Cat Friendly Homes Presents: How to Give Subcutaneous Fluids

In this video, Dr. Margie Scherk demonstrates how to give subcutaneous fluids to your cat. Dr. Scherk reviews how to set up the intravenous bag, needle preparation, and proper cat handling to provide the fluids.

[robyntatham]

I used to give my old cat fluids every day but haven’t done so for a while. This is the best video I’ve seen for doing this. Thanks for the refresher!

[jsfnnyc]

Great job. Now where can I find that person holding the kitty treat to come over to my house? 😉

[jupitergal]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! The other video I watched seemed good but I didn't know what it was missing (warming the bag, how to attach the tube to the bag) until I watched this too, so luckily I didn't try to start before this one. My first attempt and everything was 100% successful!

[icarosatsuma]

Thank you so much!! My husband and I are new to this. Last time didn’t go so smoothly. Tonight was a breeze thanks to this video!! I especially loved the tips about warming the bag and pulling the skin back over the needle. Our kitty appreciated our improved technique! 😻

[ClosetSamples]

Thank you! I have a cat with kidney failure who needs fluids now. My vet is great but this was my 1st time and I was nervous. Your video helped clarify a few things for me and everything went smoothly!

[jenniferm.]

Thank you so much for this video. I watched her do it in the office but having this as a guide at home is very helpful and you went over some things that they didn't!!

[GotPurr]

Thank you so much for explaining how everything connects, and showing how to easily pull the skin over the needle. That was the scariest part, but with your help, it was easy!!! Thank you thank you! God bless you.

[spit_itout]

Thank you so much, my wife and I followed your method to the dot and our very scared cat was not even aware she was receiving fluids, she was completely focused on the Churu. So different from when we do it at the vet, where they hold her and she gets terrified. So THANK YOU!!!!

[lizethdevilliers]

I have been giving fluids to my 2 CKD cats for the past year every second day. What helps a lot when inserting the needle is shaving a patch of hair with a low noise pet clipper. Always insert the needle just under the skin, dont try and go too deep. Keep the environment calm and quiet and give loads of cuddles and scratches. I have a cuddle and brush routine before giving their fluids and it makes them so much more relaxed. If they tense up, it is diificult to "tent" the skin and inserting the needle becomes more difficult. If you get it just right, the fluid will actually flow in a steady little stream into the bulb instead of just dripping, which makes it go so much faster. Remember to slight pinch the area when pulling out the needle as a 18G needle leaves quite a hole and the fluid may leak out a little from that hole due to the pressure from the fluid pocket under the skin.

[CampingWithCats]

I might be an anti-theist deist, but God bless you for your work. Doing good and bringing happiness to those who cannot thank you with goods, services, or wealth is truly doing God’s work.
✌️❤️🖖

[elizabethherrera]

I was so shaky but once i got the needle in, my cat was so chill. Hopefully tomorrow I will be more chill. Thanks for the help. 😸

[AngelaMercurio-bc]

Thank you Dr. Scherk!! I didn't think using the Churu would work as well with my cat when administering the fluids, but it did!! I appreciate you so much for sharing this video...can't thank you enough.

[rayhayden]

Excellent video - we actually got our cat his fluids whilst watching!

[jenniferross]

Thank you! I've viewed lots of videos. None of them showed how to set up the bag initially. The first bag was set up by my vet, this time I was on my own. Thank you for your clear explanation! ❤

[manmany]

Thanks for the concise demonstration! I have had trouble from time to time with fluids stopping flow. I tried to move the needle out or sideways and boom-it came out and we all got wet. So frustrating. Not good. I'll try rotating it, for some reason I never thought of that. It IS hard doing it with a confused cat (new to fluids) and no helper to distract the kitty. More than about 30 seconds is a challenge. Also sick cats don't always want a treat, they just want to go back to bed. I do use an instant read thermometer in the water basin used to warm the fluids bag, too hot is a risk.

[blipblip]

Thanks for the hints and suggestions! I think your idea of raising the bag up high is great. We tried this intervantion at home yesterday with our 19 year old cat Franky. We struggled for a bit learning the tube cut-offs and the needle placement in his skin with relatively few snags. It may be a fluke, but he's actually looking calmer and more alert, and eating more than just a couple little treats! Knock on wood he'll feel better and we can love him a little bit longer. ☺😺

[nancyfasolino]

Thank you! It was very helpful I was a little nervous but the tip of warming the fluid helped and my boyfriend helped unlock the fluid bag. Thank you!

[classicsciencefictionhorro]

Your video helped me enormously. I very much appreciate it. The vet tech never mentioned heating the fluid bolus OR that type of treat, which our cat loves. 👃

[paulc.tumeyauthor]

Very helpful, thank you! The Vet gave us the bag and line and I wasn't sure how to set it all up. Stella got her fluids with no problem!

[jmichaelp]

I like the tip about pulling the skin over the needle. When I did this for a cat 10 years ago, I was always afraid of pushing the needle in too far.