From:
Stephanie
Date: 2001-10-05 15:22:00 UTC
Subject: [Ferret-Health-list] Re: giving subcutaneous
Here's my two cents on this when I had to subq my huge
muscular boy Bullwinkle. Bullwinkle was a pest for everybody,
the vet techs, my vet and me. The two times I took him in to
have it done (in the beginning), one vet tech used the syringe
with needle while the other did it with the butterfly. The
argument for butterfly was that it would stay in better (it
came out twice when he squirmed = 3 pokes total) but it takes
longer because the needle is much smaller and you can only
push through so much at once. The argument with syringe and
needle is that it is faster because the the needle is bigger
(but they feel it more with more liquid going in and hence
squirm more, Bullwinkle had to be poked twice).
So, when my vet went to have me do it in front of her so that
I could do it at home, we tried both (I really wanted
butterfly because it looked easier). The needle scared me
really bad and every time I started to push the liquid in he
would jump and I would pull back pulling out the needle, so we
tried the butterfly and he would jump/squirm and it would come
out. When I looked at how much I got in with both, even though
I messed up both times I got more fluid in with the syringe
needle. At this point my vet took it from me and gave him the
rest in one go, saying to me, "Don't be afraid, just push it
in." I realized I was trying to be gentle and not pushing fast
out of fear of hurting him.
My vet then told me she was sending home the syringe with
needles and I would have to get over my fear and just do it.
It took a couple of times to get it down, but I did it and it
really took just seconds (about 10 - as I would tell him "here
we go" and count down from 10) with the the syringe needle.
Sorry this is so long, but I guess I just wanted to share my
fear and anxiety at using the needle, but in the end I think
it was the better way to go for us. In either case, try to be
calm and imagine yourself as a star on ER.
Dooks to all,
Stephanie
with Maggie, Bullwinkle, Shasta, Nanook and Nyla
missing with all my heart Icabod and Emeline
-----Original Message-----
From: Steph [mailto:rumtum99@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2001 5:02 PM
To: Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com
fluids
I volunteer at a vet clinic and if I understand what you are
talking about with the butterfly wings, they pull out very
easily too. Unless taped in well, or held in place they
will come out.
Take care,
Steph
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Janke
To: Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2001 7:13 PM
fluids
Maybe you need to try a butterfly needle. It also may be
called
a "scalp vein set" but I'm not 100% positive on the
terminology. This
is a needle with what looks like butterfly wings attached
and it has
a a foot or so of plastic tubing that connects to the
syringe instead
of connecting the needle directly to the syringe.
I believe this is much easier to use for us novices
because if the
ferret moves around, there's little chance of the needle
pulling out,
getting stuck in the wrong way, and most of all, our own
fear of
hurting the ferret. I always had a difficult time when
injecting
fluids with a needle connected directly to the syringe.
Mostly
because if the ferret jerked or moved, I'd instinctively
pull the
needle out and then had to do it all over again.
Keeping 'em preoccupied with food or treats as Katharine
suggested
helps too!
Mike
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., janfelis@c... wrote:
> Has anyone had to do this and found something that works
well?
>
> My little guy is too squirmy and we have to restick
several times
to
> administer dose. Any tips that could make this easier
for both of
us
> would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks from the "pincushion" and his loving mom.
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