Subcue questions
-
Sef
- I dissent.
YES! That would be fantastic. It could show how to tell if a pig is dehydrated; how to rig up the butterfly catheter; how to warm up the solution; how to pull up the skin with two fingers and find that elusive "tent" that they all talk about; some of the things that can go wrong (might want to use a stuffed animal for that part); etc.
-
Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
She is precisely the person I was thinking of. No idea if she would be willing to do so but now I have a camera that can take closeup movies and would love to start putting together some crucial videos (some things are best viewed in motion, not with simple pics). I think I can add sound later (too hard to do it all at once).
I shake the syringe with fluid after warming to make sure there are no hot spots or cold spots.
Too warm fluid causes them to go ballistic as well as too cool fluid. It should be body temperature and tested the same way you test the temp of a baby's bottle - inner wrist.
You may have hit a nerve or the needle may have been jabbing the skin from the inside.
Too warm fluid causes them to go ballistic as well as too cool fluid. It should be body temperature and tested the same way you test the temp of a baby's bottle - inner wrist.
You may have hit a nerve or the needle may have been jabbing the skin from the inside.
-
chii
- I Love Lucy
I definitely prefer butterflies. I find that the longer needles are much more difficult to use on pigs (much easier to go in one side and out the other), not to mention that it gives you no leeway if the pig starts moving.
To help reduce leakage, I always try to pinch the skin where the needle is at when I'm pulling the needle out or after I pull it out (depending on what the pig will let me do). It does help reduce the amount of leaking/bleeding, but I'll warn you now that pigs HATE being pinched, even the slightest little bit. I usually get more protesting screeches then than at any other point during the subq. Pulling up the skin to insert the needle is the runner-up.
Be super careful that you don't get your fluids too warm. Always squirt a little on your hand or arm to test before injecting. Cold fluids don't feel good, but too hot fluids would probably be like torture and likely cause tissue damage. Always err on the side of caution.
Also, ditto on what Josephine said about using a new needle for everything. Guinea pigs have very tough skin compared to other animals, so the sharper the needle, the better. Even just sticking it into the fluid bag to draw up the fluids dulls it a little IMO.
To help reduce leakage, I always try to pinch the skin where the needle is at when I'm pulling the needle out or after I pull it out (depending on what the pig will let me do). It does help reduce the amount of leaking/bleeding, but I'll warn you now that pigs HATE being pinched, even the slightest little bit. I usually get more protesting screeches then than at any other point during the subq. Pulling up the skin to insert the needle is the runner-up.
Be super careful that you don't get your fluids too warm. Always squirt a little on your hand or arm to test before injecting. Cold fluids don't feel good, but too hot fluids would probably be like torture and likely cause tissue damage. Always err on the side of caution.
Also, ditto on what Josephine said about using a new needle for everything. Guinea pigs have very tough skin compared to other animals, so the sharper the needle, the better. Even just sticking it into the fluid bag to draw up the fluids dulls it a little IMO.
-
Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Always squirt a little on your hand or arm to test before injecting.
The inside of the arm (or wrist) is a good test point. Hands are very tolerant of heat and cannot judge temps as accurately.
If you've raised kids, you know to use the tender inside of your arm and never trust the hand for checking bath temps. I never used baby bottles but one always sprinkled some milk on the inside of the arm to ensure it was not too hot.
The inside of the arm (or wrist) is a good test point. Hands are very tolerant of heat and cannot judge temps as accurately.
If you've raised kids, you know to use the tender inside of your arm and never trust the hand for checking bath temps. I never used baby bottles but one always sprinkled some milk on the inside of the arm to ensure it was not too hot.
SHOP AMAZON