Questions about SubQ fluids

I just got some new bags of lactated ringers from a local IV clinic in town... and the guy asked if I was keeping the unused fluid in the fridge.  My vet never mentioned doing so... but now I wonder if I should be?

Also, I'm wondering about reusing the current IV admin set on the next bag... is that ok?  Or is it one for one?

Last question... when you guys are giving SubQ's do you leave the used needle attached until it's time for the next dose... or do you put the cap for the IV set back on?  My vet tech said to just leave the needle on.. and she threw the cap away (I had her set it up for me the first time).  Is this ok?

Thanks,

Sandra

I don't know about lactated ringers, but there are a some on the forum that do. Hopefully, one will be along shortly. My cat gets NaCl fluid and it does not get refrigerated.

An IV admin set can be reused. You should replace it if you accidentally contaminate the end that the needle goes on, or after a couple of bags. I change mine every third bag.

Yes, you leave the used needle on until you are ready to give the next dose.

Did the vet tech tell you about warming the fluid first? Much more comfortable for the cat.

I do not know the reason you are giving your cat subq. Here is an excellent guide: http://www.felinecrf.org/subcutaneous_fluids.htm

And here is an excellent vid by a vet: 

Oh thank you so much... that's really good to know!!  I thought for sure it had to be 1:1 (bag/admin set).  My hubby thought it would be fine.

I have been warming the fluids... and making sure not to put the connecter-end in the water.  I found a great vid on youtube as well...


Jasmine has kidney disease... so that's why the subQ's.  Right now it's every other day... not sure if/when/how to tell when she might need that schedule changed to every day.

Thanks again!

Sandra

@Jasmine's Mum -- my snick gets sub-q's too (chronic kidney disease, stage 2). she gets sodium chloride 9% solution. i don't refrigerate snick's fluids, but i do carefully store the unopened/unused bags. during the winter months i store them upstairs on the first floor in my house, and in the summer (hot) months i store them in a plastic storage bin with lid in the cool basement.

i use one admin set per bag of fluids. i guess that's just my preference.

my routine with needles is to remove the used needle after giving the sub-q's and immediately put on a new needle with it's cap left on (for next time snick gets fluids), that way we're all set for the next time.

my snick gets fluids every other day and has for almost two years now. before that we started out with twice a week. in the last 6 months the amount of fluids snick gets every other day was increased, but the every other day part has stayed the same. my vet based the decision to increase the amount of fluids given on snick's blood work results, specifically the bun and creatinine levels.

Thanks!  I actually freeze my needles so that it's a little bit less noticeable.  I got the idea from the video I posted above.

Wow... two years is doing great!  Good thing you caught it early on.  In March of this year my vet thought Jasmine might be starting kidney disease... but didn't suggest anything.  And now (Oct) he blood levels indicate that she's pretty advanced.  Of course the levels were exaggerated due to her being dehydrated (I didn't know).

After watching the suggested videos above I can see that Jasmine is getting a lot of fluids (150 ml/every other day) for her little 6 lb body.  But that's to get her hydrated again I assume.  Not sure what he will suggest after that.

Do you get a full blood panel done every time?  For me that's not quite $200.  Hard to do repeatedly.

Sounds like you are doing well and have everything under control.

Cocheezie is a small cat and gets roughly 100 ml every day. I go by the size of the lump. Using a new IV admin set every 10 days adds up. My vet told me that an admin set is good for 2 or 3 bags. Good idea about freezing the needles. Sometimes I have to use a larger and more painful needle because I know she won't stay still long. I don't do blood panels. Cocheezie has issues other than kidney failure, and for us, it would be a waste of money.

Thanks so much!!  I really appreciate hearing how you are handling things on your end.  Helps me to guage my end!

Best wishes to you and Cocheesie!!!

haha... I just saw that you are in the "Great White North"... my head is singing ohlucucucucucucu!! 

As far as needles, I don't believe anyone as said WHAT needles they use.  I highly recommend Terumo 19 gauge.  Once we switched over to these, it made life SO much easier.   They go into the skin with ease, and the liquid flows so fast we're usually done in just a few minutes! 

BTW, we always use Lactated Ringers, and never, ever refrigerate them.  And we live where it's HOT.  Yes, we have air conditioning, but we keep the house around 80 degrees, which is a far cry from the temp in the fridge .

Oh yes, we only reuse the needle if we do a bad stick and have to restick in the same sitting, but DO reuse the IV set-up.  Funny how we all do things differently. 

i use terumo 20 gauge ultra thin wall needles. apparently, the ultra thin wall needles were discontinued. however, the place i buy them from told me they have "tons" in stock/in their warehouse.

i agree, the terumo's are the best! they go in smoothly and easily, and the flow is pretty darn fast.

I wish I would have known about the 20 gauge needles when I had to give Angel fluids to help flush his bladder a couple of yrs ago. The vet gave me 18 gauge, & said anything smaller would take too long.

Poor thing, those 18 gauge are big!!  I hated it!!  BUT, it did only take 2-3 minutes to give about an inch & a 1/2 of the bag every other day. 

If you would believe, the vet gave me 16 gauge!!  Poor kitty... the first couple goes she had those used on her... once at the vet and then once by me.  After that the tech gave me some more 16 gauge, but also some 20 gauge ones.  We've been using the 20's ever since, and I just called to see if I can swap out the16's for 20's.

At the vet they are all about fast fast fast, time is money  =(   I'd like to see how they'd like it!

mickNsnicks2mom:  I'm going to buy some... guess I'd better get on it!!

Jasmine's Mum said:

 
Thanks!  I actually freeze my needles so that it's a little bit less noticeable.  I got the idea from the video I posted above.

Wow... two years is doing great!  Good thing you caught it early on.  In March of this year my vet thought Jasmine might be starting kidney disease... but didn't suggest anything.  And now (Oct) he blood levels indicate that she's pretty advanced.  Of course the levels were exaggerated due to her being dehydrated (I didn't know).

After watching the suggested videos above I can see that Jasmine is getting a lot of fluids (150 ml/every other day) for her little 6 lb body.  But that's to get her hydrated again I assume.  Not sure what he will suggest after that.

Do you get a full blood panel done every time?  For me that's not quite $200.  Hard to do repeatedly.

Click to expand...

yes, we did catch snick's CKD very early, when it was just "the beginnings of kidney issues". we caught it from the ultrasound snick had, for other reasons but we saw that snick's kidneys were unusually small even for a cat her age. we then did other tests which our vet diagnosed the beginnings of kidney issues based on the results of. our vet had me start snick out getting 100cc's twice each week, then we increased it to 100cc's every other day, and just recently increased it to 150cc's every other day. my snick is currently at 12.4 lbs -- she's a long-bodied slender girl.

we do blood work for my snick every two months. we try to alternate between having a full blood panel done and (i guess it would be called) basic blood work done, but it depends on how snick is doing too. you must live in an area where vet costs are higher than where i live. i won't say it's easy for me to afford the vet costs associated with my snick's CKD, but i've found ways to cut back in other areas so i make sure her medical needs are met.

16 gauge is huge! I use Terumo 20 gauge on a regular basis, and 18s only if I'm positive the cat is not in the mood. Terumos are the best.

Jasmine's Mum said:

 
If you would believe, the vet gave me 16 gauge!!  Poor kitty... the first couple goes she had those used on her... once at the vet and then once by me.  After that the tech gave me some more 16 gauge, but also some 20 gauge ones.  We've been using the 20's ever since, and I just called to see if I can swap out the16's for 20's.

At the vet they are all about fast fast fast, time is money  =(   I'd like to see how they'd like it!

Click to expand...

 16 gaug!!  Oh my, poor baby is right!  I can't even imagine. 18 was big enough! Glad you got some 20's.

You can buy lactated ringers in bulk online much cheaper than at the vet. Same with admin sets and needles. I'd stick with name brands to be on the safe side. In the States, you need a prescription from your vet to order IV fluids online. In Canada, you don't.

Thank you very much!  Very informative and helpful.