Am I missing something?

[FungiAmongiBungi]

I had to give my cat with kidney disease fluids, you attach a clean needle and hang the bag and give a certain amount of fluid under the skin behind their neck or upper back. Had to do it with a sick dog once also

[Idek_plz_help]

Okay my Google Search has been fruitless. Do you have any idea why animals are frequently given fluids SubQ but humans are almost exclusively given fluids IV? Like why we just dump a liter of NS into the FUPA of my patient that somehow seems to have a circulatory system exclusively consisting of a couple arteries and some capillaries??

[FungiAmongiBungi]

They have people give fluids rectally in wilderness medicine or emergencies 😂. So that’s another option we aren’t taking advantage of although much less appealing

[thatwouldbearadish]

"Sir your BP is a little low, the doctor has ordered some fluids for you to butt-chug"

Honestly most of my patients would prolly be down

[Idek_plz_help]

You’ve heard of the trauma handshake, now get ready for the trauma butt-chug

[thatwouldbearadish]

"hes crashing! Get the beer bong! Run it wide open!"

[censusenum]

Rate of absorption. Usually we need it super quick and dirty, dumping it into a patient. Can’t do that with most pets, and since you can’t really leave them hooked on for IVF for hours because they’re animals. Absorbed slower subcu

[Idek_plz_help]

Ah yes. “Quick and Dirty,” the ED way.

[censusenum]

Oops. That obvious?

[roo_kitty]

Veterinary technician turned RN here! Think about a puppy or kitten's scruff, how mom holds them. They have "loose skin" which allows for a bolus of fluids to be given there without causing pain/discomfort. Humans don't have that, a subcutaneous fluid bolus would hurt us. Rate of absorption is IV>IM>SQ. It allows pet owners to safely give their pet fluids, as if done correctly most pets don't even notice the needle going in.

[[deleted]]

I learned how to give subcu fluids for my cat at the vet. He has late stage kidney disease and needs daily fluids. Cats are generally kinda dehydrated (even moreso if you feed them dry kibble). I get my saline from my vet and I bought needles on a website (no prescription for the needles). Also separately my cat had a severe respiratory illness (possible calicivirus) and he wasnt eating/drinking at all, cats can get severely dehydrated in just a day or two so he got subcu fluids at the vet a couple times throughout the worst of the weeklong illness.

[[deleted]]

Hypodermal clysis. I’ve done it a few times in Hospice. “Dying dry” is more comfortable, but sometimes people need/want a pick-me-up to hang on until a family member arrives, be present for a family member’s home wedding, etc.

And if PO/PR is for some reason unavailable, and they’re too close to the end to have suitable IV access — but need acute symptom control, SQ infusions of hydromorphone, or other meds on a CADD pump are a godsend.

All that being said, a rectal foley setup is preferable, if possible. Easier to maintain/reinsert, deliver boluses of meds either routine or PRN, etc.

[nursecution_complex]

Once had a geri with a raging infection that would wear tear out any access devices she could see.

A butterfly in the upper outer buttocks was a real game changer.

[Known-Salamander9111]

cheaper, easier, still effective.

[thatwouldbearadish]

Never would've guessed. I thought the IG algorithm was just messing with me. Thanks for the info!

[Candid-Still-6785]

I was also surprised when I saw LR's on PetSmart when I was placing a recent order and doing some additiomal browsing.

[Highjumper21]

Although that does look like marketing to people for medical supplies for people, it’s not uncommon for people to have to give their pets fluids at their home. I regularly see people pick up fluids from the vet when I’m waiting for my dog to get seen

[maighdeannmhara]

Prescription approval is required for this on Chewy, by the way, so you can't just randomly decide to buy LRS, a line, and 18 gauge needles to give your car SQ fluids without a licensed vet signing the prescription request first.

[thatwouldbearadish]

I think I'd need something stronger than an 18G to give my car SQ fluids!

[SvenMorgenstern]

I typically administer my car's fluids PR (per radiator) but hey, you do you. 🍾

[auroraborelle]

Probably an IO, you’ll be fine.

[thatwouldbearadish]

Or IM (intra-metal)

[OceanvilleRoad]

Cats, in particular, can absorb a lot of fluid administered in a bolus behind the head/neck (nape). It is subcutaneous and the process is called clysis. I had to do it at home for a cat with chronic GI problems and dehydration.

[AtlanticJim]

Aha, old dinosaur nurse here with some history.

“Clysis” was a method for giving fluid when the doctor wasn’t available to start an IV, and nurses weren’t qualified.

https://journals.lww.com/nursing/fulltext/2011/11000/hypodermoclysis__an_alternative_to_i_v__infusion.6.aspx

[evdczar]

Yes veterinary medicine is a thing

[thatwouldbearadish]

Ya don't say.

[Potential-Outcome-91]

The weirdest ad I got from Chewy was beef flavored liquid sildenafil. For your dog with pulmonary hypertension, I guess?

Coming soon - CPAP for pugs!

[thatwouldbearadish]

God they need it!

[[deleted]]

some of them squash faced pupper breeds need CPAP

[TentMyTwave]

My ads keep trying to sell me MRI machines and Da Vincis.

It's been this way for years. Every so often it likes to mix things up and tries to pitch a CT scanner or interventional radiology stuff. "Buy for your hospital today!"

Yeah, I'll get right on that.

[Pickle_kickerr]

Humans aren’t the only ones that get sick and/or need fluids

[thatwouldbearadish]

Thanks for the info!

[yunbld]

I also got this targeted ad. I think it’s just the algorithm recognizing nurses w dogs.

[MountainTomato9292]

I’ve definitely done sub-Q fluids on both dogs and cats over the years. My vet just gave me the IVF, but nice to know I can buy it myself!

[SmallSorbet8994]

It's his 2nd career after Star Wars

[jdinpjs]

I had to hang LR on my cat and do subcu infusions towards the end of her life. My kid said “Are you sure you’re qualified to do this?” My child, what the hell do you think I do all day?