For cats which require subcutaneous fluids, warming the bag of Lactated Ringers solution makes it more comfortable for the cat.Can someone explain this to me? I am very confused by this post.
Thank you!For cats which require subcutaneous fluids, warming the bag of Ringer's Lactate solution makes it more comfortable for the cat.
Oh swishing it. Let me try that. Will report back. Thank you.Try sort of massaging the bag as it is in the water to move the contents around. The outer part tends to get warm but the middle maintains the cold. I have even put a bag under my coat to get it warm when I had no other Avenue. It takes much longer but I can tell when it finally swishes around enough to be my body temperature. Maybe that would be a good way to test it after the warm water to make sure it isn’t cold.
That's what I thought too. Argh. Cat-ch 22. Thank you. Mati has a propensity to get cold/hypothermia - this would help her. Otherwise I'm just adding to her discomfort which I would not want to do under any circumstance. I've heard from a few sources that it should be warmed though. What's in it - electrolytes - question for the nerds - do electrolytes degrade when heated?I am not sure that warming up a fluid bag and letting it cool down afterwards, then reheating it and again cooling it down is good for the integrity of the fluid itself.
It is my belief that the heat/cool cycle may deteriorate the structure and effectiveness of these fluids, especially if it Ringer's Lactate.
I never did that.
I would only warm up the amount of fluid to be injected, not the whole bag/bottle.
Thank you. The line is problematic - will run it out.When I was doing Sub-q's with Artie, I took a 4 quart pot, put the lactated ringers bag in it. I filled it with hot tap water, and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. The water was still a warm, when I took it out.
I kept the IV line outside the pan. I then ran an entire line length of fluid, out; BEFORE I stuck Artie. I need had any issues.
I hope this works. I was giving Sub-Qs daily to him.
How do you separate what you need from the bag - do you inject sub-q from a syringe? How?I am not sure that warming up a fluid bag and letting it cool down afterwards, then reheating it and again cooling it down is good for the integrity of the fluid itself.
It is my belief that the heat/cool cycle may deteriorate the structure and effectiveness of these fluids, especially if it Ringer's Lactate.
I never did that.
I would only warm up the amount of fluid to be injected, not the whole bag/bottle.
Of course it should be warmed, it helps a lot.I've heard from a few sources that it should be warmed though. What's in it - electrolytes - question for the nerds - do electrolytes degrade when heated?
Exactly.How do you separate what you need from the bag - do you inject sub-q from a syringe? How?
I think I understand. We are in Israel in the boonies on top of everything else - so hard to get anything. The last bag of Hartmann's was brought by a traveling vet. I msged him to ask when he'd be round these parts again and he doesn't know. There is literally no one in the radius of at least 40 km's where I can get Ringer's let alone those cool glass bottles you're sourcing in Italy. Need the 60ml syringes as well - been getting syringes and needles as they come from various sources, but never 60ml. Those definitely would come in handy. Do you inject the whole 60ml in a one go shot or in increments? It sounds like a good alternative to standing drip by slow drip. Less stress is a very good thing. Thank you.Of course it should be warmed, it helps a lot.
Especially when you have to give your cat a large volume of fluids, warming them up reduces the risk of hypothermia, and also helps the cat's body absorb those fluids more effectively and quickly.
I cannot be sure that those electrolytes degrade with heat/cool cycles, but I'm pretty sure that those cycles aren't good for any medical product.
Exactly.
I would use two syringes for my cat. Over here, where I live (Italy), those fluids come in bags, or plastic or glass bottles. The one I would purchase from my local pharmacy was in 500 ml glass bottles, like THIS ONE.
The cap of this bottle is sealed with an aluminum seal, you tear the seal off and you see the rubber cap that can be pierced with a needle several times. So I would just aspirate two 60-ml syringes of this RL with a G18 needle.
I would seal the nozzles of the syringes with two spare needles and put them into a jug of hot water from the tap for 5 minutes. This was enough to have both the syringes at body temperature.
Then I would use a butterfly needle G21, I would put the needle on the first syringe, inject the fluid in the back of my cat, when the first syinge was done, I would double the butterfly line to prevent the fluid still in it from coming out and any air to go in, then I would use the second syringe.
This procedure is much quicker than letting the fluids drip from the bag, everything was done in less than 5 minutes, the cat receives much less stress.
I did this for over 10 years, every other night, or even every night.
Thanks - no fear of microwaving - we don't own one, never would. Heat pad is a great idea - maybe I can source one somewhere.Never put the bag in the microwave, that can create dangerous hot spots. warm it in a bowl of warm water and run a little out on your inside wrist to make sure it isn't TOO hot, but just right. Emptying the line right before giving is a great idea too, You might get her a cat heat pad to sit on to warm her up quickly too, she would like that!
I would have thought that in Israel there was plenty of technology and stuff.I think I understand. We are in Israel in the boonies on top of everything else - so hard to get anything. The last bag of Hartmann's was brought by a traveling vet.
I would inject the 60 ml in steps, 5-6 ml at a time at a rather slow rate, wait 3 to 5 seconds, and again 5-6 ml. So, I believe a 60 ml syringe would go in a little more than a minute and a half.Do you inject the whole 60ml in a one go shot or in increments? It sounds like a good alternative to standing drip by slow drip. Less stress is a very good thing. Thank you.