Paging Doc Rafiki...

[Alex]

Reilly our lab apperantly has the doggie equivelant of the flu, fever, sneezing etc. The vet said he had a 103 fever and prescribed some antibiotics as well as giving him some IV fluids. The question I have is they gave the IV fluids (A liter of LR) subcutaneously instead of straight into a vein like we do with people! Made quite a large hump. Just wondering why it's done that way.

 

[KathyTX]

Labs can get the flu?

Poor baby!

 

[sammi]

Alex the emergency vet did the same with our cat Willy but the "hump"of fluid gets absorbed into their system. I have no idea why this is done this way but it worked for Willy.

I hope Reilly is up and galavanting around real soon!

 

[Alex]

I hope so too Sammi, the poor thing is pretty mopey right now!
I don't think the Vet did anything wrong just curious

 

[DocRafiki]

Hey Alex. Yes, 'tis the season for nasty viruses in our pets too. Hope she is feeling better soon. I was just looking at her picture on the other thread (is that the same one?)

Here's your answer:
I.V. fluids have to be given at a pretty slow rate. Your pup would have to be hospitalized for most of the day to receive a liter of fluids. The nursing care as well as the I.V. catheter & additional fluid lines are also more expensive. By putting the fluids SQ, they can do it all at once, get it over with, and send you home. The fluids are absorbed into the system over the next several hours.

 

[Alex]

That's the "little" guy Doc.... he's pretty mopey right now!!
Thanks for the explanation, it makes a lot of sense...
I was just telling DW the ICU nurse, and we decided even though it would be a cost saving measure, human medicine isn't about to start doing that anytime soon!!

 

[DocRafiki]

BTW, Alex, 103 is only 0.5 above normal temp, so it's not as bad as it may sound.

 

[Alex]

OH thanks... I knew they didn't run 98.6 but I didn't know what normal for a Dog was!!
It's not the fever so much but he's just mopey as heck... laying around not eating.. that is why we brought him to the vet...

 

[Otto's Doll]

Originally posted by DocRafiki
BTW, Alex, 103 is only 0.5 above normal temp, so it's not as bad as it may sound.

Completely off topic, but...
DocRafiki, I just wanted to tell you what a blessing you are to folks here on the DIS. I see you answering people's questions, and telling them straight out what you feel, without worrying about whether they want to hear it or not, and I really appreciate that. Integrity is not something you see a lot of nowadays, and it is nice to see it here! Thanks!

(tried to send this to you in a PM, but your box is full!)

 

[DocRafiki]

ok THAT is something I don't hear very often! You don't know how much it's appreciated! But you're right; it's all about the munchkins; humans be warned.

Thanks for the heads up on the PM box. Haven't heard that in a while, either.

 

[TigerBear]

Originally posted by Otto's Doll
Integrity is not something you see a lot of nowadays, and it is nice to see it here! Thanks!

Very well said, Otto's Doll. Doc, you have my thanks as well.

 

[sammi]

Me too!