Tips on giving sub-q fluids?

[Dee]

Hi again everyone- Surprise, it’s me with another question! I have to start BunBun’s sub-q fluids tonight and I am a wreck. Has anyone actually harmed their bunny doing this incorrectly? I hope not, but if so I would like to know so I don’t do the same thing. The vet showed me how to make a tent with the skin and feel where I’m gonna inject, then just stick the needle in just as far as I need for the fluid to go in. Right between his shoulder blades, BunBun’s skin is very tight, but he does have a bit of loose skin right to the side of his shoulder blades. I read that  it can be injected anywhere there is loose skin, but the shoulder sounds good to me.  I read that the drip flow should be set to 1-2 drops per second. .. and that you can wipe the injection site with rubbing alcohol, but it’s not a must. I’m gonna have Rick (husband wrap Bun up in a towel, leaving his back exposed for the shot. So I have that much info, but still wondering about these things…

Should I have BunBun up on a counter, like at the vet’s, so he will be less likeky to jump, or will that just add the risk of a horrible fall on top of the needle getting ripped out of BunBun’s back, should he freak out and escape?

Is there anything I need to be really careful of, that could really cause damage to my BunBun?

I hate to post yet more questions, but I think this is important enough to ask, and you guys always manage to give me good advice and courage, and set my mind at ease. Thanks in advance for any tips/warnings you can give me!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I found on a counter works-they’re less likely to make a break for it. Whatever works to keep him still-it’s scary giving needles and scarier if they start moving around. That’s awesome hubby will help you out.

I would just ensure that you are very very calm first. Breathe deep and imagine how you are going to do it (sounds silly right?). Your vet showed you and you know what your doing so be confident. I really wouldn’t worry about the needle ripping out or anything. 1-2 mls/second is actually quite fast. So say 50ml will take you about one minute or less.

I found a couple of videos-maybe watching them will make you feel more confident? You’ll do fine!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwSMsCHbEMU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4Ta537YEOU

[Sarita]

Sorry to be late. What works best for me is the bathroom floor. I sit on the floor and put the rabbit in between my legs – less places for him to run and more control for me. I put the fluid bag on a hanger and hang it up on the shower door.

Yes, the alcohol will help you to find his skin and get the needle in.

I wouldn’t do a counter – you don’t have as much control in my opinion.

It is scary the first time but once you get the hang of this, you will be more comfortable.

So, how did you do last night?

[Dee]

Thank you for your replies- I’m really starting to think I’m not cut out for this. I couldn’t do it. BunBun got all crazy and kept escaping from his towel, and I could barely get his skin to tent- maybe I’m too gentle or maybe his skin is too tight, I’m not sure. Now he’s starting to posture again when he pees and I know he needs fluids. I feel so bad- I know I’m failing him but I’m so scared of making a mistake. Is it possible for me to do something wrong and hurt him? I know I have to do this, or take him back to the vet, but that would probably be more stressful.

The flow drip has me confused. The 1st video I watched said to adjust the flow to 1-2 DROPS a second to allow his skin to stretch- but that would take forever! 1-2 ml does sound fast though, Kokanee- I don’t know how far to dial the flow control regulator. I guess that’s my main problem, not being sure actually how fast to administer the fluid. Do you guys know how far to set the flow control?

I have been trying to call my vet but keep getting the answering machine. Once I know the flow control setting, I must try again… or drive BunBun out to the vet again. I need to get this under control- I have to work tomorow/Friday, my kids have appt.’s today/tomorrow- and BunBun smells like poopy butt and isn’t eating this morning. He has been smelling like this 3 mornings in a row. but keeps getting better by later in the day.

I’m going to try to calm down, take my son to his 11:00 oral surgeon appt, and try this again when I get home. I feel like everything is so urgent with BunBun now, I’m worried about him constantly, but I have to take care of other stuff too. For those of you that work fulltime, I don’t know how you do it when your bunnies get sick. I’m just losing it here.

[Sarita]

Is it in a bag? I’m not entirely sure what the flow control is but I agree – 1 to 2 drops is not what you want. I just open mine for full flow – I always have the vet’s office put the whole thing together for me.

It’s possible if there isn’t alot of skin that he’s harder to tent. Make sure you don’t reuse the needle – you need it to be sharp for inserting it.

[Andi]

Maybe have you Vet give you another lesson.
I sometimes have the rabbit on a table, and i pet and sooth them, and give them their favorite treat so they stay still. It’s important to not stress out yourself, animals know when you are and of course react to it.
I hate those drip controls, seriousley, they stink LOL…. Fiddle and play with it before hand, and as already mentioned don’t reuse a needle, as it sorta wrecks the point after first use.
You would be surprised how much fluid that bit of loose skin will take. The part I dislike is how thin but how tough rabbit skin is, you really need to give it a good poke, and not be affraid.

Good luck!

[GrumpyBun]

I’m no expert – but can you take BunBun in and do the first time under their supervision? Rather than them showing/telling you, you do it but with them there to step in if needed. That is what I would ask for – would that help you?

[Dee]

Thanks for your good advice and support, you guys . I did end up bringing him to the vet (my local vet) and they showed me how to give BunBun sub-q fluids with the same IV bag/flow control dial that I have.

Sarita, just like you said, the flow control gets fully opened. So giving BunBun 75ml’s of fluid only takes about a minute. Much better than the 30 minutes I was envisioning last night!

Andi, I will defintely make sure I’m in a calm state of mind. Last time I tried to give him sub-q’s and chickened out, I was way too stressed out. And I will try not to be afraid- knowing more about all this should help me be more competent.

GrumpyBun, it really was helpful to see the vet tech do this again- I really paid attention and asked questions. Another good idea- they kept him in the bottom part of his carrier, where he’s more secure and less likely to jump off.

I won’t have to do the sub-q’s til tomorrow . Meanwhile, BunBun is peeing fine but he is really acting like he doesn’t feel well today. He has spent all day on his “sick chair”, and will nibble at hay and a bit of treats/greens, but he’s not himself at all. He hasn’t done any normal poops yet either. Hopefully he perks up soon- he’s due for meds at about 11PM, so I’d like him to have some fun and maybe eat dinner before then. Boy, it’s like once one thing is fixed, there’s something else wrong. I’m getting so, so worried that he’s just not gonna bounce back from this. All this handling and meds and vet trips… it’s hard to tell now if he’s uncomfortable or just mad and scared.

I’m wondering if the SMZ is giving him stomache issues- he didn’t get poopy butt the whole time he was on Baytril, and now he has it every day. But from what I’ve read, SMZ is not only easier on the tummy, but is better for UTI’s than Baytril. I certainly don’t want to switch him and make his infection come back. Anyone had any experience with SMZ?

[Sarita]

According to my vet SMZ is better on the stomach and better for UTI’s.

[Dee]

Hi Sarita- That’s what I read too. He is just losing his appetite and spending more time sitting on his sick chair with his butt hunched up like he’s uncomfortable. I don’t know whether he’s just upset from all the handling or not feeling well. He has been on antibiotics for 11 days as of yesterday- has not gotten any since yesterday, late afternoon. His appetite has perked up and he was begging for treats this morning, and he smells a bit better and hasn’t left any gloppy poo on the floor like the past few days. He is peeing pretty normally too- I would be thrilled except that he just is acting “off”. I’m trying to get a hold of his vet to see if we can stop the antibiotics/Metacam and see if he improves. He’s been on the metacam for 11 days too- excluding Friday and Saturday of last week when we tried stopping it. I know Metacam can be hard on the kidneys too.
Well I gotta go to work in 10 mins so i will call the vet once more. Meanwhil, if anyone knows if antibiotics should be continued past 10 days with a possible UTI and definite bladder sludge, please let me know. He will be getting his sub’q’s for 5 more days too. Wow this is endless….

[Sarita]

The fluids may be filling him up that’s what I used to find when I would do fluids on my rabbits. I think you would have to take the metacam over a longer period than 11 days for it to affect the kidneys.

I have a friend who kept her rabbit on baytril for about 4 weeks and he had bladder sludge – he’s old and arthritic too and is on metacam. So if the vet advises this it is not a problem.

[Dee]

Thanks Sarita- That’s reassuring to hear about your friends bunny being OK on Metacam and Baytril . Sure enough, I called the vet and he said that he is quite certain, just from looking at Bun’s records/Xray, that the infection has not cleared and he still needs both meds. I gave him a tube of Benpac today with his meds and he really seems to feel better- off his chair and eating with more enthusiasm. I don’t mind giving all this stuff and feeling like I’m torturing him as long as he’s getting better. It’s just when he seems to be getting worse that I start worrying if this is doing much good. But it is- I just need to have patience I guess. I thought a UTI was something that cleared up in 2-3 days with meds! Almost 3 weeks later and I continue to haunt the BinkyBun forum with news of Bun’s neverending saga…

Tonight I will attempt subq fluids again O-o. I know I can do it, it’s much less traumatic for Bun to get 2 minutes of home treatment rather than a 30 minute car ride and 10 minutes with virtual strangers. I had no problem giving my hubby injections when he was sick- he actually made me stop because he thought I was getting too much enjoyment out of it- hehe :p

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