How to inject a cat correctly in the withers

Prepare the syringe and ampoule before dialing the medicine. To extract the solution, use a blade. If there is a special mark, it is enough to press it through a cotton pad. After opening, remove the cap from the needle and gently inject into the ampoule. For convenience, tilt the vial slightly and dial the desired amount of the substance, guided by the scale.

How to inject a cat subcutaneously yourself

If an animal is sick, it must be treated – an axiom that all pet owners know about. Often the treatment is prescribed long and includes a course of subcutaneous or intramuscular injections.

These must be given every day or several times a day. Visiting the veterinary clinic every day for a single manipulation is not always advisable, and in some cases it can be quite expensive.

Therefore, it is important that the owner knows how to perform such a procedure himself. This will reduce the patient's own stress level and save the owner time.

Why the owner should know how to inject a cat subcutaneously

Knowing how to properly give a cat hypodermic injections can sometimes save a cat's life when immediate action is needed.

In addition, the owner should know how to properly perform the procedure in order to:

• Save money on visits to the veterinary clinic;
• Prevent high stress on the cat during the journey and the visit to the veterinarian;
• Save time;
• Be able to help other pet owners in emergency situations.

Administering a hypodermic injection to a pet is not as difficult a task as it may seem at first glance. The key is not experience, but proper preparation and technique to perform the procedure.

While intramuscular injections are quite painful for the animal, even if done by a specialist, a shot to the withers does not cause much discomfort to the animal.

The neck is an ideal place for hypodermic injections for the following reasons:

• Reduced sensitivity . With proper preparation and insertion of the needle under the skin, the animal may not even feel the manipulation.
• The loose structure of the lower layer of skin, the hypodermis . Specialists prefer to perform hypodermic injections at the withers, because the loose hypodermis is good at absorbing large amounts of fluid. Active blood circulation accelerates the process of absorption of the injected drug into the systemic bloodstream and the drug starts to work after 20-30 minutes. Of course, subcutaneous injection is inferior to intramuscular injections in terms of speed of action, but it is ahead of oral drug administration.
• Reduced nerve endings . The animal hardly feels the manipulation.

Subcutaneous injections can be performed not only at the withers. The area of the femoral crease and the front part of the thigh are suitable for the procedure. At this point, the lower skin layer is also well developed and loose, and the skin pulls away sufficiently.

In fact, there are several things with which any injection is easier and more relaxed to bear.

(By the way, I'll note in parenthesis that they have now started making a tiny puncture in the rubber plug in advance. If you hit it carefully, the needle won't get blunt).

One time a neighbor was trying to give the cat a shot and my husband was helping him. My husband was holding the cat's front paws, and the cat himself was tangled in a towel.

I wasn't there. And I only found out later that the cat had jerked so hard that the needle had popped and bent and jammed into the neighbor's hand. Ouch.

When I went in and gave the cat a shot, the neighbor just couldn't believe his eyes and said: "So quick and easy? And we've been messing around with this Marquis for half an hour. ".

Another time the cat bit my husband's arm with its fangs.

The thing is that many people believe that you have to squeeze the cat's paws tightly so that he can't scratch with his claws or run away. But the cat manages to twist his face. And bite.

This is why I want to repeat that you have to hold the cat by the withers and nothing else.

Of course, it is more convenient to give the cat an injection together. When one person holds and the other one stabs. Or in the withers or in the thigh. When I give a shot alone, I always inject only in the withers.

Preparation for the procedure

Before giving a shot to a cat in the withers, you will need to prepare tools and medications. For cowardly and aggressive animals, you need to buy or rent a special retainer from acquaintances. Instead, you can use a brave partner, ready for combat wounds from your pet.

Choice of syringe

When selecting therapy, the veterinarian will talk through the specifics of the injection and choice of instruments beforehand. If something has slipped his mind, it's the following criteria should be considered:

1. Age . It is better to inject the kitten's withers with an insulin syringe. If the cat is too fat, this option will not work, as the needle will not reach the right place. For babies, the standard needle is injected partially, and for adult animals – all the way to the end.
2. Type of drug. Oily solutions quickly clog thin holes, so it is better to abandon the insulin syringe in favor of a larger one (at least 3 ml).
3. Pet's jitteriness .. If a thin needle is used during active resistance, there is a high likelihood of it kinking or breaking off.

For a smooth and painless introduction of the drug, choose instruments with rubber bands on the pistons. Consider not only the volume, but also the size of the needle.

Needle Selection

Thick and oily drugs are best injected through a needle from large syringes with a well beveled end. Such thick needles are assigned a number from 18 to 20, they are marked in pink, cream or yellow.

Conventional liquid preparations can be stabbed with needles #21-24, and the tip is also best chosen beveled. They can be distinguished by their green, blue, black or purple color.

Subcutaneous injection by steps

Prepare in advance a flat, non-slip surface and all the necessary tools. Secure the pet and try to calm him down with gentle talking and stroking. Your helper can take on the calming role. Do not yell or scold the frightened animal. Over time it will get used to the procedure and become calmer.

Their natural protective layer means you don't have to treat their mustachioed skin with antiseptic. But your hands will need thorough disinfection: before the procedure, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water and treat them with an antiseptic solution.

After all the preparatory actions, immediately proceed to the execution of the instructions explaining How to inject a cat or cat in the withers:

1. Open the ampoule and draw in the solution. Don't forget to cover the needle with the needle cap afterwards. It can only be removed before the needle is inserted. If you accidentally touch the needle, change it for a new one. Otherwise an infection could get into the animal's body.
2. Grasp the skin on the scruff with your fingers and gently pull away a couple of centimeters. The resulting subcutaneous "pocket" lacks important nerve endings, so it is well suited for further manipulation. Don't forget to soothe your pet throughout the procedure.
3. Spread the fur at the found location, remove the cap, bend the needle at a 45° angle to the spinal column and gently insert it. The allowable depth of insertion is 1-1.5 cm. The insulin needle is inserted in its entirety, since its length is much shorter than a normal needle.
4. Gently press on the plunger and start slowly injecting the medicine. Try to proceed smoothly. The slower the insertion, the more painless it is. Note that a sudden wetting of the coat indicates that you did not get under the animal's skin.
5. Carefully remove the needle after injecting the rest of the medicine, and then release the fold. Any droplets of solution left at the tip of the spout are taken into account beforehand when choosing the dosage. There is no need to inject an additional amount of medication. There is also no disinfection of the wound.
6. Hold the pet in your hands for a few minutes, massaging the injection site. Pet it and give it a treat for its courage.

How to prepare a cat for an injection

To get the injection quickly and without complications, the pet must be calm and as relaxed as possible. It is best to perform the procedure immediately after sleeping. But if the shots need to be given several times a day and it is not possible to find a convenient time, you need to calm the animal by your own efforts.

Sit the cat on your lap, pet it and give it a treat. The procedure should be associated with something pleasant and performed by someone the cat knows well. If desired, allow the cat to sniff the medicine bottles and individually packaged syringe. If the animal leaves its scent on them, it will be less wary of them.

Keep calm and confident in your actions. Nervousness on the part of the owner is quickly transferred to the animal, and the cat may begin to lash out.

Treating the injection site is not recommended. You will have to shave the hair, and this will cause the cat additional stress, and he will be afraid of injections in the future. It is enough to wash your hands thoroughly, not to touch the needle with your fingers and not to use the same syringe repeatedly.

If the skin where the needle is inserted is damaged, consult your veterinarian. The needle may have to be injected elsewhere or look for alternative therapies. For example, pills or suspensions.

Important. Trim the cat's claws before giving the shot. Even if the animal is calm and not aggressive in normal life, the prick may cause sharp pain and the animal will scratch you instinctively trying to escape.

To trim the cat's claws, use a special claw trimmer from a pet store. Nail scissors will not do: they leave an uneven cut and cause the claw to split as it grows.

How to give your cat a hypodermic injection

To give a hypodermic injection correctly, choose the withers (the place where the shoulder blades meet). Because of the small number of nerve endings this area is the least sensitive and unlike intramuscular injections to the thigh the skin will not hurt at all.

– Secure the cat in the correct position. Put the cat on a table with its stomach against the floor and pull its withers upward until a fold is formed, similar to the roof of a house. It is best to have an assistant help, who will hold the cat by its hindquarters and prevent it from trying to escape by jerking sharply forward or starting to back away.

If you do not have an assistant and the cat is restless, swaddle it in a blanket, leaving only its head exposed.

– Insert the needle into the withers. Pierce the skin at the base of the crease that has formed, guiding the needle with the slit upwards and keeping it parallel to the cat's spine. You will need to use a bit of force to pierce the skin at the withers. The skin in this area is quite dense, and to get into the subcutaneous fatty tissue, the needle should be inserted with pressure and plunged about half of its length.

When inserting the needle into the withers, hold the syringe like a dart. If your fingers are on the plunger and push down on it as you inject, the drug will remain in the upper layers of the skin and cause inflammation.

– Inject a test dose. To make sure you haven't punctured the withers and injected the medicine into the undercoat, gently push the plunger in, injecting a test dose. If the puncture is done correctly, the coat will remain dry and the animal will twitch forward slightly.

– Check to see if the capillaries are intruded. Pull the plunger toward you. If the syringe fills with blood, remove the needle and inject again.

Side effects

Sometimes there can be complications after the procedure that scare owners. But they are not all scary!

• If there is blood after the injection, stop it with peroxide. If the bleeding continues for more than 20 minutes, call your doctor.
• Appearance of bumps or abscesses is an indication for urgent surgical intervention.
• Lameness for 2-3 days is normal. But if the cat drags his paw, it may indicate damage to the sciatic nerve. Get him to a doctor right away.
• A high fever is an indication for a veterinarian consultation to rule out the possibility of infection during the injection.

Conclusion

The most important thing is a calm and confident owner. Animals sense your mood and excitement, as well as the firmness of spirit that will be transmitted to them.

So reread this article twice, prepare your tools and do breathing exercises if required. It doesn't hurt to watch an instructional video on how to inject a cat:

Only then get down to business. I hope that my article was useful for you! If there is anything to add, write in the comments, such an experience will be useful for all cat owners. Good health to you and your pets!

Why do complications arise?

Complications arise from a breach of procedure or preparation rules. For example, poor hygiene leads to lumps (infiltrates), inflammation or abscesses on the pet's body. Malignant growths in the muscles or muscle tissue death occur due to ingestion of some harmful substance.

If the owner is not concerned about warming an ampoule of the drug, sarcomas or inflammatory seals in the soft tissues may occur. The animal's body reacts particularly badly to cold oil solutions. The accidental ingestion of such substances results in a fat embolism: this is a dangerous blockage of blood vessels caused by circulatory disorders.

Drugs with an expiration date, as well as poor-quality drugs cause allergies. Complex allergic reactions occur due to sensitivity to the components of the solution. Severe anaphylactic shock can lead to death of the pet.

To avoid consequences, be sure to consult your veterinarian. Even if you have a lot of experience, still check the specifics of a particular medication – it may require some special conditions.

Possible Consequences

For the most part, injections to pets go without any consequences, even if carried out at home by an inexperienced owner. However, it is necessary to be aware of complications, so that in case of trouble, you can quickly help your pet.

Blood on the wound

Noticing after the puncture a drop of blood at the site of the wound, do not panic. Probably just a blood vessel wall is damaged. If there are few drops of blood, put ice or a damp cold towel to the wound. It will pass in 10-15 minutes, but prolonged bleeding is cause to see the doctor.

Appearance of abscesses

Swellings and pustules after a therapeutic manipulation appear after a wrongly performed process. Bacteria get into the wound and infection begins to develop. Sometimes the cause of inflammation and bumps is hypothermia at the injection site: this is manifested by fever with increased temperature, restlessness, lethargy, lack of appetite.

Abscesses are removed by surgery and subsequent prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs. In simple cases, the swellings resolve on their own after some time.

Temporary limp

Limping on the back leg is common after an intramuscular injection. This usually happens after particularly painful injections – antibiotics or thick, oily medications of consistency. Veterinarians assure not to worry about the temporary lameness – it usually goes away in a couple of days, but a long-term problem with the limbs requires a visit to the clinic. There they administer novocaine blockades to relieve the pain syndrome. Further recommendations will help prevent the development of a more serious condition.

Possible mistakes and how to avoid them

Sometimes there are complications after injecting cats at home, which arise due to typical mistakes made by beginners:

How to stop being afraid to give your pet an injection

In order not to be afraid of giving injections to your cat yourself, you need to remember the following:

1. If during a femoral injection into a muscle the needle sticks into the bone or ligament, you should not panic, you should calmly pull the needle back and continue the manipulation. No harm will come to the cat.
2. One little bubble that penetrated from the needle under the skin or inside the muscle will dissolve on its own without any harm to the cat's health.
3. If you have injected into the withers the needle went through and the medicine drops rolled on the hair (or spurted out), you need to calm down and, pulling the needle back a little, inject the rest of the solution.
4. It is useful for aggressive cats to glue soft claws in advance (before the course of injections) to protect themselves from scratches. These accessories are now widely available in pet stores and are popular with owners. They are attached with superglue and are cut off monthly as the claws grow. It's also a great tool for protecting furniture that the cat won't be comfortable scratching.
5. If the doctor prescribes a lot of shots for the cat, you should stock up on all kinds of treats and sausages, as well as herbal soothing drops (such as Cot Bayun).

You don't need to be a veterinarian or a medic to give a cat a shot in the withers or muscles. It is enough to love your pet, know the peculiarities of his behavior in stressful situations and wish him a long and happy life outside the veterinary clinic.

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