How to Give Subcutaneous Fluids to Your Cat at Home
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ธ.ค. 2020
- Technician Sarah Harris, CVT, VTS(ECC), demonstrates how to administer subcutaneous (SQ) fluids to your cat at home.
#forclients #veterinary #cats #subcutaneousfluids
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These videos always have the most passive, compliant cat possible. We need help with normal cats who know something is coming and run like hell at the sight of a needle.
The treats hack works like a charm.
Wrap them in a towel. Easier with two people so one can hold them. Try calming your cat first
I tried to give my cat fluids last night and good god did he put up a fight. We tried treats, we tried holding him still while wrapped in a blanket, and we even tried two people totally pinning him down as sad as it made me to do it, but every time he feels the poke of the needle he still somehow manages to lurch forward and I can’t keep the needle in for longer than a split second. I have no clue how to solve this😓
Also before anyone asks, I changed out the needle every time so it was sharp and sterile. I also used to work as a MA so I have medical training, and I’ve given plenty of SQ and IM injections, but man I’ve had an easier time giving shots to screaming biting children than doing this.
Ain't that the truth!
@@jasperjudd That sounds extremely frustrating. You might need to bring your cat to the vet and watch how your vet handles your cat. Also, once your cat is upset, it might be best to stop and try again later once your cat has calmed down. Two people pinning the cat down sounds extremely stressful to both you and the cat, so it's not surprising that he wanted to run. For treats, perhaps baby food or Churu liquid treats would be more persuasive than what you have now? I haven't had to give IV fluids (yet), but if my CKD kitty ever needed it, he fights so much that I'd need to pay my vet to do it.
Thank you for this wonderful video!!
**Tips:**
1. The higher you hang the bag, the faster the fluid will flow - handy if your cat won't stay still long. We were able to inject 100ml in just a minute or two. We hung the bag on the curtain rod with an s-hook and placed the cat on the bed. We let him lick treats to keep him happy. He was so comfortable that he wouldn't leave after!
2. Warm the fluids beforehand, it makes a HUGE difference to how well your cat tolerates the procedure. Our vet said to fill a container with hot tap water and let the bag sit in it for 10 mins. It's very important to leave the top of the bag out of the water and dry, as getting the connections wet can lead to bacteria growth.
If you are nervous about doing this, please don't be. There's a reason vets let us do this ourselves at home - it's because it's very easy and safe.
My cat always feels a lot better after getting fluids at the vet, I'm glad we can do it at home now.
Do they use lactated ringers with 5% dextrose?
@@calmdown9617 some do- it depends on your individual cat's labs to determine the best fluid.
How do you warm the fluids?
how often does the primary tubing need to be changed?
I don't even have a cat or want a cat and honestly have no idea how I ended up here but she's a great teacher
Yesss!!! I am a proud Catlady who at first tonight was disappointed to not be able to find a video tutorial from Cornell Vet. But... this lady made me feel so good about the procedure (!!? Yes even MY squicked out overthinky ass!?) that I j gave my first session of fluids (unassisted! Single handed! ~105 mL!) to my Phat Cat!! Besides being proud of myself lol I’m sooo proud of her! She couldn’t have been more cooperative-I think my offering of Temptations treats actually messed it up more lol bc she moved during first two attempts which ended in fluid leaking and me removing the needle to try a second and third time. She was sooo patient w me through the whole thing!! And it’s like her girlfriends intuited the importance too bc this is the first time in history they haven’t become savage fiend kitties when they hear that bag. 😭😻😸
For the record I know-my Phat Cats a special girl ... a survivor 5 years ago of cancer and 30 days of radiation and so much more-who’s VErY aware of when humans are trying to make her feel better. 😽
I think she was both eager to get the hydration/relief from stage 4 kidney disease ANd annoyed that I’d already poked her 3x : “ok... let’s get this over with already...” 😹 she really couldn’t have been more peaceful and literally minutes later looked sooo much more relaxed like she could finally rest.
Brittany Porter I just did this to my 18 year old Bengal who is skinny . He moved out of the needle with us holding him down. How did that nurses fat cat not wiggle away.
That’s hilarious
This really helped me a lot. I was pretty intimidated coming home with the fluid bag and a bunch of needles. You made it seem so simple. Thank you!
Ditto
Thank you for this video! My poor boy has kidney failure and we are giving him fluids. My vet taught me how at her office last week but I was wanting a little refresher before I did it again, and this was exactly how (same bag and everything). THANK you!!
How's your cats?
going through the same thing right now :(
Hi Sarah and DL team - My fiesty old kitty is on fluids for kidney support. The vet tech showed me how and she was great, but Rosabelle Kitty and I were still having a hard time. Then I found your video. We hung the bag higher and distracted her with milk and treats, and I went in with confidence. The whole thing was over in around 5 minutes and it was SOOO much better for everyone involved. Thank you!! 😽🐾🙏
you should never give a cat milk.
I have a skiddish cat and it’s hard for her to stay still. I am going to try again! Her health is most important for me!
Yes milk is a no no please talk to your vet about it if you’re unsure.
I did this 20 years ago and needed a refresher. Thank you, and that is one cute cat.
Thank you for the guide. My baby only has a couple days left in her but this will help make her comfy until she passes. I'm going to miss her forever.
I’m so sorry. I just got a bad diagnosis for my old guy too. Sending love to you and your girl 🤍
Thank u sooo much, this video literally saved my cat's life, it was 3 am, no vets available and we had to do something or he will die, we could stabilize him till the next morning and now he's fully recovered ❤️
Awwww how is your baby now ?
@@NothingWasted doing great! He’s a big, chubby, and healthy boy 💕
@@nmrv4823 yay!!!! So happy for you!
Where were you able to get fluid, lines and needles?
@@WildernessForever I think you can get in a drug store, it should be OTC since it's usually just fluids and no medicaments.
I administer fluids all the time and by you slowing down and explaining step by step really helps me to understand this procedure on a different level. You are So informative, thank you!!
If you leave a dirty needle on the line, bacteria from the skin can travel up the line. It is recommended to put a clean needle on the end of the line in between uses.
She said that.
Our vet told us to leave a dirty needle on I would think No bacteria! We just caped it. We got 13 more pokes uggh
@@tomcoryell you misunderstood. Go back to 1:15 and listen again. This vet in this video says they make a habit of leaving the dirty needle on until the time comes to administer fluids again, and then they put a clean needle on just before administering.
Certified Veterinary Technician said "no, you shouldn't do that because bacteria can get into the line".
You are exactly right. Leaving a dirty needle on a fluid bag and also reusing that needle is ridiculous. They are less than 10 cents a pop- Put a fresh needle immediately after use and throw the used one out! (Return used needles to vet for proper disposal. Please do not discard with your regular trash. It is medical waste.)
Yep, i change my dirty needle as soon as I finish the day's fluids. I put the clean needle on and leave the packing on the end of it so i know for certain that it is, indeed, a clean needle.
Such a good patient. 🐱♥️
What a sweety of a cat. I bribe my cat with Temptations and he forgets the needle is in his skin! Thank you for the excellent tutorial. I am new at this and am grateful to all the expertise I see on TH-cam.
Great video. You can speed up the flow of fluids by making sure that the spot where the rolling lock was, is round and not semi pinched. Often times when the locked is released, the spot on the line where the rolling lock was remains somewhat restricted, especially if it was locked for a couple of days.
Excellent lesson, Sarah. My wife and I just gave subcutaneous fluids to our cat and it was fairly easy, for the first go. The fluids did not so much drip as gush, so it really took less than a minute for the dose to be administered.
Thank you! I have to do this to my cat. All these tips are so useful. They showed me at her vet's office but it was a little overwhelming. It is good to have this for review.
Thank you for walking through the procedure!! I'm about to to this myself for the very first time at my home. My 17 yr old male has had fluid treatments 2x per week for 3 months now at vet. He just received excellent news on blood work today and his kidney values are nice a stable from changing diet to wet KD and of course his fluid treatments!! I have no choice but to do this at home because he doesn't handle the car ride, and is a little over an hour round trip. It's too stressful, along with holding him from a litter box and vomiting from motion sickness. So, thank you VERY much, for your patience & guidance for us non vet people!!! ❤❤❤❤
I'm having to do this to my cat at home for the first time ever and only had one quick 10 minute instruction at the vets office. Now that I'm at home and trying to do it, I have so many questions!!! Thank you for this video.
How did it go? I gotta do this tonight and I’m dreading having to do it but I love my kitty so I got to❤️
I thought it was a very good description of the procedure, but I don't think I heard her mention that the bevel of the needle should be facing up when the needle is inserted into the SQ space.
Thank you, came here looking for that information!
Thank you so much for this video; I so, so, so appreciate it. My nine year old just got diagnosed with kidney disease. Years ago, I had been able to give fluids to my first cat and he just loved it--it always perked him up, and he was happy and healthy until about 2 weeks before he died, and I credit the fluids for creating such comfort for him. But that was in the oughts and I'm totally out of practice + living in Turkey and only have conversational Turkish ability, so this video was a life saver. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Good video! And what a great-looking, precious kitty!
I like warming my fluids before administering. It makes a huge difference to the comfort of the cat. My cats actually enjoy their fluids.
Thank you SO MUCH! My vet explained it quickly but not in depth enough and my first attempt I basically just squirted the fluids everywhere because I couldn’t figure out the bag and all. You were so much more thorough but also easy to watch and pay attention to! Lifesaver (hopefully literally)!
I appreciate your calm, concise training technique on this procedure. Very helpful!
Thanks so much for your clear instruction and visual demonstration... huge help for us first timers! I ended up hanging bag on a hanger off the very top bed of the cat condo while she sat on a lower bed and looked out the window... works very well.
Thank you for mentioning the bump! I was terrified I'd put the fluids where they shouldn't be 😭
You did such a great job - and a beautiful and sweet patient, too. Thank you!
Scared.I am so glad you made this video.You are a wonderful teacher.He has not been this content and peaceful for days!There are no words to thank you!🐈😀❤️❤️❤️
Thank you! Love this video! I come back and re-watch it if I'm not confident that I fully remember everything, and re-watching lets me relax and project a calm energy, and lets me get the procedure right for my kitty. I really appreciate your teaching!
My animal shelter adoption coordinator sent me this for giving sub-qs to an 8wk old kitten. I had the basics down, as I've seen it done and I work in an ER and see a LOT of IVs done, but haven't ever done it myself. The explanations were so helpful! Thank you so much!!
Thank you for this video. The very patient explanation and step by step is a wonderful help as there is a lot of anxiety in trying to do the best for your pet. It is a great video!
I found this video while looking for a refresher course on giving fluids to my current cat and was pleasantly surprised to hear the name DoveLewis. I used to bring my cats to you from 2000-2004 when I lived in Portland. It was nice to be reminded of the wonderful care we got there.
P.S. Giving my cat a special treat of some canned chicken has made a huge difference in how well she behaves during her treatment.
Great video, thanks for providing these clear and concise instructions!
The best technical prestation of sub-Q procedure.
Thank you so much!! I was so intimidated but you made it so easy! My cat did great!!
Thank you so much for this video, it realllllly helped me and my guy today, your instructions were clear and just a great resource for a first timer who was very nervous. It went really well and I have you guys to thank
Thanks for this, clear, concise and helpful.
Thank you. Great job! I’ve done this before, but needed a refresher.
I love the video & how things are explained. I have to do this every other day & we're just starting to do it at home.
Thanks for this explanation on how to feel for a good spot to insert the needle!
This was a great video. We have been struggling giving IV fluids to our 20 year old cat. She freaks out at the vet and they felt it was no longer worth trying there. Giving them at home has also been challenging. The tips to leave her where she is comfortable (rather than trying to confine her) and giving her a favorite treat while the fluids are going in really worked!!! THANK YOU!
How’s your cat doing?
Sometimes right between the shoulder blades are harder to get a needle in because the skin seems thicker. So I usually do it more off too the side a bit. Great video, best I have seen.
Perfect demonstration, very helpful. I did it for the first time after watching this and it went well. Thank you.
Very good tutorial. Thanks. It gives me a bit more confidence. The patient is very good!
Thank you for this... Miss Vivian is melting my heart!!
GREAT DEMO!! Thank you, you're wonderful!
Thank you. This made me feel much more confident doing this for my kitty
Thanks for posting this. Very helpful for my first time, very well done.
Thank you so much. You gave me the confidence I need to do this.
Thank you,thank you,thank you!I just couldn’t do this procedure right and so I went on TH-cam to find a video about it.My senior cat was going downhill and I was so
Thank you. This was so helpful. I gave my cat fluid yesterday. I wasted alot, but I did get fluid inside of him. This makes so much sense. I will do a better job tonight thanks to you. Thank you!!!
Thank you for helping me with my sick cat Cletus!
Thankfully I came across this video as today I’ll be showed how to do this with my fur baby. I was terrified about thinking if I was going to remember everything when it was my time to give it to her so now I feel a little relief now knowing what to expect and questions to ask..
Very helpful, thank you. Wish me luck with my cat that doesn't like anything!
Thank you so much for this video. I feel way more confident I can do the fluids for my baby at home.
Good luck doing that with a feral cat. But somehow Pasadena Humane Society got it done with a dehydrated feral kitten. It was in foster care for socalization then to Pet Food Express for adoption. He's a real sweetheart.
Thank you. Gonna help a friend's cat today.
Thank you. I have a hard time doing this. I watch many videos and learn from each one. I think Im getting the hang of it.
Excellent demo. Thank you!
Thank you! It’s much easier than it seems :)
You made it look so easy
Thanks for making this video!
Thankyou, this was really helpful. And Viviane is such a sweetheart. What a good girl 🩷
Thanks for the helpful video. What gauge needle are you using here?
Great Video! Slowly but surely, gets the job done, using treats helps- beef or Turkey baby food works. Make sure to let the air bubbles out before inserting.
So very helpful! Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing this information, I have a very sick cat that I saved been to vet twice $700
Thank you so much for the information.
Thanks so much for your video. It really helped!
Thank you for this help❤
Thank you for this.! My cat can't have treats cuz of dietary restrictions due to kidney disease so we just love up on him throughout the whole thing. This video made it seem easier than I was making it out to be.
Smart! Thanks for the advice; my guy can’t have any treats either, so I was wondering what to do instead.
@@amandah.5876 yup, just give him lots of love. Calms them down. N I got him some cat grade cbd, seems to be working quite well.
I have recently just started doing this for my cat who has failing kidneys, so she cannot have any treats and is on renal food. Can I ask please, how is your cat's appetite? Mine keeps waning so we keep having to give her an appetite stimulant, but a side effect is aggression. She is always worse with the drip a day or two after the appetite pill. Do you always put the needle in the same area? I am wondering if she's a bit bruised. It's been 2 weeks now.
@@DixxiER I think you shouldn’t put the needle in the same spot over and over again so the skin and tissues can heal
There are renal friendly treats! At least where I live, but I bet in the US too. The ones my cats (also the healthy one lol) love are Trovet multi purpose treats (with fish). They're renal and heart friendly and hypoallergenic/have only fish as protein.
What a docile cat - I would like to see an actual realistic scenario. I am desperate to get fluids into my struggling cat and this was totally unrealistic.
You did an awesome job
I bought a cheap thing with a long handle - it happened to be a mop - and taped it to a 5' stepladder so the end of the handle was maybe 2' above the top of the ladder. We can still use it as a ladder. I then put the bag of fluids on a coat hanger and put the coat hanger into the hole in the end of the handle.
How does the line and the bag stay sterile after each use?
When my cat got fluids they didn't tell me it would migrate, she ended up having all of it in one front leg and I was freaking out lol. Called the clinic and the vet tech had a good laugh (me too after the initial shock). So if anyone reads this, if the fluid ends up in your cat's leg or somewhere it's fine and not painful or harmful!
Thank you so much! I finally was able to do it by myself and she didn't even feel it. My vet tech did it on the flanks, which she didn't like at all and made it nearly impossible to do safely with only one person.
Thank you very much for this video!
Thanks! I tried this yesterday with very little success or training. Second time‘s got to be easier
I really like this video. Thanks. I had to do this some years ago and wanted a refresher but you didn’t say anything about flushing the line first. I thought you had to do something to get rid of bubbles. I remember squirting a bit out of the needle (usually way too much). Thanks again 🙏🏽
This is my concern as well.
You don't need to do that, it's just subcutaneous (under the skin) and not intravenous (i.v.), nothing will happen
In my experience, it's best to not do it by yourself, especially not at first. If the cat is a cuddly one, or likes being held at all, then have the person the cat trusts most to hold them. We had similar issues with another cat when she needed a feeding tube but eventually she became less scared and we didn't need to restrain to feed or medicate her at all and one person could do it alone. That cat also got used to her inhaler eventually. It's not just down to personality, the cats in these videos are so calm and compliant because they're used to it. It's treats and attention Tuesday for them, so they handle it better.
The treats hack has been a lifesaver. Once I shake the treats container he comes running over, mewing, wagging his tail, and even purrs during the IV administration.
precious kitty
Thanks for this video! Today I will attempt it the first time. Wish me luck!
It worked! The tip with food was perfect! Thank you!
You can do this!
does the water need prescription?
Thank you. Although the tech showed me I needed a little refresher. Still daunting putting a 18g needle in my cat but she's been tolerating well
I use a 23 gage terumo thin wall. 18 gage is way too big!
Hi, which fluid did you infuse? Normal saline, ringer's lactate, else? Thanks!
Excellent, thank you so much
Wow
My cat turns into a demon from hell when we try to do it to him. We have to pay 45$ every 3 days so the vet can do it instead because he might be 20 years old, but he is still a fighter
I pay a neighbor to hold my little patient. Invest in heavy duty gloves. You might save some money.
Look up cat sock. You can put them in a little thing where they cant move much.
I give my dog Kai, fluids once a week and I like
To turn on a video here, and everyone is compassionate.
thank you, I followed every step and it went very smoothly. I do have one question though, it seemed like the fluids went in my cat pretty quick. Like 100 mL in a minute or two. Is that ok?
Thank you!
Thanks for the video it reaffirm i am doing it right. i have the nicest 16 year old cat. he doesnt make any fuss. I love my cat!
Hi I have a quick question! what do you do when you give the rest of the fluids in the bag? Like exactly when do you know to stop? When the fluid from the line is empty? Or when it stops dripping?
I don't know whether someone noticed it or not, but the cat is soooooo much obeying. She's not even running from the place and seems like she already knows what her owner is doing and how she/he should help her 😅
Shouldn’t you also make sure there aren’t any air gaps in the line as well?
Awesome video, but what about the remaining fluid in the bag? Should it be refrigerated between use? What is the max number of days an open bag can be safely used?
Thank you very much!
Here I am waving to Vivian when she looks toward the cam. lol
Thank you
thank you so much!
good job.. 👍👍 keep it up..