung it pushed some of the liquid upward making the markings (on the bag) hard to read!

I felt the spot where the needle went in and it's not wet so fluids did go in!
 

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Well done! It's hard to tell on the amount of fluid EXACTLY, but I think that's ok...you can get a basic idea of the amount. I'm so excited that you did it so soon, and all by yourself! Wow!
 
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lucky luke

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Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens

Well done! It's hard to tell on the amount of fluid EXACTLY, but I think that's ok...you can get a basic idea of the amount. I'm so excited that you did it so soon, and all by yourself! Wow!
My main fear was that I'd hurt him; but after the Vet's assistant showed me how it's done (and how Sasha didn't even seem to feel the needle) fear #1 was relieved!


My significant other suggested a way for me to do it in the comfort of the bedroom too, he might not feel as claustrophobic that way!
 
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lucky luke

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Went even better than the first one (I figured out a way to hang the solution bag in the bedroom) as Sasha didn't feel as restrained in the bedroom. He was actually purring as I was holding him giving him fluids...I just wish the darned bag was easier to read; right now I just stop when Sasha gets too antsy!
 
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