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Subcutaneous fluids (now with an update)
If you've ever had to give this to your pet, is it normal for it to leak out?
I gave 50 ML to my cat (see siggy) this morning at about nine. His fur is still wet (it is 12:20 here now). This leads me to believe that some of the fluid is slowly leaking out. This is my first time doing this and I don't know if I did something wrong or if this is normal.
Sorry if this is a stupid question. I'm so stressed out by the thought of losing him that I feel like my brain is no longer functioning properly.
ETA: sorry, I should probably add that I am a lurker, but asked my first questions a couple of days ago. Thanks for those responses! This is clearly a very knowledgable board.
Update: I just gave the fluids again and he was so calm. So far nothing is leaking out. Perhaps, DH's method this morning had something to do with it. Maybe mommy will be giving fluids from now on! He actually purred the whole time, except, of course, when I stuck him with the needle.
Re: Subcutaneous fluids (now with an update)
I've never had to give them at home, but I've had them done by the vet several times with Hobbes. It has always leaked, so I'm pretty sure it's normal. However, if you're not sure, it seems excessive, or it's pink-tinged, I'd double-check with the vet.
Aww, this is not a stupid question, and I'm sorry you're going through this. Giving fluids is no fun, especially when you're first learning to do it.
What you're describing sounds totally normal to me, but if anything changes or seems "off" it never hurts to check in with your vet over the phone.
GL!
"The hardest thing is to live richly in the present without letting it be tainted out of fear for the future or regret for the past." - Sylvia Plath
Yes, it is totally normal and its also normal for the bubble formed by the liquids to move a little. For example, down their front leg. They absorb it eventually.
Kudos to you for doing it, it was one of the hardest parts when our cat was sick : (
Thanks for the responses and encouragement.
MrsJacint: I'm not able to tell if any of the leakage is pink since he is black.
Kellbell: He was surprisingly good through it. I think I was more stressed than he was, which is good since we have to do it again tonight.
MM: I haven't tried to wipe any of it off and won't (thanks for the tip). He also hasn't tried to lick it.
I think he's still wiped out from anesthesia yesterday.
If you're worried about it, maybe lightly blot/touch a q-tip to it to see if it's pink? Not enough to dry it, but just enough to see the color against a white background?
Ooooog the bubble is so creepy. I hate touching it whenever Munchie has sub-q fluids.
Husbands should be like Kleenex: Soft, strong, and disposable.
If it's pink, it probably means you just knicked a blood vessel, which is NBD. Unless a lot of blood comes out, but I don't think that's even possible. Sometimes it can seem like a lot because blood mixes with the fluid and looks like a larger amount than it is. Cats don't have many blood vessels or nerves in their back/shoulder area, which is one reason why the fluids are given in that area.
Samson doesn't leak (unless I put the needle in wrong!), but he's also really fluffy, so maybe I've just never noticed.
It's pretty scary doing it on your own the first time or two. I actually JUST taught myself how to spike the bag (I always had the vet do it for me before), which was the easiest thing ever, but mentally, giving sub-q is tough. It becomes SO much easier, though. At first I didn't want to do it by myself, but now I can do it without my husband and Sam will sit in my lap. It gets a lot easier.
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