Re: help needed--problem with subQ
I've had this problem too. It's annoying. I've tried marking the bag with magic marker, and shortening the line so that I can stand at eye level with the bag and put the cat up on a table... tBONNIE J KALMBACH [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Kerry,There are different kinds of fluid bags, I know because I go to two different vets and get fluids from both (one is the vet school because I see a specialist there).I suggest calling your vet's office and talk to a tech. On Fu's bag, which I can see from here, there is a sort of rubber stopper at the bottom through which I inject air; other bags have a little spout like projections covered with rubber through which you can put a needle. Your vet techs can also tell you how to deal with fluids bags where the sides stick together and make it difficult to see how much you've given. I've been doing fluids for several cats for years - sometime if I can't see the fluid line, I'll just judge by how fast the fluid is going in and then I'll decide whether to do two or three minutes. I try this before I inject air into the bag.As for the old Ringer bags you mentioned in your other post, remember to check the expiration date. And after a bag has been opened, you only want to use it for no more than 10-14 days.Best wishes to you and Pookie,Bonniewww.elephants.com- Original Message -From: Kerry MacKenzie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2005 0:25 amSubject: Re: help needed--problem with subQTo: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Thanks Bonnie---which bit is the medicine port--is it the hole at the bottom of the bag (once the bag's unsealed) that you put the "hose" in? Do i take the hose back out to put the air in--won't the fluid pour out then? Oh dear! Kerry - Original Message - From: "BONNIE J KALMBACH" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <FELVTALK@FELINELEUKEMIA.ORG> Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 12:14 AM Subject: Re: help needed--problem with subQKerry, This is what the vet techs who work for my vet do. They get a clean syringe and put a needle on the end. Then they inject air into the bag via the medicine port. As a nurse on the CRF list objected to this, thinking of humans no doubt, I asked the vet school pharmacist who she said it was OK as the fluids were just going under the skin. But I would just inject one syringe full of air into the bag if thats enough to help you see the water line. If you have to do it a second time, I'd use a new needle. If the syringe has been used before, I'd wash it thoroughly and rinse with very hot water. Does this help? Bonnie in WI www.elephants.com - Original Message - From: Kerry MacKenzie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Monday, October 31, 2005 11:48 pm Subject: help needed--problem with subQHi all I've just started a new bag to give Pookie his fluids--and I can't tell on this bag where the discernible water level is! I actually let some go down the sink in an effort to find the level and that didn't work. I've neverstarted a new bag before (I'm still fumbling my way around subQs) and I can't believe this is happening. Luckily Pookie seems ok, but i need to figure out fast what to do. Has anyone come across this--any idea how to fix?! Kerry
Re: help needed--problem with subQ
Kerry, There are different kinds of fluid bags, I know because I go to two different vets and get fluids from both (one is the vet school because I see a specialist there). I suggest calling your vet's office and talk to a tech. On Fu's bag, which I can see from here, there is a sort of rubber stopper at the bottom through which I inject air; other bags have a little spout like projections covered with rubber through which you can put a needle. Your vet techs can also tell you how to deal with fluids bags where the sides stick together and make it difficult to see how much you've given. I've been doing fluids for several cats for years - sometime if I can't see the fluid line, I'll just judge by how fast the fluid is going in and then I'll decide whether to do two or three minutes. I try this before I inject air into the bag. As for the old Ringer bags you mentioned in your other post, remember to check the expiration date. And after a bag has been opened, you only want to use it for no more than 10-14 days. Best wishes to you and Pookie, Bonnie www.elephants.com - Original Message - From: Kerry MacKenzie [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2005 0:25 am Subject: Re: help needed--problem with subQ To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Thanks Bonnie---which bit is the medicine port--is it the hole at the bottom of the bag (once the bag's unsealed) that you put the hose in? Do i take the hose back out to put the air in--won't the fluid pour out then? Oh dear! Kerry - Original Message - From: BONNIE J KALMBACH [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 12:14 AM Subject: Re: help needed--problem with subQ Kerry, This is what the vet techs who work for my vet do. They get a clean syringe and put a needle on the end. Then they inject air into the bag via the medicine port. As a nurse on the CRF list objected to this, thinking of humans no doubt, I asked the vet school pharmacist who she said it was OK as the fluids were just going under the skin. But I would just inject one syringe full of air into the bag if thats enough to help you see the water line. If you have to do it a second time, I'd use a new needle. If the syringe has been used before, I'd wash it thoroughly and rinse with very hot water. Does this help? Bonnie in WI www.elephants.com - Original Message - From: Kerry MacKenzie [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Monday, October 31, 2005 11:48 pm Subject: help needed--problem with subQ Hi all I've just started a new bag to give Pookie his fluids--and I can't tell on this bag where the discernible water level is! I actually let some go down the sink in an effort to find the level and that didn't work. I've neverstarted a new bag before (I'm still fumbling my way around subQs) and I can't believe this is happening. Luckily Pookie seems ok, but i need to figure out fast what to do. Has anyone come across this--any idea how to fix?! Kerry
help needed--problem with subQ
Hi all I've just started a new bag to give Pookie his fluids--and I can't tell on this bag where the discernible water level is! I actually let some go down the sink in an effort to find the level and that didn't work. I've never started a new bag before (I'm still fumbling my way around subQs) and I can't believe this is happening. Luckily Pookie seems ok, but i need to figure out fast what to do. Has anyone come across this--any idea how to fix?! Kerry
Re: help needed--problem with subQ
Kerry, This is what the vet techs who work for my vet do. They get a clean syringe and put a needle on the end. Then they inject air into the bag via the medicine port. As a nurse on the CRF list objected to this, thinking of humans no doubt, I asked the vet school pharmacist who she said it was OK as the fluids were just going under the skin. But I would just inject one syringe full of air into the bag if thats enough to help you see the water line. If you have to do it a second time, I'd use a new needle. If the syringe has been used before, I'd wash it thoroughly and rinse with very hot water. Does this help? Bonnie in WI www.elephants.com - Original Message - From: Kerry MacKenzie [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Monday, October 31, 2005 11:48 pm Subject: help needed--problem with subQ Hi all I've just started a new bag to give Pookie his fluids--and I can't tell on this bag where the discernible water level is! I actually let some go down the sink in an effort to find the level and that didn't work. I've neverstarted a new bag before (I'm still fumbling my way around subQs) and I can't believe this is happening. Luckily Pookie seems ok, but i need to figure out fast what to do. Has anyone come across this--any idea how to fix?! Kerry
Re: help needed--problem with subQ for Pookie
Another question-- i have a spare unused couple of Ringer's bags that i bought last year. I tried to fit one up just now (I can see the fluid level on these) but there's no fluid coming out when I unlock it---obviously I'm doing something wrong. Any idea what I need to do to get this bag working for me? I'm pretty new to this---now i wish I'd insisted the shelter tech show me how to fit up a new bag from scratch. Thanks for any info! Kerry - Original Message - From: Kerry MacKenzie [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 11:48 PM Subject: help needed--problem with subQ Hi all I've just started a new bag to give Pookie his fluids--and I can't tell on this bag where the discernible water level is! I actually let some go down the sink in an effort to find the level and that didn't work. I've never started a new bag before (I'm still fumbling my way around subQs) and I can't believe this is happening. Luckily Pookie seems ok, but i need to figure out fast what to do. Has anyone come across this--any idea how to fix?! Kerry
Re: help needed--problem with subQ
Thanks Bonnie---which bit is the medicine port--is it the hole at the bottom of the bag (once the bag's unsealed) that you put the hose in? Do i take the hose back out to put the air in--won't the fluid pour out then? Oh dear! Kerry - Original Message - From: BONNIE J KALMBACH [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 12:14 AM Subject: Re: help needed--problem with subQ Kerry, This is what the vet techs who work for my vet do. They get a clean syringe and put a needle on the end. Then they inject air into the bag via the medicine port. As a nurse on the CRF list objected to this, thinking of humans no doubt, I asked the vet school pharmacist who she said it was OK as the fluids were just going under the skin. But I would just inject one syringe full of air into the bag if thats enough to help you see the water line. If you have to do it a second time, I'd use a new needle. If the syringe has been used before, I'd wash it thoroughly and rinse with very hot water. Does this help? Bonnie in WI www.elephants.com - Original Message - From: Kerry MacKenzie [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Monday, October 31, 2005 11:48 pm Subject: help needed--problem with subQ Hi all I've just started a new bag to give Pookie his fluids--and I can't tell on this bag where the discernible water level is! I actually let some go down the sink in an effort to find the level and that didn't work. I've neverstarted a new bag before (I'm still fumbling my way around subQs) and I can't believe this is happening. Luckily Pookie seems ok, but i need to figure out fast what to do. Has anyone come across this--any idea how to fix?! Kerry
