How to Prepare a Subcutaneous (SQ) Fluids Bag for your Pet

[@Faye786]

Was posted 14 years ago & it’s still helping so many of us pet owners❤

[@VetVid]

Thank you! So glad it is useful for you.

[@catspydell3670]

There are several vids on this subject, but yours is the best explained and also, you filmed close up so we can see exactly what is to be done, thank you.

[@angnphx]

Thank You for the tutorial. This bag is different than the one I got from the vet.

[@debpuccio]

Mist helpful video yet... THANK YOU!!

[@VetVid]

Awesome! Thank you so much for the kind thank you and we are so happy this video helped you!

[@Ladykyra101]

Thank you for this and Administering SQ fluids videos. My baby gurl is having hydration issues in her older years, vet told me she might start needing SQ fluids, but I was afraid to do myself. These vids are very easy to follow. I feel a bit more confident to consider doing SQ fluids at home. 😊

[@sherrydonturner3318]

This video helped SO much!! Thank you for making it!! It's so detailed!

[@VetVid]

Ah! So glad to hear it. Thank you for your positive feedback.

[@irish4lou]

Thank you so much. I agree this is the best video and I have been struggling for months, now it's so much easier.

[@jackmcgarey7972]

Thanks. Direct and to the point.

[@shashi2020]

Thank you so much for this video. This process is very intimidating for a layperson! I really appreciate the resource.

[@pandoraspice1003]

Thank you doctor. This was so helpful. It should help to make our nearly 20 year old kitty's life much better.

[@carolsmithpiano]

Thank you for this video. I am new to this with my cat and it helped to watch this video.

[@faeryfox6253]

That was very clear and easy. Thank you for thinking to do this. PS My beautiful pet thanks you also!

[@luckyedie]

Thank you 😊

[@VetVid]

Keep line facing down. It is a visual thing. Air bubbles are not a concern for Sub-cutaneous fluids.

[@kimclaxton8831]

Thank you! This is a huge help!!

[@SteveSogo]

Thank you Dr. Mike!

[@larsvontrash]

Thank you!!

[@vargonian]

If the bulb is too low, you can squeeze it to fill it, but what if it's too high? Mine is too high and I can't see if liquids are dripping or not.

[@debbitage]

Same happened to me. I tried to fix it by clamping it then letting some water out. When I released the clamp again, I noticed the bag had lost the air and the resulting vacuum cause all the water to be drawn up to the top of the bag. I lost the ability to see where the top of the water was. It fixed the bulb, though. smh

[@vargonian]

@@debbitage Oh, I solved this. You just turn the bag upside down and do the same pinch action. It'll release some water from the compartment and just repeat that until you're good.

[@transwerewolf2487]

Hello, I did this and there was not enough air in the bag to do so now the bag is also very tight and it’s hard to tell what level it’s at. There is a sliver of air in the Bulb but it’s still not enough to tell if it’s dripping. Is there any way to get air back into the bag perhaps?

[@vargonian]

@@transwerewolf2487 Yes, if you turn the whole thing upside down and pinch the bulb, it'll flow in the reverse direction. I hope this helps.

[@snakething87]

Very helpful.

[@MRWeast-hj9jb]

I was a bit surprised he didn't have gloves on but it's a good video

[@angelacookson]

So helpful!

[@chainamarie03]

But I was given a different type of bag. It has 2 little tubes at the bottom. One has a blue cap. How to connect this bag??

[@VetVid]

This is probably one for the fluid line and one for the injection port. I would ask your vet to confirm.

[@VetVid]

@QuickDodgeTheBullets You should be able to twist it off if not too tight.

[@baristalady519]

What is the second valve for, that little orange one near the bottom?

[@LisCarey]

Beautifully clear and easy--except it doesn't show what to do if the thing at the top that should be half full, is in fact full. Yes, it IS better if it's half full, but it isn't; it's full, and I have no idea how to fix that, and you don't explain how.

[@VetVid]

Tilt the bag upside down so the bulb is above the bag. Squeeze the bulb, and the bulb will empty.

[@LisCarey]

@@VetVid Thanks!

[@danam772]

@@VetVid THANK you! have been looking for an answer to this.

[@Morncreek]

Thank you.

[@scottm2553]

Thanks!!

[@billdemarais7254]

How can i get some of that fluid out of the top bulb? I went to the vets to buy a setup and they gave it back with that filled right up. I think it's hindering the fluid flow.

[@JeanetteJeanette11]

when do you know that all the air bubbles are out of the line?

[@NeenaMUA]

When you change the bag do you need to change the line as well?

[@whatjamesthinks]

Yes, use a clean needle every injection and replace the drip set when you start a new bag.

[@acatspectator]

can I use 18 gauge needle?! i bought it from online and it looks so big

[@VetVid]

yes, an 18 gauge can be used in an adult cat. Always ask your prescribing veterinarian if that is correct for your pet. Sometimes, regardless of the size needle, you may have to pinch the area closed for a minute after administration as some fluid may drip out.

[@bathedinshadow]

That is big. I know this is 10 months old, but that's a big stick. Vets use them because it means the process is faster. But it's a big poke for poor little kitty. I'd go to 20 gauge at least.

[@acatspectator]

@@bathedinshadow yes i ended up not using the 18 gauge. It's kinda hard to poke them with it too. They could feel it. Maybe because I'm not an expert. But we are comfortable with 20 gauge.

[@bathedinshadow]

@@acatspectator Oh no.. expert or not, they can feel an 18g needle. I mean they can feel all of them. But the really notice the the 18g.

[@timmiked]

How can you tell how much fluid has been given to the cat from a 1000cc bag? The lines get pushed together and I cant tell if I've given 100 cc's or not. I think today (my first time in a year) I only gave 50 cc's.

[@MarieRusso317]

I have the same problem being able to tell how much fluid I'm giving in the moment, but I weight the bag & set before/after each dose so I at least know exactly how much I gave her after the fact (1 mL = 1 g for most water-like liquids, including this).

[@reza_dc2]

My cat was 17 years old. It had kidney failure , very low potassium levels , very low red blood cell count ( 12 % ). The tech at the vet showed me how to use the IV but never told me about the air in the lines. Is it possible I pumped to much air into my cat during the IV application ; causing her to die before it was her time?

[@stephensimmons152]

Ty

[@terryjourney9993]

What is the reason for keeping sterile/saving the cap on the spike that goes in to the bag?

[@VetVid]

You do not want to introduce bacteria into the sterile fluid bag

[@terryjourney9993]

@@VetVid Why would you be introducing bacteria into the bag when you never use the cap again once the spike is placed inside the bag?

[@VetVid]

@@terryjourney9993 Sorry, I think I misunderstood the original question. Can you refer to a time in the video? THANKS!

[@terryjourney9993]

@@VetVid At 52 seconds, it says to remove the cap from the tube and "keep it sterile". Why do you need to keep it sterile if you never use it again? Once the spike is in the bag, it does not get removed until the bag is empty, so you would never need to use the tube cap again. See what I mean?

[@VetVid]

@@terryjourney9993 Sorry, the comment is referring to keeping the end of the drip set sterile, not the cap. People need to be careful not to touch the drip set end to anything prior to inserting it into the fluid bag. We see how that might have been confusing. Thank you for your question. Hopefully, we have answered it more clearly.

[@VetVid]

@mercedesm1 So glad to hear it was helpful. Good luck with your studies! All the best.

[@TheRealLorraineAliceCalderon]

what if the little clear chamber is filled up all the way and you can't see the fluid dripping?

[@VetVid]

Turn the bag upside down and squeeze the clear chamber.

[@TheRealLorraineAliceCalderon]

@@VetVid awesome 👍

[@TheRealLorraineAliceCalderon]

I accidentally gave Happy too much fluids that night. He's still recovering. He was really sick. He threw up. I feel terrible. It was only my second time. The first time went so well. I'm afraid to do it again. He's going be afraid too. It was a huge setback for his progress. I feel like a f_ing a_hole. The fluid pouch moved down to his front arm and tummy and was extremely uncomfortable. He was really freaked out and became so fragile. He couldn't get comfortable and cried when I touched him the wrong way. Today he's better. Eating drinking going Pooh, no more swelling. He lost more weight though and still seems a bit fragile. I noticed I could feel some scab or something at the injection site. Am I just terrible at this or what? How do they allow regular people to do this to our pets at home? It's very dangerous. I feel so discouraged. He was perfectly normal before I started giving him the renal diet, supplements, and fluids. He hates all of it and hasn't been the same ever since. I think it's depressing him. Now he's so skinny and sad. He won't eat any kidney food and hates eating pills and liquid supplements and hates any of it in his food. This fluids episode made matters even worse. My poor baby boy he thinks he's being punished. All this kidney stuff came up right after he and I lost our other kitty Venti who had been around all of his life. They were housemates for 17 years. Right after she passed he was diagnosed with early kidney disease at his wellness exam. The timing is horrible. He was already depressed but now physically he's not where he was before all these other changes.

[@TheRealLorraineAliceCalderon]

Happy is feeling better now. I've been giving him treats when I give him all his capsules and liquid supplements. I just started giving him Astro's Oil too. He still hates getting his supplements but I think it's better with all the special very expensive treats. I have not done his fluids since that last time, but I think I'm going to give it a go tonight. I'll give him the good treats too, hopefully it goes better than the last time. I want it to go like it did the first time. Hopefully he's not too traumatized. I'll let you know how it goes. I'll also let you know how it goes with the Astro's Oil. It has all kinds of good things CKD kits need. No Omega 6, but Omega 3, Fatty Acids, Amino Acids, and probiotics, and high quality protein to prevent him from loosing more muscle mass. I'll be taking him for bloodwork next month when I get money and we'll see what the results are.

[@QuickDodgeTheBullets]

how do you take the needle off and change it hough.. today is my first time doing it to my cat.

[@kathykepner8757]

How do you change the needle

[@VetVid]

@carolsmithpiano Glad it was helpful. Good luck. :)

[@mypetchristina]

I love being able to share this link, however this is how it pops up: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2GaaoqGir6Ga7s The last 6 characters make me feel bad for sending to a client.