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Giving Subcutaneous (SC, SQ) Fluids at Home
As more cats live to advanced geriatric age, more “senior” cat problems are diagnosed and managed. Some of these include chronic kidney failure and hyperthyroidism.
Your veterinarian may prescribe home fluid therapy as a component of a larger treatment plan. This is true especially for those senior cats with a chronic kidney failure that have been stabilized in hospital.
Long-term fluid administration can help to keep your senior kitty’s system “flushed”. This means that the nitrogen toxins that build up in the bloodstream of cats with this condition will be carried out with the fluids that are given at home on a regular schedule, helping to make her feel better.
Your veterinary health care team will go through this procedure with you at the facility before dispensing home fluids, but our treatment summary below will serve as a reminder of the steps for this procedure.
Step 1: hook up the fluid bag to the line and remove the rubber stopper from the bag
- Insert the end of the IV giving set into the open port, then push it in fully
- fill the reservoir half full
- warm the fluids by passing the coiled IV line through a bowl of warm water. Another way to warm a new bag of fluids is to put the whole bag in a bowl of warm water and leave it there for a while before opening it.
- attach the needle and make sure the needle hub is pushed onto the line securely
- remove the air bubbles from the line
Step 2: administer the fluids under the skin
- swab the skin with an alcohol soaked cotton ball to cleanse the area
- insert the needle at an angle between 20 and 45 degrees and feel for the “popping” sensation as the needle goes through the skin into the subcutaneous area—this is the desired injection destination
- place your hand over the inserted needle to help steady it and prevent the needle from slipping out of the skin
- begin fluid administration, and after the correct number of milliliters has been given, remove the needle and use a marker to mark the fluid bag at the level it is now at -- after completion, gently press or pinch the area if the fluids tend to come back out through the needle insertion point
Praise her for cooperating!
- Discard the needle and replace with a new one before giving another dose
- If the needle touches any surface, discard it and place a fresh one on. Do not touch the needle with your fingers
- Make sure you do not prick yourself while handling the needle—especially when you replace the protective plastic cap!
Video clips of the procedure: 
To access, select links in the table:
Part I Open the Bag and Hook it Up |
Part 2 Empty the Air from the Line | Part 3 Fill Reservoir | Part 4 Set Up Warmed Fluids | Part 5 Give the Fluids |
Part I Open the Bag and Hook it Up |
Part 2 Empty the Air from the Line | Part 3 Fill Reservoir | Part 4 Set up Warmed Fluids | Part 5 Give the Fluids |
Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at Cathealth.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site.
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