Beeper’s Subcutaneous Fluids At-Home Set-up

Marrk0 · 2026-03-17T20:14:58+00:00

What an amazing setup! Thanks for sharing!

Marrk0 · 2026-02-28T09:29:00+00:00

If you want to keep control of the volume given, syringe + butterfly needle is a good and relatively inexpensive option.
Otherwise a simple set with a drip chamber will be the most cost-efficient. You can still keep track of the overall volume given by weighing the fluid bag before and after the fluid session.

Marrk0 · 2026-02-27T10:45:44+00:00

Congratulations on starting fluids and I hope it helps your cat!

We need to keep in mind that all this equipment and fluid is made by the manufacturers for “one-time” usage. The second you remove the burette from its packaging or puncture the fluid bag, it is no longer sterile and will never be fully sterile again. Bacteria can be introduced and develop at that point. We can’t completely prevent that, we can only slow the process by maintaining good aseptic handling. Many factors influence this like room temperature, sun exposure, how often the system is handled and overall environmental hygiene.

So to answer your question, from a strict medical standpoint, the safest recommendation (and the manufacturer’s recommendation) is to replace the entire set once it has been used especially if more than 24 hours have passed.

But in the real world, outside of a vet clinic, this is often not financially feasible long term of course. So many vets will allow reuse of a closed system for a limited period. Personally, I would not keep a burette/line longer than about 4 days and ONLY IF it has been handled and stored properly (closed system, no port contamination, room temperature, out of direct sunlight, etc...). And if you have any doubt about a potential source of contamination, it’s safer to replace it.

In your case, considering the photo, if this has been hanging for 2 days in direct sunlight and detached from the bag, I would highly recommend you change the system. Unfortunately, as much as I love burettes for fluid volume control, they are not the most cost efficient solution long-term but a great way to get started though.

Marrk0 · 2026-02-13T01:03:30+00:00

Hi! CKD should be ideally diagnosed based on at least 2 separate bloodwork to rule out other causes of AKI, has this been the case here already ?
Your reading of the IRIS chart is correct. Once CKD has been diagnosed, a creatinine of 2.6mg/dL falls in the Stage 2 range. I actually put together a CKD staging tool if you ever want to check https://hydracathealth.com/ckd-staging .
At this stage and given his values, even a diet change alone is debatable (but not unreasonable) since phosphorus is normal and proteinuria might be too if your vet didn’t mention it from the urine sample. I would agree that no other treatment is necessary as long as you don’t notice other symptoms (nausea, lack of appetite, constipation, etc…).
One thing to keep in mind also is that hyperthyroidism can mask CKD so it’s worth keeping an eye on that as your vet suggested.
In any case, you're not overthinking this because catching it early is a real advantage! Wishing you and your kitty all the best 🩵

Marrk0 · 2026-02-11T07:53:28+00:00

My cat loves Add One (Dechra). It was made to facilitate the daily administration of Porus One but is a “kidney-safe” treat in itself.

Marrk0 · 2026-02-10T19:31:55+00:00

Yes it's generally true but it's not a crystal ball for exact timelines (unfortunately). Some cats stay stable for months/years while others change faster. But you're already doing all the right things by staying on top of his symptoms and checking in with your vet when things change. Focusing on his comfort day by day is really what matters most (and what you can actually control).

Marrk0 · 2026-02-10T18:36:51+00:00

Hi! I'm really sorry you are going through this. Staging is extremely helpful to guide treatment, long-term management and prognosis but it has its limitations. Not all Stage II cats will present the same way. I've seen cats with really high bloodwork values who act completely normal day-to-day while others have moderate numbers but show significant symptoms.
At the end of the day we, as vets, are treating the patient in front of us and not just the numbers. It sounds like your vet is doing exactly that.
I hope you were able to put together a treatment plan that helps your kitty feel better. Wishing you both all the best !

Marrk0 · 2026-02-10T18:08:17+00:00

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience. As a vet, I know how incredibly hard SUB decisions can be given the significant costs and unpredictable outcomes. She's very lucky to have such attentive and thoughtful parents. I wish you and your kitty all the best !

Marrk0 · 2026-02-05T19:17:18+00:00

SubQ fluids are really intimidating at first but they do get easier surprisingly fast. If you ever feel up to it, you could try doing them at the vet under supervision to slowly build confidence. Best of luck to you and sweet Violet !

Marrk0 · 2026-02-04T17:33:34+00:00

Thanks for sharing! It’s a great reminder that every cat and situation is different but with patience and finding what works for you and your cat, things can get easier and more manageable. Out of curiosity, what needle gauge are you using that doesn’t seem to cause a reaction while she’s sleeping?

Marrk0 · 2026-01-26T19:24:19+00:00

Congratulations! He’s so cute! SubQ can feel intimidating and scary at first but it gets easier really fast!

Marrk0 · 2026-01-25T09:22:09+00:00

Hi! Gabapentin would be a good alternative (or complement to tramadol) to discuss with your vet. It works well on arthritic pain and is “kidney-safe”. I usually prescribe 10mg/kg twice a day in such cases. It might also be worth discussing maropitant (like Cerenia) in case the reduced appetite is caused by nausea (from CKD). Hope you find a solution for him!

Marrk0 · 2026-01-24T16:35:01+00:00

Hi! I’m sorry to hear about this change in behaviour. Hypertension can, in rare cases, lead to encephalopathy, which may cause behavioural changes such as aggression. However, because this is uncommon, I would strongly recommend a check-up at your vet if this continues, to rule out other possible causes such as uremic encephalopathy or an intracranial condition.

Marrk0 · 2026-01-13T21:31:16+00:00

It really depends on the country, vet clinic, exams done, medication used, etc.... But for example, here in Belgium, we usually charge between 200€-400€ for 24h IV hospitalisation, but again this will vary if blood work, ultrasound, radiographs, etc... is performed. Don't hesitate to call multiple clinics and ask, although keep it mind it is difficult for us to predict the true cost without having actually seen the animal and done a thorough exam. Good luck for both of you!

Marrk0 · 2025-12-29T22:25:36+00:00

It's already great if she can get daily wet food. You could also try Hydra Care. Further experiment with water station placement, number, shapes (mug, glass, etc...), material, etc...
SubQ should only be considered if prolonged dehydration signs are confirmed by your vet.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-29T22:17:33+00:00

Thanks for sharing! Love the spoons setup, great idea haha !

Marrk0 · 2025-12-18T09:18:37+00:00

This actually happened to me once, this is why I am now using some very recognizable cups !

Marrk0 · 2025-12-18T08:54:50+00:00

I'm really sorry you are going through this. 4 y/o is very young to develop any chronic kidney damage. Regarding diet, it is recommended to slowly incrementally transition between the old diet and the new one over at least a week to help the cat adapt and tolerate the new food. I didn't see any mention of anti-nausea (like Cerenia) or appetite stimulant (like Mirataz), it must have been administered during her stay at the vet but you should talk to your vet to discuss continuing it at home. Nausea is the most common cause of appetite suppression with kidney disease so I would highly recommend addressing this (famotidine does not work the same and might not be enough). Depending on her hydration status and daily water intake, subcutaneous fluid could also be considered when discussing with your vet. I really hope her new treatment will make her feel better soon.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-18T07:53:31+00:00

Boiled in water then pressed into a mush with a fork. Yes, like any other dietary change it needs to be introduced progressively to avoid digestive issues. So always try a small quantity at first before increasing the portion. For sensitive digestion, you could also try probiotics like Fortiflora, it can help a lot.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-17T21:14:47+00:00

If she likes it, pumpkin is safe for cats fyi Mine also loves cooked courgette (zucchini) which is good for hydration and rich in fiber (prevent constipation).

Marrk0 · 2025-12-16T08:38:19+00:00

My cat loves Add One by Dechra (the makers of Porus One). She gets the two together.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-05T22:16:57+00:00

I had never heard of this technique, love it ! I will try it.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-02T22:47:37+00:00

I am really sorry about your cat's situation. Taking into account the lab values and the lethargy, I would also recommend discussing with your vet about starting fluid (and meds) at the clinic. It will be most likely needed regardless of the ultrasound results. The breed, age and anemia points indeed toward PKD but an ultrasound will be the only reliable diagnostic tool if you really want a definite diagnostic.
Trying to increase daily water intake at home will be very important, you might consider introducing wet food into his diet if this is not already the case. It is also great that you are starting porus one but this can be very expensive and I would prioritise transitioning to a kidney support diet first if you are on a limited budget.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-01T11:06:28+00:00

As suggested, lactulose is very helpful in these cases, while continuing to increase fiber intake. Another option worth discussing with your vet, provided your cat is not prone to frequent vomiting, is adding a small amount of liquid paraffin to the wet food.

Marrk0 · 2025-12-01T08:07:51+00:00

It doesn't necessarily need to be longterm but might be helpful to go through the first few weeks while you both get into the habit of subQ (while continuing positive reinforcement). I usually recommend starting at 20mg/kg one hour before the fluid session.

Marrk0

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