Sub Q fluids at home

[tokolosh]

My 17 yo Siamese has just been formally diagnosed with kidney disease. [snip] For those on this forum who are also doing this, how much did you spent on the intitial equipment and how much is the actual bag of fluid? Where did you find this equip? I'm in southern New England.

Thanks

I did it for Limpet for a very short time - about two weeks - before she collapsed completely and had to be euthanised. If there's one thing I'd go back and do differently now, it would be to start doing it immediately we got her back from her first IV session. I don't know if it would have made any difference - she hid it beautifully until it broke through, and then we poured treatment on her but she still lost ground so fast. But that's the only area where I feel like I left something untried that might have helped.

Anyway, my cat is not your cat and I have my thumbs crossed for yours. About your question. There wasn't any initial equipment that I kept reusing in my case - just a bag of fluid with a clean line and a pack of needles each time I 'refilled'. In Canada I was paying $20 to the vet for a litre bag of fluid and 10 needles. Never used the last one so I gave it to the SPCA, where they told me there were much much cheaper alternatives. I never had a chance to need them, but maybe you could try calling your own local SPCA and see if they have a similar suggestion for sourcing in your area. Apparently they go through a lot of the stuff, especially when there's a hospital attached to the shelter.

Good luck. SubQ really did make a huge difference for ours while it was still working - she'd come home from her treatments at the vet and eat like her usual self until it wore off. As I say, I just wish I'd done what you're doing, and begun giving them to her daily right from the start. I hope it goes well for both of you.

[momcats13]

Thanks to all who replied. My kitty has been getting his fluids for almost two months now. He is very good about it and I wound up getting all the supplies at Drs Foster&Smith. They carry the fluid, lines and needles and it is all delivered right to my door. They don't charge for shipping for this and no sales tax. He gets an appetite stimulant that keeps his weight up but he will only eat dry food, which I know isn't the best for him, so he gets fluids every day. At 17 I want him to be happy, not in a constant struggle to get him to eat food he doesn't want.