Do You Know The Difference Between IV and SubQ Fluid Therapy?

Kidney disease is a common ailment in senior cats. Older dogs can also get kidney disease. The kidneys flush out toxins from the body. When the kidneys aren’t functioning properly, toxins build up in the pet’s bloodstream and can make them feel nauseated and lethargic. Fluid therapy helps flush out toxins and can dramatically improve a pet’s quality of life. Pets generally feel much better after fluid therapy and will often eat and play once they have been hydrated.

Fluids can be administered in two different ways. IV fluid therapy is done at a veterinarian’s office during hospitalization while subcutaneous fluids can be administered by you at home. What’s the advantage of administering fluids at home? Once you learn how to do it, your pet can get the benefits of fluid therapy without the stress of going to the vet’s office. When pets aren’t feeling well, going to the vet can be very stressful. Pet owners can also save considerably on hospitalization costs.

Sometimes IV fluids and hospitalization are necessary for the pet’s well-being. But if pets are managing ok with their kidney symptoms, having the option to administer fluids at home can be life-changing. We did this for our beloved Ariel when she had kidney disease. Has anyone else done SubQ fluids at home? 

What Is The Difference Between IV vs. SubQ Fluid Therapy For Pets?

Many pet owners what the difference is between IV fluid therapy vs subcutaneous fluid therapy (subq therapy).  Fluid therapy helps because when pets have kidney disease, their kidneys are not able to flush out toxins as efficiently as they did before.  Veterinarians often recommend fluid therapy to keep the pet hydrated and help the kidneys flush out toxins.  This can be done through IV fluids or subcutaneous fluids (under the skin).

At your veterinarian's office, IV Fluids are administered by injecting the fluid directly into your pet's vein.  IV fluid therapy can bring fast relief and help pets feel better quickly.  IV fluid therapy can be  stressful for pets and expensive.  Thus, an alternative is to do subcutaneous fluid therapy at home.  

While that might sound scary, many pet owners (even those afraid of needles) can be easily trained by their veterinarian's office.  It might be a little awkard at first, but most pets, even skittish cats, will relax if you are relaxed as well.   Pets generally feel much better after fluid therapy and will often eat and play once they have been hydrated.   To learn more about the pros and cons of IV fluid therapy vs Subcutaneous fluid therapy for your dog or cat's kidney disease, please click here. 

Fluid Therapy Can Be A Life Saver for Cats And Dogs With Kidney Disease

Kidney disease affects many senior pets, especially cats. The kidneys remove waste from the bloodstream and regulate fluids in your pet’s body. If  your pet has kidney disease and the kidneys are not able to function as well as they should, toxins build up in the bloodstream making your pet feel nauseated and sick--a condition known as uremia. 

Using fluid therapy is a way to help restore good hydration and supplement a pet's kidney function, removing waste products from the bloodstream. Each pet will have a different fluid therapy protocol based on their health needs.  Fluids can be given at your veterinarian’s office or many pet owners can learn (from their vet) to give them in their own home saving a trip to the vet. 

The two most common types of fluid therapies are: 

Intravenous fluids (IV fluids) which are given at the veterinary office and are injected directly into a vein (usually on the front paw) using a catheter 

Subcutaneous (SubQ) fluid administration is when the fluid is injected under the skin and is absorbed into the bloodstream and the body slowly over time (can be done at home or in your veterinarian's office). 

Kidney disease can include a number of challenging symptoms including: Increased thrist and urine production, decreased appetite, vomiting and diarrhea to name a few, but there are many other signs and many can occur simutaneously.  Diet changes and natural supplements can help.  For more detailed information on the signs and how to treat Kidney Disease holistically please  click here .