subQ fluids please help.

my cuddles · Aug 24, 2015

Stacey needs fluids for her constipation issue. She does really well with this and Miramax. As long as I can get the fluids in her. It is a battle every day and I have to take her to the vet when I can't get them in her. I've tried every trick to succeed with this. She purrs for the techs, but won't let me do it. Any advice to make this easier? Need help!

stephanietx · Aug 24, 2015

I wish I had words of wisdom for you, but I don't except to say it must be very frustrating for you. However, I know someone will come along shortly who can help.

betsygee · Aug 24, 2015

I have given subq fluids to four different cats now. A couple of them were gems and super cooperative, the other ones--not so much. Do you have anybody to help you? It's so much easier with two people.

If not, one trick I learned was to sit on the floor with the cat. I crossed my legs Indian style and put the cat in the middle, with one leg sort of over the cat and tucking him in to keep him in place. It's hard to describe, sorry. But I was able to use my legs to hold the cat in place and then I had two hands free to insert the needle. Once it was in, I could hold the needle with one hand and get the drip started with the other.

my cuddles · Aug 24, 2015

I have my son to help when he's here. Otherwise I take her to the vet which is 1 min away, but because of my work hrs. I can't always do that. She is 17 pounds of stubborn and strong and is still a battle. Even have a friend who's a nurse. It is a struggle. She's ok with the needle, but resists when fluids go in. I warm them, but am afraid I'll get them to warm so might need to be warmer. This has to work. I need a calm and cooperative kitty.

feralhound · Aug 24, 2015

I've had to give sq fluids to some not so nice kitties as well, like betsygee said if you can't get another person to hold her on the floor is the best. In a bathroom is probably best, or I closed room. I guess the main key is to be ready, hand your fluids somewhere high- Gravity is your best friend. You might want to grab a towel and wrap her in it (back end especially) and what I do is pin the kitty between my legs- not too hard but snugly enough with my back feet touching to where they can't back up, and usually hold the scruff so she can't dart. Holding the scruff should give you the "tent pinch" you need to insert the needle with the other hand. I also found letting the fluids drip gives best result, rather than squeezing the bag. But every kitty is different, so if quicker is better you'll need to have them low enough to where you can squeeze them. Also sometimes covering her head with a towel might calm her.
If your kitty is into food/has an appetite, but her food I front of her- sometimes that's enough.

Another way is somewhere high, like a washer- wrap her in a towel, and pin her under your arm like a football with her back end against a wall or your body so she can't back out. You might want to lean on her a tiny bit so she stays still/in place.

Lastly, if you have a hard carrier (especially one that opens from the top), try putting her in that on a washer/dryer, cover her head with a towel/put a blanket around her so she feels like she can't move much, open/remove the top, and try putting the needle in with minimal restraint. Sometimes just a scruff will work while they're in the carrier,never if you have to remove the top.

Hope any of these help- you'll just have to get a feel on her, if she's one who does better with less or more restraint.

betsygee · Aug 25, 2015

@Feralhound I have read about putting them in a carrier to administer the sub-q's, but I never tried it. I found sitting on the floor worked the best. You're right about letting the fluids drip being the best for some. With one of my cats, squeezing the bag and getting it over quickly worked best. But with another, I had to just hold him and let it drip--it seemed to bother him less when it went in slowly.

mewcatmew · Aug 25, 2015

My old cat had chronic kidney failure, and the veterinarian placed in a sub q line with a port which made giving fluids a breeze. It meant no needles for the cat, and he didn't even know it was there. Basically, imagine a feeding tube (etube for a cat) except it going just under the skin and down his back and thinner...like the thickness of the nasal tube. This had a screw on cap and was held in place with 2 stitches that healed very fast. The port was located right where you would give fluids with a needle, between the shoulder blade/scruff area. I would draw the Sub Q fluids into a syringe, remove the needle, and squirt the water down the tube. The tube under his skin had multiple holes in it...like a kitty sprinkler system under the skin. It did not bother the cat one bit, it took all of 5 seconds to actually get the fluid in him, and best of all, no needles for my cat.

betsygee · Aug 25, 2015

MewCatMew said:
My old cat had chronic kidney failure, and the veterinarian placed in a sub q line with a port which made giving fluids a breeze. It meant no needles for the cat, and he didn't even know it was there. Basically, imagine a feeding tube (etube for a cat) except it going just under the skin and down his back and thinner...like the thickness of the nasal tube. This had a screw on cap and was held in place with 2 stitches that healed very fast. The port was located right where you would give fluids with a needle, between the shoulder blade/scruff area. I would draw the Sub Q fluids into a syringe, remove the needle, and squirt the water down the tube. The tube under his skin had multiple holes in it...like a kitty sprinkler system under the skin. It did not bother the cat one bit, it took all of 5 seconds to actually get the fluid in him, and best of all, no needles for my cat.

A kitty sprinkler system, that's cute.

I didn't know that could be done. That sounds like a great solution for a cat that needs fluids every day.

crimmie · Aug 25, 2015

Do you go to her, or do you move her to a specific spot when it's time? You said you warm the fluids, but maybe not enough...How are you testing the temp? This may be a dumb question but I have to ask, are you sure the needle is staying right below her skin (in the "tent") and not piercing muscle...and are you doing this on the scruff of her neck?
I'm just trying to eliminate the easy things first

If something isn't working, try something else...If you try to give fluids on the floor, put her on something higher. If you are restraining her and it isn't working, try not restraining her...
This might be worth a try: http://ezivharness.com/index.html
It would allow her to walk around and not be restrained. I would still do this in a small room where she couldn't get under a bed or anything like that.
I was lucky with Crimmie. Once the poke was over she would lie still and purr through the whole thing as long as I was petting her. I'm sorry Stacey is giving you a hard time with this

Sooo many members here have experience giving fluids...more ideas are on the way, I'm sure!!!

my cuddles · Aug 28, 2015

Wow

lots of ideas. I like the feeding tube idea. I've tried restraining and not. She doesn't seem to like the feel of the fluids going in. Is worse to squeeze the bag, but works best that way at the vet. Some techs keep her in the carrier with top off so I'm going to try that. I've tried different locations. What works one time doesn't work again. I also wonder if pinning her between my legs might work. This is all new to me and I'm trying get used to the idea that I have to do this to a kitty that has been in perfect health. Its been stressful for me. So I appreciate all your support. Helps me to feel that it's normal and easy. Less traumatic. Hope I feel more at ease with this so I comfortably do what I need to keep her healthy. Thanks all for your advise. Welcome to any other ideas.

Kat0121 · Aug 28, 2015

I'm sorry that you're having a hard time. I doubt that I'd be able to give any of mine anything like that by myself. They are kind enough to let me think that I am in charge.

I know that @mickNsnicks2mom gives Snick sub q fluids so she may have some advice for you.

micknsnicks2mom · Aug 28, 2015

my cuddles said:
Wow

lots of ideas. I like the feeding tube idea. I've tried restraining and not. She doesn't seem to like the feel of the fluids going in. Is worse to squeeze the bag, but works best that way at the vet. Some techs keep her in the carrier with top off so I'm going to try that. I've tried different locations. What works one time doesn't work again. I also wonder if pinning her between my legs might work. This is all new to me and I'm trying get used to the idea that I have to do this to a kitty that has been in perfect health. Its been stressful for me. So I appreciate all your support. Helps me to feel that it's normal and easy. Less traumatic. Hope I feel more at ease with this so I comfortably do what I need to keep her healthy. Thanks all for your advise. Welcome to any other ideas.

may i ask -- what type of fluids are you giving your Stacey? if it's normasol-r or plasmalyte-a, then it may very well be the stinging/burning feeling that these fluids cause at the needle 'stick' site on your girl.

angels mommy · Aug 29, 2015

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angels mommy

Nov 4, 2012
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angels mommy

Jul 13, 2015

angels mommy · Aug 29, 2015

OK, so copy & pasting made my above post come out weird, but hope it's still readable & helpful!

I didn't know how to make a link to just my post, so you wouldn't have to search the page or thread.

jenny82 · Sep 15, 2015

MewCatMew said:
My old cat had chronic kidney failure, and the veterinarian placed in a sub q line with a port which made giving fluids a breeze. It meant no needles for the cat, and he didn't even know it was there. Basically, imagine a feeding tube (etube for a cat) except it going just under the skin and down his back and thinner...like the thickness of the nasal tube. This had a screw on cap and was held in place with 2 stitches that healed very fast. The port was located right where you would give fluids with a needle, between the shoulder blade/scruff area. I would draw the Sub Q fluids into a syringe, remove the needle, and squirt the water down the tube. The tube under his skin had multiple holes in it...like a kitty sprinkler system under the skin. It did not bother the cat one bit, it took all of 5 seconds to actually get the fluid in him, and best of all, no needles for my cat.

Thanks for this suggestion! Having it there didn't bother him at all? Was it expensive to have the vet implant it?

I've been having a lot of trouble giving subq fluids to my cat Chessy. He hates both the needle and the fluids, and fights us every time (there are 2 of us trying to do it and we still have trouble). I think I might try the EZ IV harness, but what you tried might be a good back-up option for me. I would love to be able to give fluids by myself if my husband goes out of town for work.

micknsnicks2mom · Sep 15, 2015

Jenny82 said:
Thanks for this suggestion! Having it there didn't bother him at all? Was it expensive to have the vet implant it?

I've been having a lot of trouble giving subq fluids to my cat Chessy. He hates both the needle and the fluids, and fights us every time (there are 2 of us trying to do it and we still have trouble). I think I might try the EZ IV harness, but what you tried might be a good back-up option for me. I would love to be able to give fluids by myself if my husband goes out of town for work.

i'm sorry you're having a lot of trouble giving sub-q fluids to your chessy. there's the EZ IV harness that you mentioned, and also some other methods (which i found over at tanya's website) -- http://felinecrf.org/subcutaneous_fluids_tips.htm#clothes_peg_trick

you can even try giving your chessy some food or treats while he's getting his fluids, to help distract him with something pleasant.

jenny82 · Sep 15, 2015

mickNsnicks2mom said:
i'm sorry you're having a lot of trouble giving sub-q fluids to your chessy. there's the EZ IV harness that you mentioned, and also some other methods (which i found over at tanya's website) -- http://felinecrf.org/subcutaneous_fluids_tips.htm#clothes_peg_trick

you can even try giving your chessy some food or treats while he's getting his fluids, to help distract him with something pleasant.

Thanks! I like that site. He wasn't interested in food or treats, but I haven't tried the clothes pin trick.

mollyblue · Sep 15, 2015

We usually did ours on the kitchen counter, with the iv bag hanging off the cabinets. This, and bathtime were the only times that Alex was allowed on the kitchen counter, but she always knew it was for her own benefit and something good would follows. We usually followed her cue about how much fluid she wanted. Every now and then she wouldn't tolerate the whole amount of fluids, but was always good for at least 2/3s. When she first started getting fluids, she would get sick following and I am fairly certain it was because she was getting too much. (too much can be bad on the heart to try and handle all that). I wish we would have known about the port being an option. Sticking her was always the hard part... hard on US! I think it mad Alex madder than it actually hurt her.

subQ fluids please help.

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