Subcues for Dummies
- Sef
- I dissent.
Well, Mum was right. The 27 gauge infusion sets are just too darn small. They go in without too much trouble, but it takes forever to empty the syringe and makes it hard to plunge. As far as it being more comfortable/less painful, I really didn't see any difference from when I use a 25g or even the 23g.
BUT...I now have an entire box that Excel sent me gratis of 27 gauge sets. A shame not to put them to some use. Does anyone want a few samples? If so, just drop me an email (apparently by law I have to say "NOT FOR HUMAN USE").
Also, I'd still like some feedback on where to find inexpensive butterfly 23 gauge sets (either by the box or each). Thinking maybe the $.80 each from KV Vet is going to be my best bet. ?
BUT...I now have an entire box that Excel sent me gratis of 27 gauge sets. A shame not to put them to some use. Does anyone want a few samples? If so, just drop me an email (apparently by law I have to say "NOT FOR HUMAN USE").
Also, I'd still like some feedback on where to find inexpensive butterfly 23 gauge sets (either by the box or each). Thinking maybe the $.80 each from KV Vet is going to be my best bet. ?
- Sef
- I dissent.
I just wanted to double-check on this point, because over the weekend I found a couple of ferret websites with directions on subcues (while searching for infusion sets). In reading the directions, they both made a point of saying that you absolutely cannot use the needle if it has touched anything.No, I've had many a poor stick with the same needle. I always use just one needle for the subcue, no matter how often I have to stick the pig (or myself).
Just so I'm clear...it's OK to go ahead and use the butterfly needle if I happen to jab myself with it, right? I guess ideally it would be better to get a new one, but is it terrible if I don't?
I have to say (knocking wood) that these are getting a liiiiittle bit easier.
- Sef
- I dissent.
Grrrrrr. Who designed this stupid Ringers bag???
I went to give Zachary his subcue last night, and discovered that the bag had a leak. It took me a while to figure out where the leak was coming from, but turned out that there was a tiny needle prick where I guess I had accidentally jabbed the bag when drawing up the fluid.
As you can see from this picture, on this type of bag the "port" is on the SIDE rather than on the bottom. If you happen to have a 1" needle as I do, and are a complete and utter moron as I am, it's apparently possible to poke a hole clear through to the other side of the bag!
My other bags have always had the "port" on the bottom, like so:
Fortunately for me, a fellow GL just sent me her new, un-used bag of Ringers, or I'd be paying for another bag today (I thought the vet's office could at least give me another bag of Ringers to replace it, after what I spent yesterday--but no).
I'm just very irked.
I went to give Zachary his subcue last night, and discovered that the bag had a leak. It took me a while to figure out where the leak was coming from, but turned out that there was a tiny needle prick where I guess I had accidentally jabbed the bag when drawing up the fluid.
As you can see from this picture, on this type of bag the "port" is on the SIDE rather than on the bottom. If you happen to have a 1" needle as I do, and are a complete and utter moron as I am, it's apparently possible to poke a hole clear through to the other side of the bag!
My other bags have always had the "port" on the bottom, like so:
Fortunately for me, a fellow GL just sent me her new, un-used bag of Ringers, or I'd be paying for another bag today (I thought the vet's office could at least give me another bag of Ringers to replace it, after what I spent yesterday--but no).
I'm just very irked.
- Amy0204
- We miss our sweet Oreo
I would pitch it. I had the side port bags. I guess I was lucky because the vet tech who showed me how to do the subq warned me about the possibility of going all the way thru with the needle. Don't know whether you have the option, but I had Allison hold the bag upright so I could have a better view of whether the needle was going.