My kitty just diagnosed w/ CRF - need advice & prayers

[Ladybug70]

Hi,

For those of you have performed sub-Qs, can you give me an idea of how much it costs you on a monthly basis to do it at home (fluids, supplies, shipping, etc). Assuming sub-Qs 3x/week (200cc)? 5x/week? Daily? I'm trying to compare it to what the vet charges.

Also, did you buy directly from the vet or via medical supply company? Also, how did you handle disposing of medical waste (needles)? Thanks for your help.

By the way, Blackie is still hanging in there. Not great , but not bad either. Mild appetite, no more vomiting, and a little more energy. Still not his normal self (may never be). We're just taking it a day at a time. We're trying 3 sub-Qs this week with a blood test on Friday. Will meet next Monday with vet to review results and discuss next steps/options for long-term care. Keep those kitty prayers coming!

Purrs,
Lisa

[Medusa]

Hi,

For those of you have performed sub-Qs, can you give me an idea of how much it costs you on a monthly basis to do it at home (fluids, supplies, shipping, etc). Assuming sub-Qs 3x/week (200cc)? 5x/week? Daily? I'm trying to compare it to what the vet charges.

Also, did you buy directly from the vet or via medical supply company? Also, how did you handle disposing of medical waste (needles)? Thanks for your help.

By the way, Blackie is still hanging in there. Not great , but not bad either. Mild appetite, no more vomiting, and a little more energy. Still not his normal self (may never be). We're just taking it a day at a time. We're trying 3 sub-Qs this week with a blood test on Friday. Will meet next Monday with vet to review results and discuss next steps/options for long-term care. Keep those kitty prayers coming!

Purrs,
Lisa

I pay $10 a bag and they give me a bunch of heavy gauge #18 needles for $1 (b/c the treatment goes fast, usually in 5 min. or less; a lighter gauge needle might take up to half an hour for the treatment.) The lines are $2 each. Compare that to $10 for the treatment itself; I wasn't charged for the office visit, and you can see the savings. The vet I go to now charges $12 a bag and he's expensive so I know that if I had them give the treatments, I'd be charged for the treatment, the supplies and the office visit, too.

Puddy was getting 150 cc. a day so a bag lasted approximately a week. I also injected the B vitamins into the port in the bag but my vet gave it to me at no charge, so I don't know what that cost would be. In the beginning, Puddy was getting 2 treatments a day, though; then it came down to one a day, then twice a week, then once a week and she was even off the treatments for a while.

As for disposal, I kept a separate bag just for the discarded items. The needles are recapped so there's no danger of sticking anyone.

There are a few here on PT who buy their supplies online b/c it's less expensive but my local vet is less than 10 minutes away so I just go there. Hope this helps.

Glad to hear that Blackie is doing a little better. Keep it up!

[kb2yjx]

I just received an order of 12 1000 cc bags of Lactated Ringers solution, 6 IV lines. The cost(for the East coast delivery)was $65 and change. I am ahead on needles. I use Terumo needles 18 gauge 1 inch. Please try the Brico site for the rated to your area!!! They have all the prices for the IV bags, IV lines, needles, sharp boxes...etc....I will get the site for you!!

[kb2yjx]

www.bricomedicalsupplies.com Then go to the CRF section.....

[Ladybug70]

Thanks so much, Mary and Sandra. How often do you go through the IV lines? Sandra, you mentioned you ordered 6... how long does that last you? Just trying to figure out what the monthly cost would be for fluid (200 ccs 3-4x/week), needles, IV lines, etc. Thanks again.

My vet charges $20 fluid and $30 to administer it. I'm usually spending almost $60 per visit. To maintain 3x/week with occasional vet exams would be $800/month. Not doable!

Another question... with you administering the fluids at home, how often do you visit the vet for check-ups and blood tests to check kidney function?

Thanks... so sorry for the questions... just trying to get all information before I sit down with the vet in a few days.

Purrs,
Lisa

P.S. Blackie has been doing great in the last 24 hours. Lots of energy, eating KIBBLE (yes, kibble!), and being very affectionate...including his trademarked "murring" - term I use for his "musical purring"....kind of a cross between a sing-songy meow and purring. Truly music to my ears.

[Medusa]

Thanks so much, Mary and Sandra. How often do you go through the IV lines? Sandra, you mentioned you ordered 6... how long does that last you? Just trying to figure out what the monthly cost would be for fluid (200 ccs 3-4x/week), needles, IV lines, etc. Thanks again.

My vet charges $20 fluid and $30 to administer it. I'm usually spending almost $60 per visit. To maintain 3x/week with occasional vet exams would be $800/month. Not doable!

Another question... with you administering the fluids at home, how often do you visit the vet for check-ups and blood tests to check kidney function?

Thanks... so sorry for the questions... just trying to get all information before I sit down with the vet in a few days.

Purrs,
Lisa

P.S. Blackie has been doing great in the last 24 hours. Lots of energy, eating KIBBLE (yes, kibble!), and being very affectionate...including his trademarked "murring" - term I use for his "musical purring"....kind of a cross between a sing-songy meow and purring. Truly music to my ears.

Don't reuse the lines; one line per bag. Don't reuse the needles either, not just for sanitary reasons but also b/c it dulls the needles and will cause Blackie unnecessary pain. A fresh needle for each treatment, a fresh line for each bag.

As for vet visits, I leave that up to my vet. I could tell when Puddy needed to go in b/c her subQ's weren't perking her up. Usually after a treatment, she felt much better and was actually peppy at times. When she wasn't, I was on the phone to my vet.

You're spending a lot of money right now but that will decrease significantly once you start administering the subQ's yourself. Your vet or a vet tech will show you how. I'll say in advance that you'll more than likely screw it up the first couple of times. I sure did. My vet is 45 min. away but my local vet is less than 10 min. away and I called him crying b/c I not only couldn't get the needle in right, I poked myself in the thumb so hard that it turned blue. LOL He said 'Come in right now and I'll take my time w/you to show you how". Maybe I shouldn't have told you this but I just want you to know that it rarely goes smoothly right away. You'll be nervous but once you get over the initial nervousness, Blackie will relax and so will you and it will become second nature to you.

So glad to read that dear Blackie is doing better. Now that's the kind of report I like to hear! Never worry about asking questions. That's what this site is all about. I've learned so much on here that I'm amazed.

[Ladybug70]

Thanks for the honest feedback, Mary. I know it won't be easy to do sub-Qs at first (and I'm a stress case to begin with - LOL).

So, I think I understand with the equipment/supplies: assuming I administer 200cc every other day, I'd probably go through one 1000cc bag, one IV line and 5 needles every 1 1/2 weeks... or 3 bags, 3 IV lines and 15 needles per month. Or double that if I have to go to daily injections.

I'll definitely price compare between purchasing through the vet vs Brico site (but looks like Brico is really reasonable - ~$100-$200/month w/ shipping!).