Giving kittens subcutaneous fluids at home can provide them with lots of health benefits, especially if they’re suffering from chronic kidney disease or other medical conditions. But when it comes to administering fluid to your pet, one of the more complicated things you may encounter is choosing the right needle to work with and where to buy them. Butterfly needles are some of the most commonly used ones, but not everyone knows where to get them.
So where can you find butterfly needles to use for subcutaneous fluid administration in kittens? There are many options where to buy butterfly needles, like online or local pharmacies. Most people may purchase them even without a prescription (except for a few states), but the pharmacist may ask where the needles will be used. Depending on your answer, they might have to limit your purchase to 10 needles for this product.
Administering subq fluids at home is often recommended for kittens and other cats that may benefit from fluid therapy, like those with a heart condition, renal disease, or severe dehydration. It’s a simple procedure, but many pet owners find needle insertion to be an intimidating and apprehensive task. But remember that learning about subcutaneous injection for sub q fluid therapy is worthwhile for the sake of your pets.
One of the first things to learn about subcutaneous fluid administration for kittens is to familiarize yourself with the different equipment needed for fluid therapy. Each at-home fluid therapy should at least consist of a fluid bag, fluid drip set, and the right needle type. Butterfly needles are some of the most commonly used ones, so here are a few places where to purchase them:
There are different types of IV fluids for cats, but most people use lactated ringers solution (LRS). Along with subq fluids, butterfly needles are also typically available in local pharmacies at low prices. Buying from a nearby pharmacy has different advantages like helping you save up on shipping costs and allowing you to obtain the IV fluids more quickly.
If a local pharmacy has all the IV fluids that the kitten needs, then they’re most likely already acquainted with your veterinarian. This makes the vet more inclined to provide you with the needed prescription. While it’s easy to find a local pharmacy that sells butterfly needles, it’s important to have extra fluid and needle stocks at home.
When buying a subcutaneous fluid set for a kitten in a local pharmacy, here’s what pet owners should do:
If there isn’t a nearby local pharmacy that offers IV fluids at a low price, then pet owners can try their luck in an online pharmacy. The availability and prices of fluids, needles, and other supplies vary because of the fluid shortages in the country. In addition to the price of supplies, pet owners are also charged shipping fees unless they reach the minimum spend required.
If you can’t find a good online pharmacy that sells winged infusion sets, here are some of our best recommendations:
There are many options when it comes to shops and pharmacies that sell butterfly needles and other fluid therapy supplies for kittens. However, there might be some restrictions depending on where you live – such as needing a prescription or having a limit on how many butterfly needles can only be bought.
During emergencies, many local pharmacies may let you purchase butterfly needles if only a small amount is needed. Unless you have a prescription from a veterinarian, the pharmacist may limit your purchase to more or less 10 butterfly needles.
It’s usually better to buy from local pharmacies because pet owners may save up on shipping fees and they may collect the butterfly needles immediately. Some online pharmacies accept bulk orders and offer free shipping, but make sure to avoid purchasing from Amazon and auction sites like eBay.
Ordering from Amazon increases the risk of accidentally buying counterfeit and low-quality butterfly needles. As for eBay, some products may have been tampered with. This may be harmful to the kitten so only make sure to purchase medical supplies from licensed pharmacies or medical distributors.
You may also ask the veterinarian where they buy their fluid line set, syringe, tubing, and other medical supplies for pets.
Pet owners have 2 needle options when administering subcutaneous fluids to their kittens: a regular hypodermic needle or a butterfly needle (or winged infusion set). Using butterfly needles through the syringe method is the preferred option for many. It involves using a needle that’s smaller than a regular straight needle. The wings on either side of the needle also allow more precise and stable needle placement into the kitten’s skin and vein.
Like infants and young patients, kittens also have tiny veins and sensitive skin so smaller bore needles should be used for their treatment. The only downside to purchasing butterfly needles is that they’re usually more expensive than regular needles, so it’s better to buy them in bulk to save a little cash.
The most common needle of choice for many people is the Terumo TW 19g x 1” or 20g x 1”. If you’re not familiar with what this label means, here’s a cheat sheet to help you out:
A prescription is needed when purchasing a plastic bag of subcutaneous fluid in every state. This is also needed for buying buretrols and giving sets. As for butterfly needles, only a few states require a prescription (MN, DE, NH, RI, NJ, CT, IL, and NY). Before buying the fluid therapy supplies, make sure to ask the vet for a prescription so you can purchase everything in one visit.
Regardless of the state they live in, pet owners are entitled to a vet prescription if they ask for one. According to the American Veterinary Medicine Association, a veterinarian should discuss the benefits of having the medication for kidney failure and other medical conditions dispensed from their clinic. If the client still wants the prescription filled anywhere else, then they should comply with the patient’s wish by providing a written prescription.
Some vets recommend injecting only 10ml of fluid in one spot and 10ml in another. However, this requires creating multiple sticks on the kitten’s skin. According to International Cat Care, an average-sized cat with a body weight of 10lbs should have no problem with receiving around 10 to 20ml of fluid in a single subcutaneous injection.
Giving injections can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t have any experience in doing it or if you have to do it for your pet. However, subcutaneous fluid administration is pretty easy. The benefits that sub q fluid administration brings your kitten make it worth learning this simple treatment.
Before starting any medical procedure, always make sure to put all the needed supplies in one place. In this case, pet owners need to gather materials like:
As for assembling all the equipment needed and preparing for the subcutaneous fluid administration, here’s how to do it:
Yes, subcutaneous fluids can be administered at home with the guidance of and recommendation by the veterinarian. However, it’s crucial to follow each instruction provided by the vet to avoid hurting the pet or injecting the wrong amount of fluids into them.
It’s still best to let the veterinarian perform the fluid therapy since they have all the equipment needed to perform it correctly. They’re also trained to handle everything involving this kind of treatment – from using the right equipment, comforting the pet, and giving them the right sub q fluids.
Butterfly needles needed to administer subcutaneous fluids to kittens with medical conditions can be bought online or in local pharmacies. It’s crucial to get them from licensed suppliers to avoid purchasing counterfeit or low-quality butterfly needles for pets. You can always ask the veterinarian for their recommendations on where to buy the best butterfly needles.
At FACE Med Store, we offer quality butterfly needles of different sizes at the right price. We’re a reliable supplier of different medical equipment for hundreds of clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare centers all over the country, so you can trust the quality of our butterfly needles and other products.
Call us today to know more about our butterfly needles and other medical supplies.