Evan’s new sub-q needles have finally arrived in the mail. I’ve been using them for the last 3 sub-q sessions (Wednesday night, last night and this morning).

I have been using Terumo 19GX1 (19 gage, 1 inch long) thin wall needles. I’ve been using these needles for the past year with him. I ordered a box each of the 20GX1 and 21GX1 needles: the higher the gage, the smaller the needle.

After Evan’s last blood test, Dr Kate and I decided to increase Evan’s sub-q fluids by adding an additional 100ml session every other morning. He receives 150 ml every night. As this means that I’ll be giving him more sessions of sub-q fluids, I wanted to consider using a smaller needle, so that there is less trauma to his skin.

I have used the 20GX1 needles for the last three sessions. I’ve found that it is more difficult to get a good flow with the smaller needles. I know the smaller “hole” means that the fluids will flow slower; however, I have found that I have to reposition the needle several times in the session to maintain the fluid flow. If I do not reposition the needle, the flow simply stops. I do not under stand this.

With the smaller needle, the fluids take longer to administer. That is not much of a problem, as Evan will lie down and purr (while I rub his chin) during the sub-q session.

One good thing I have already noticed: there is less leakage from the injection site. Often, when using the 19Gx1 needles, Evan would leak fluids from the injection site. I think this is the result of several factors: Decreased elasticity in the skin, larger hole in the skin, quicker fluid transfer so the fluids have less time to spread out under his skin. I hope that, by using the smaller needles, I help to maintain his skin’s elasticity by causing less trauma to it. The smaller hole and slower fluid flow should help to prevent fluid loss.

While I have not yet tried the 21Gx1 needles, I don’t think I will ever use them. The needle is so small; I think it would take a very long time for the fluids to flow. A 22Gx1 needle is the size the doctors use when drawing blood for blood tests (I had blood work last week, so I asked).

Mark

Mark - can you send the 21Gx1 needles back to the company for a refund??? If you haven't opened them, I would think there would be no problem... or maybe exchange them for another box of 21G's.

I'm very impressed that Evan takes his fluids so well... I know I wouldn't be that happy about it.... I HATE needles. I suppose you get "used to it" though.... what a thing to have to get used to though.... Poor Evan.

Do you find that he perks up after receiving fluids? Is he still eating and drinking well, all things considered?

Michelle asked:

Quote:

Mark - can you send the 21Gx1 needles back to the company for a refund??? If you haven't opened them, I would think there would be no problem... or maybe exchange them for another box of 21G's.

Michelle:

By the time I paid the postage back to Alabama and had a new box of needles shipped to me here, I would end up spending more than a new box. The cost of shipping is more than the cost of the fluids and needles itself! I may simply give the needles to my vet’s office or see if any of the local shelters could use them. I will have to make sure I don’t violate any federal or state laws in giving them away, first.

Michelle also asked:

Quote:

Do you find that he perks up after receiving fluids? Is he still eating and drinking well, all things considered?

Evan does not “perk up” after fluids. If he did, I would be very worried, because it would mean that he was dehydrated before I gave him his sub-q treatment! He is still eating and drinking well. Over the past two weeks or so, in the morning, he has come out into the dining room and wants to be fed with the other cats (I was feeding him in my bedroom). He will come out a few times at night for dry food snacks. Yesterday, I he was out in the living room near my sliding door, napping in the sunlight. So, he is a bit more active, but I take that to have more to do with increased sunlight than anything else.

I would expect any change in Evan’s behavior to be gradual, not dramatic. I must remember that he is quite old, the best guess now is “way over 12 years” (not sure how many years are in a “way”). Even if there were no kidney problems, his age and the hyper-t would still slow him down.

I did note and tell Dr Kate, that Evan seems to have some bad breath. To me, it seamed that he had bad breath only after I give him his fluids. She did not understand why that would happen, and it could simply be bad breath from eating his cat food. There were no signs of dental issues, other than a bit of plaque on one molar (she removed the plaque). His breath is fine the rest of the time – so we’re assuming it is simply related to eating.

Mark

When I had leftover needles from giving Bunny her fluids after she passed, I donated them to a wildlife sanctuary.... since they were still sealed there was no problem and they were happy to take them. I don't beleive there is a "legal" issue to anything like that - it's just a donation of unused, clean, sealed needles.

I'm glad Evan is doing so well and now that you mention it, I can see how him not perking up after fluids is a good thing... never thought of that.

The bad breath after administering fluids.....could that possibly be what happens when his kidney's flush from the new influx of fluid perhaps? Maybe it's building up in his system and then when you give him the fluids you "clean it all out" so to speak. Hm.... Either way, since it's not all the time that's good. I hope it's just from his food as you and Dr. Kate suggest.

Well, "bad breath" is a relative term. After they eat cat food, I don't consider cat breathe to be "good". But what one needs to "smell for" is a change that is worse or different than the normal "cat food breathe". So I guess we all should sniff our cat's breathe when they are healthy to note the difference if it gets bad in even a cat's opinion!

The past week, I have had problems doing Evan’s fluids. At first, I thought it might be the new, smaller gage needles, so I went back to the 19 gage ones. However, even after the switch, things were not working out all that well.

I seem to be in a fluid “funk”. On Thursday, It took three sticks to get the fluids in. Evan was not pleased with me by then, and you should have heard the language that was coming out of his mouth. He can have a regular “liter box” vocabulary, when he wants.

Anyway, I think I have figured out what was wrong. I was not pinching up enough skin. Friday and today (Saturday), fluids worked fine. If I can regain my confidence (with a few additional good sticks), I’ll give the smaller needles a try again.

Also, Evan wants to eat dry food again. I don’t know if I mentioned it, but he is coming out of the bedroom in the evenings for some dry food. It appears that there is a correlation with the weather. The nicer the weather, the more food he wants. I don’t know why, but that is what appears to be happening.

Mark