Sub Q Fluids for my Cat?

Question

My Kitty has Chronic Renal Failure and has to receive sub-q fluids under her skin. I don't administer the fluids myself, I have my vet do it. My vet charges me $38.00 each time I have the fluids administered, this does not include the cost of the fluids themselves. I called around to other vets in my area and some charge $57.00 some charge $37 etc.. but I also found a few that only charge $5.00 or $5.50. Anyone know why these amounts are so drastically different? Should I trust a place that is charging so much less? Please help! I want the best care for my baby girl, but I also need to be able to afford it.

well she has been doing well. She eats and plays and cuddles, she acts herself. She doesn't act sick like when we initial took her to the vet. She is on one medication which prevents her from feeling sick and she gets fluids twice a week to keep her hydrated. She has really been doing well. If she were in pain or misery I wouldn't put her through that, but other than the fluids she is living a normal kitty life. She jumps up into her tower and watches the birds out of the window and chirps at me when I come home. She is so amazing.

I have tried doing the fluids myself but she just hates it. At the vet she is really good and then its over and done with, with me she moves around so much the needle comes out and I have to poke her again to get the remainder of her fluids in. It really seems less stressful on her to go to the vet and go home, then for her Ma'Ma to be doing it to her.

My cat is on Eukanuba Renal Food, it is mostly dry, she gets wet food as a treat. She does have liquid pepcid for cats which she gets twice a day, it is fish flavored, is that ok?
I'll ask about the raw food diet and everything. Her phosphorus levels have been normal so far, she is getting follow up bloodwork done today.

My cat is on Eukanuba Renal Food, it is mostly dry, she gets wet food as a treat. She does have liquid pepcid for cats which she gets twice a day, it is fish flavored, is that ok?
I'll ask about the raw food diet and everything. Her phosphorus levels have been normal so far, she is getting follow up bloodwork done today.

Answer 1

Sub Q fluids are not very expensive. I'm surprised that a veterinarian would charge a faithful, repeat customer $38 per injection. Is there a reason you don't give the fluids yourself? They are not hard to administer, and it could save you a lot of money. I'm not sure why there are such differences among the veterinarians in your area. $57 for what's probably less than 100cc of fluid is absolutely ridiculous.
http://members.aol.com/aquila111/subq/webinstruct.html
This is a good site that tells you how to administer your own fluids. It's really really easy. The cheaper places may do this because they understand pet owners on a budget, and realize that this is not exactly rocket science.
Good luck, CRF is hard to deal with!

Answer 2

Why don't you do them yourself? I have links showing how you if you need and you can watch your vet do them to learn/
There should be no difference in the fluids between vets and you can even buy supplies online. I doubt a vet will do them for 5 dollars as they will charge for the office visit and time too.
There is alot more you need to know about this. Please research and DON'T feed that KD crap!
Treatment of Chronic Renal Failure

If your cat is not in final stages, this is not want you want to do. You do not want to put your cat on the
Vets low protein diet.
. There are new thoughts on this and the thinking is it is not the amount of protein but the quality of protein that matters.
The Merck veterinary manual [www.merckvetmanual.com] says that cats need "4 g of protein of high biologic value per kg body wt/day". That's about 7 calories from protein per pound body weight per day. If a cat isn't a good eater and consumes, say, 20 calories per pound per day, then 7/20 = 35% of calories can safely be from protein. It must be high quality protein, which means meat, fish, milk, and eggs, and not grain or soy.

I am under the assumption that you have been feeding mostly dry foods. Many use a vegetable based protein instead of animal and that is part of the problem.. Your cat needs protein as it is a carnivore and cutting down on it will lead to other health issues and may cause faster degeneration.
You want to cut down on fat and phosphorous (no fish allowed now) The best way to do this is with a raw diet which you can make yourself or buy . (making yourself is better) link provided at the bottom
If you are unwilling to do that then something like the non fish flavors of Wellness or merrick with NO grains are good alternatives.
You also will want to look into phosphorous binders. Something like aluminum hydroxide

You also either want to talk to the vet about having injectable pepcid ac on hand or you can buy it in pill form (ac not plain pepcid) and give 1/4 tab for stomach upset which happens alot in crf cats due to acid in the stomach.
I hope this stuff helps, here are many links for you
Making cat food
http://www.catinfo.org/makingcatfood.htm
other links
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_chronic_renal_failure.html
http://www.felinecrf.org/
http://www.felinecrf.com/
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline-CRF-Support/

Answer 3

I know its not easy to think of doing the fluids yourself, most people think they would faint. Suprisingly most don't, they think its worse than it is (isn't everything?). Have the vet show you how and decide from there if you can do it.

To be honest $38 dollars is pretty normal for Sub Q fluids. But it can be expensive after awhile. If you can't do it, is there a family member or friend with a stronger stomach? Take them with you for training, and buy them dinner and a movie once in a while.

Good luck!!

Answer 4

You could jsut learn to do it yourself and save a bundle. It is very easy and less stressful for her to do it at home.

I have never seen a practice that charges $5.00 for giving fluids as an office visit. Most charge what you are paying. Maybe they can give you some sort of a discount some way. You never know until you ask.
Or maybe you know someone that can do it at your house for less.

Answer 5

I lost two cats to renal failure this year. Why put your sweet kitty through all this misery? Maybe its time to put her down. She doesn't understand why you hustle her off to the vets all the time and she is probably frightened and exhausted.

I know how hard it is to make this decision, but really, try and see it from your cat's perspective.

Good luck, whatever you do.

Answer 6

I too agree that you should try and find someone local, friend or family member to help you. I couldn't do it when my cat Pumpkin had it in 98. She passed in 99. I had a dear friend who worked in an ER and he helped out. Since then I had a cat with diabetes who needed shots several times a day and then sub-q's so I learned how to do it. You have given me a good idea though and I am going to put an ad where I live to volunteer to help out others like yourself. It's hard to do alone with a wiggly cat and also hard when it's yours. Good luck to you both.

Answer 7

Renal failure is a horrible way to die. Be kind and put the old girl down.