Max

[slick]

Fluid and line warming up now, needle in the freezer, Max asleep in dining room chair. Little does he know......or maybe he does.

I spent quite a number of hours yesterday on line following all the links you guys have given me. Wow, I didn't know that I knew so little about this.

Some steps I've taken:
- I spoke to my local pharmacy at Safeway (and gave them a sample) about them ordering the needles for me. I will hear more tomorrow.
- I also researched to see if I can order supplies on line. Only trouble is I'm in Canada and anything shipped to me from the States comes with a hefty tax and duty to pay at the post office upon pickup, not to mention the Exchange rate. Will continue to look.
- I did go back to my vet and she just wrote the bill wrong. The needles are 30 cents a piece. The b girl at the front desk told me that a bag lasts 10 days and with each bag I will purchase 10 needles. She said stockpiling them is not encouraged. When I told her she only gave me 9, she went in the back and brought out one for me. She never apologized. I will call Dr. Singh tomorrow and see if he can order me in a box of needles and maybe give me a price break because with all the years I've been seeing him, I'm sure I've all but paid for his new BMW SUV by now.

So that's where it stands now. Taz: I'll call you when it's all done and update this post.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I believe you have a couple friends in the US who can always help out with shipping things....if you know what I mean!

Go Max Go!!!

[Cinder & Smoke]

- I also researched to see if I can order supplies on line.

Only trouble is I'm in Canada and anything shipped to me from the States
comes with a hefty tax and duty to pay at the post office upon pickup,
not to mention the Exchange rate. Will continue to look.

Suggestion:

Do some more Googling - look for Canadian Vet Suppliers - or at laest
a USA-based company with a seperate Canadian division that Warehouses
its stock, Ships, and Bills from a Canadian address. That otta save a lot of
the cross-border upcharges, duties, and BS that comes with a shipment
from our not-so-good ole USA!

But another thing to consider ...
Are you really going to "save" that much cold, hard cash to make the
alternate sourcing worthwhile??
Unless you Vet is doubling the price on everything ... I've found the "savings"
to be had by eliminating the Vet's NOT-so-huge "markup" isn't worth all
the phuss & bother I spend to "save" it.

Happie Shopping!

[ChrisH]

I was so glad to read that Sir Max was feeling better after his stay at the vets. Hope giving him the fluids went well?

Prayers & good thoughts continuing.

[emily_the_spoiled]

The other place to ask for information is your local hospital outpatient pharmacy. They will at least have the bags of fluid and the IV lines...

[kb2yjx]

Slick!!! I went to the crf site that I gave you. There is alot of info for people in Canada who want to purchase supplies. I found Pacific Health Care, they are selling 100 needles for $6.65. Be sure to check out that site!!!!!

[Nomilynn]

hey there,

I'm not sure what I can do - if anything - but please call me if you need anything! I will PM you my info again

Naomi

[slick]

OMG, you guys are terrific. Max had a night off last night because my neice was in town and I went to dinner with my Mom, SIL, neice. Didn't get home until well after 9:30 and Max was starving. I figured one night off couldn't hurt.

I have lots to update on this thread but I'm leaving for w-u-r-k soon. Will update later today - after 5:30.

Thanks Nomi and thanks KB. That place is in Surrey...about 15 min away from me. I can go and pick them up. I'll do more looking at their site if I get a minute today - providing my boss from H is not breathing down my neck.

Later guys.

[Lizzie]

I'm looking forward to your update, which I can read at my workplace tomorrow before my boss gets in, and am very, very pleased that Max is feeling much better.

I buy needles, bags of fluids, and lines for CRF cats, vetwrap, medical tape, gamgee, and feeding syringes for Diego who has an oesopheal tube, supplements and treatments for other cats, all online from KV Vet (it's in the U.S.) and it has saved me literally hundreds of dollars.

[slick]

I just spoke to Pacific Health....boy what a nice guy, and nice looking from his picture on the website.

He quoted me
needles - 20 gauge - $7.35/box of 100
18 gauge - $6.45/box of 100
1000 mg bag saline - $5.85 (compared to $12 at the vet )

Delivery is $5.25 - it's still a bargain.

I just have to make a decision what needles to order. He says that the majority of people who order from him for CRF cats order the smaller 20 gauge.

More later.

[Lizzie]

I use 18 gauge needles, 1" most of the time. The only time I've used 20 gauge was on a very small cat who couldn't cope with the 18 though she also had a hard time with how long the fluids took to go into her. Perhaps they sell more of the 20 gauge because people are afraid of hurting their cat, or because in the later stages CRF cats become very thin and their skin becomes more sensitive.

Do you have a spare line on hand? I always have some spare ones now because there were a few occasions when I'd get distracted as I was putting the catheter into the bag and I'd hit the rim of the opening, contaminating the catheter.

[kb2yjx]

I use the 18x1 and the fluids go in nicely....

[slick]

The fluids were very hard to get into him tonight. He fought and fought and wiggled and wiggled. Yes, it was warm but no, didn't freeze the needle. I tried giving him some treats during treatment but he wants none of it. He just fights and sticks his tongue way out and drools the whole time. After treatment, he hides and won't come for any treats. He's miserable and so am I.

Is this quality of life? Am I doing him justice??? I'm in tears over this. Taz: just tried to call and got voice mail. Didn't leave a message - decided I need to get myself together before talking on the phone. Perhaps another night.

I'm going to make myself some dinner now and settle down. Bless all of you who take this in stride. My hat is off to you and I wish I could be who you are.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Slick, I'm sorry to hear that Max is being difficult to handle while trying to give him his fluids. I wish that he knew that you're only doing this to help him.

I've only had to give sub-q fluids for short periods of time to my cats and I did manage to do it alone. I'd put them in my small bathroom and shut the door and then hang the bag from a hook that's on the back of the door. I'd kneel down and put them between my knees to help hold them so they wouldn't move as much. Luckily my bathroom's so small that they couldn't really run and hide if they wanted to. I hope that things will get easier for you both with time.

Maybe you should look into buying Max a klaw kontrol bag from Drs. Foster & Smith or a cat sack which you can buy online. I'll continue to keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. Please take care. (((HUGS)))

[Medusa]

I'm sorry that you're having such a hard time w/this, Slick. I wish I could pull a trick out of my bag but I got nothin'. Everyone here has given you such good advice that my comments would just be redundant. I'll continue prayers for both you and Max. That will be my contribution. Keep the faythe. (((HUGS)))