Sub Q fluids at home

[emily_the_spoiled]

I give Oliver subQ fluids when necessary. You can buy the fluids by the case lot, just go talk with your local pharmacy and they can order them for you. The needles and tubing I buy on line, depending upon what state you are in you might need a prescription for the needles, but the website will let you know that.

I have a hook that I hung on the powder room door and I have Oliver on the floor (it goes faster that way). I also give him a LITTLE bit of Fancy Feast to keep him "occupied" while I give him the fluids (he is really food motivated). That way we can both walk out of the room with no blood shed

[DriftyAlison0]

I dunno the cost and stuff, but I do volunteer work at the local Animal Control and one of the things that I do there (did it in my VA internship) is to give cats fluid if there is a need. It may be time consuming (It usually takes me 5-10min. Depending on the cat and amount) but it is so easy to do. Like some others have already said, hook the bag on something high (but not too high that you can't reach it) Also have a bowl of warm water because the fluids can be cold and it could make the cat's temp go down so you may want to warm up the water. But it shouldn't be too warm. I put it to warm enough that I can handle it, but I make sure that its not steaming hot.

[maerlyn]

When my beloved Merlin was diagnosed with CRD, I had to give him fluids at home. One thing I learned was to give the fluid in some spot that was *not* one of his favorites! I tried that, thinking it was a good idea, but then he stopped using that place, and I felt guilty. I used to put him on the sewing maching cabinet and hang the bag from the curtain rod; that worked well.

I also learned that it was possible to keep the fluid bag at a good temp by placing it on a towel-covered heating pad set on LOW (and not the kind that has the "auto turnoff"), and covering it then with another small terry towel. The fluid stayed comfortably warm.

There's so much more treatment available now than there was when Merlin was diagnosed in 2001; I hope you have many more happy years together!

Sharon