Anyone have any tips wrt giving sub-q fluids to a dog? Any advice would be appreciated?

Rufus is almost 17. He is doing as well as can be expected with failing kidneys. He is still perky and enjoys his life. He is happy to be with the family and is excited for treats and walks. now he requires sub-q fluids daily to flush out his system. Any tips would be appreciated.Anyone have any tips wrt giving sub-q fluids to a dog? Any advice would be appreciated?
It's immensly easy. Did the vet show you how to do it? They should have.





Go to YouTube and type in 'giving cat fluids', I know there's several very good videos over there showing how it's done. There may be dog ones too, but I know for sure the cat ones are worth watching---they're 'how to' videos, not stupid ones.Anyone have any tips wrt giving sub-q fluids to a dog? Any advice would be appreciated?
If the vet has shown you how to do it, there's not much more to it. With increased fluids he may (hopefully) pee more and it will be less concentrated.





I usually have the supplies in the house to do sub-q fluids just in case one of my dogs has diarrhea or vomiting (usually the stuff expires well before I ever have a chance to use it since I have healthy dogs!).





Good luck with Rufus. We have a 19.5 year old cat whose kidneys are starting to go - but he's still drinking enough and urinating enough that we haven't had to do the sub-q fluids with him yet.
Subcutaneous fluids seem to enter all treatment regimens eventually. Your vet can administer them, or you can give these at home. Do not feel like a failure if you cannot do this





My vet recommended setting my dog, Kisses, on something like a washing machine since elevation makes the dog more likely to be still and puts her in your reach, and I found a TV tray worked best for this purpose. I kept the IV bag hanging from a hook on the back of a bedroom door. When it was time for her fluids, I could take her into the room, shut the door and move the TV tray into the corner next to the door. When I placed her on the TV tray and stood next to it, she was boxed in on three sides. Kisses preferred to face the open side, lying down during the injection. Some resources recommend gently warming the fluids for the cat芒鈧劉s comfort.
As others have suggested, you need to have someone like a vet or vet tech show you how to do this properly so that you dont' end up hurting your dog. They should set up a schedule for you.





Subcut. fluids do wonders for aging dogs. Usually they suggest doing this at the same time of day (usually morning) and keep the dog quiet while doing it. Stay with them and help them be quiet by being calm and quiet yourself. If you make this a special time with them, they will look forward to the process.
You can put it anywhere there is enough loose skin. The neck/shoulders and hip areas usually work Just make sure to pull the skin out to just get it under the skin without hitting any muscle or bone. You can put about 15-20cc in one area or more depending on the size of the dog. Don't let the bubble get too big, maybe the size of an orange, but not bigger than that. You can actually squeeze the IV bag to put the fluid in quicker. The whole process shouldn't take over five minutes. If you have a huge dog, you could put a lot more than 15cc in one area, but on a chihuahua that is about all that will go into one area.





Sometimes the vets will use the vein in the leg, but when they send home the treatment it is usually give SubQ just because it is easier.
With a dog that age, your BEST bet would be to listen to the advice of your Vet, and not amateurs from here. Rufus has lived a long, and hopefully happy, life. Now is no time to start experimenting with what may be keeping him alive.
I hope this is something your vet has advised? If so, ask your vet to show you. People here can't.


Hugs to your little old boy.
Have the vet go over the procedure with you.
isn't this a vet thing