How to Give Subcutaneous Fluids to Your Dog at Home 

Anyone watching this video: do NOT leave a dirty needle on the fluid line after you finish giving the fluids to your dog. After you pull the needle out of your dog, open the line back up for a second to run a little more fluid out into a cup or bowl or whatever is around. Then close the line again and remove the needle and put on a clean needle that you will use for the next fluid administration. We also have a piece of masking tape that says "clean" on it that we lightly tape to the needle cap so we know that we already changed the needle. You do not want the line to become contaminated with bacteria. Put the used/dirty needle into a sharps container and dispose of that according to your local laws.

Thank you so much for this. My ER doctor didn't even mention this as an option (while accepting the $1500 fee) for the kidney failure diagnosis for my dog. I never would have known I could do this at home. I am so glad to know that I can help my beloved pooch be a little more comfortable during her final months or hopefully more.

Thank you. I did it 😰 Please say a prayer for him 🙏 Ty

Thank you so much! This video gave me the courage to do this myself for my little Bichon/Yorkie diagnosed with stage 4 Kidney Failure!

Thank you. It helps to have a memory refresher when it has been a while between animals in need of fluids. Especially at 1:00 a.m.

Using the hanger is a huge benefit, thanks for the tip. Made it so much easier and faster infusion.

I was nervous to do it, but I successfully succeeded in the end

Thank you so much for this wonderful video! I was trained at the vet but being able to watch this and review made me feel so much more comfortable and confident.

Thank you for these instructions! Very helpful as a quick refresher course!

Thank you for this clear, confident presentation! I'm on night 7 of doing this with my small dog and tonight is especially hard to find a good spot. ER said watch RU-vid videos and this did help.

What a good boy!!!! Thank you for the video

I found this so helpful tonight - thanks for posting it

Great instructions. Very much appreciated.

I'm so scared but I feel better about doing this. Thank you for the video.

Thank you!

Thank you so much for these directions. I am helping a friend whose pup needs the fluids and she's afraid to do it. I volunteered, I haven't done fluids in a dog and well over 20 years but I am willing to give it a try! Thank you again for the excellent instructions.

Fantastic tutorial! Thank you! Very helpful!

Thank you so much!

Informative 👍🏻👍🏻

Thanks!!!!

I had to do this 2x a day for a bit in 2007 when my dog almost went into kidney failure due to the melamine contamination in the dog food. Thank God our Vet let us do it our self. Watch out for the dog food issues now.

We see it done correctly on this excellent tutorial, but she didn't explain it - make sure the bevel of the needle is facing up when inserting.

Thanks for the video!! Which needle size did use?

Thank you, great video, just a quick question is there a reason u sont use plastic catheters like in an IV? Wouldnt it be safer and more comfortable to dog?? Thanks for sharing

Hi. Jessica. Well-presented video! You mentioned gravity (when lifting the fluid line up on the hanger), but what about for the section of drip line that's ascending toward the canine's neck/back? Also, you mentioned leaving the needle in. Is that so one doesn't have to replace the fluid line for every administration? Theoretically, how often should we replace our fluid lines? Every other day, once a week, or...? Just trying to get an idea. Thank you!

If you have to manually inject a sizable amount of fluids how fast of a rate should you go?

How do you change the needle ??

Please correct me if I am wrong but leaving a needle that has been used may allow bacteria to go into the line entering the bag causing the bag to feel with bacteria. So wouldn't it be better to take the used needle off and replace it with a new one that way it you avoid avoid any bacteria from getting into the line

Is it okay to put dog/cat lidocaine at the needle insertion point to help lesson the pain of the stick? I’m careful to use one fluid motion when inserting the needle, but she still feels it. I do move around to different location giving a few days before I go back to a previously used area. But she still feels it too much for my liking. If not lidocaine, what can we do to desensitize the area before administering the fluid?

I have a 10 week old puppy, needs subcutaneous IV 3 x day due to parvo. She's doing great but I'm having hard time holding her down, and keeping needle in her. I was told or shown to pinch skin up as shown here but to inject not in crease but almost where my fingers are. She seems in alot of pain when done this way. I'm afraid of hurting her, is this a far better way of injecting?

What subcutaneous infusion can you give your dog

I wanted to make sure. Does the needle go directly through the tent and into the space? or do you need to keep the tip in contact with the skin still to feel for a water swelling

How do you keep your dog from lying down or moving when administering the fluids? My dog moves a lot and I was close to giving up and stopping fluids for the night...please help! All suggestions welcome. Thank you! 😊

My dog was taking his subQ fluids with almost problem but now that he’s gotten stronger he no longer wants to take them! Help!!! He fidgets & cries until needle falls out!!! Help!!! He’s been getting fluids for two weeks straight & all of a sudden he doesn’t want to anymore. HELPPPPPP!!!

is it allowed in usa to do iv on animal if you are not a vet? do vets in your place give antibiotic combination to iv for home stay? well i have issue with getting doxy for iv the vet refuse to teach and refuse to give iv with antibiotic if it is not confined. she even charges over sand over for just a prescription, i mean aside from her daily fee of pf she still wants prescription fee. But it is just same anyways she just converted to syrup the capsules. The problem with oral is that my dog refuse to swallow she pukes or shsakes it all out. Than she gets upset stomach with doxy and vomits and refuse to eat. so I wanted iv route but vet is too greedy with fees. I accepted the confinement but she just leaves the dog to a guy than they can't feed her. i worry she lost all weight coz she refuse to eat. But i was able to feed her at home except when i use oral meds again she started refusing food again. I wanted iv with antibiotics and to do it at home but vet refuse to give me. my dog suspected with erlichia, she is senior dog. liver and kidneyy is problematic and it's too high like 264 liver, the platelet is just 26. usually if i give pet to vets they die and text me to pick them up after so much bills. they can't force feed so they still die. all they give is iv and antibiotic.

where can I find a tech to come to my house is urgent

I have been giving the fluids to my 16 year old BC for nearly a year...at first it went fine. now it is so hard to get the bag to drain. i do exactly what you recomend. sometimes, i adjust the height. i use new needles. at times i had to reinsert the needle several times..making my poor dog cry. i just cannot figure out why the bags don't drain. today...she sat nearly an 45 mintues...and it barely drained. i honestly gave up. if you have any suggestions i would really appreciate it. Thanks you. xo

Were you supposed to flush the line (purge air out of tubing)? Cause you didn’t & I’ve never see someone NOT purge air out of the line??

What gauge needle do you recommend.

Where can I get the supplies?

How do You calculate how much to give for the weight or size of Your dog , no one seems to mention that. Also does this procedure have to be repeated every day ? My Daughter had to do it twice per week.

Youre so beautiful thanks for the tips 💗

Can I give water to my dog while it is on that?

I was under the impression that you don't want the line fully open so that the fluids don't go in too rapidly. Is this not the case?

I’m glad she’s wearing her muzzle.

Where can I buy these bags

Is 250ml enough to cause fluid overload for a 28lb puppy that's only 5% dehydrated?

Good day Guys, I just want to ask what I'm going to do, I neglected the liquid dextrose attached to my dog's arm, it's too swollen now 😥

Trying to do this for my dog. She has kidney issues 🙌

another issue is my dog won't fee if you don't send her to a grass. so the vet lock her up in the cage, my dog will try her best to control her bladder if you don't let her out. they also tap the cage when they want to wake her up for selfie to send me it is upsetting. She told me to drop by and bring food for dog because she refuse to eat but the fees include board and lodging, and it also includes fee for the carer aside from the vet, so if i will drop by everyday to care for her than why do i need to admit her in and pay them? the carer will only do selfies and he just gives bowl of food thats it, he won't force feed and will not walk her out to pee. so i was upset i took her out for discharge. the only thing i needed is iv with antibiotic to avoid stomach upset with oral meds. I can't make her eat if she gets sick with doxy, she refuse eating if there is meds in her stomach. i also have hardtime giving liv52 she also pukes it. she has this tendency of mistrusting me if i give meds. when she was younger i i give powder for flee she shakes it off, she became suspicious when i touch her she thinks i am putting something on her so even if i don't have anything she shakes it off. it will take a while for her to stop the suspicion. she ate grass when we walk for pee, animals usually eat grass when their sick. I'm thinking of boiling papaya leaves and find some tawatawa leaves. it hard to make her drink anything, she only likes plain water. she lost a lot of weight from 18 to 14 msaybe 13kg i'm really worried. i can't find doxy for iv only vet has it.

My dog isn't Wesley. Mine is Chester and he's scared of everything anyway. This is going to be a two person job.

for safety please make sure no air in the cable before u put the needle inside

Any idea how often a pet should be given fluids if they're not able to drink on their own..? Rough guess in the safe zone is fine. Don't want to overdo it or under hydrate for sure.

From the 9 to the end of the bag is only 100ml? Why does it look like so much more?

my mom is nurse of humans ,not of dog but she gave iv fluids to our dog for the first time and big bubbles were created

So what if he's got a huge bubble on his neck full of liquid

I dont know if my dog will sit long enough to administer. How long does it take to administer 100-200ml? 5 min? 30 min? 1hr?

Great, so my vet sent me home w/a NON set up bag, NOT already punctured or watever she said, & I cant get the thing open or figure out how 2 connect it. It's frickin Sunday now so I have no way 2 get a vets help. I also cant drive (4 unexpected med reasons) so I cant go 2 the emergency vet. Wtf am I suppossed 2 do!? My baby is 17 & if I mess anything up she could die. My last dog died 2 yrs ago after I gave her fluids at home... she had heart & kidney failure and those 2 issues have contradictory treatments, so if u give fluids 4 the kidney problems, it makes the heart prob worse & they can drown in their own lung fluid-& that's exactly what happened! After she passed, I read in a vet textbook online that u NEVER give take home fluids in this situation, u keep the dog under the vets watch if she has heart AND kidney failure cuz of exactly what happened when I gave the fluids! Fluids can make their breathing prob way worse. She shouldve been given them under a vets supervision & been watched 2 make sure she could breath. That's what the textbk said & I wanted 2 write the vet a letter tellin them 2 never ever do that 2 anyone again & that they killed my dog, who died 2 yrs b4 the lowest average life span 4 poms. Instead of havin her cared 4 at the vets where they could intubate if needed, I had 2 watch my little baby struggle 2 breath 4 days then drown in her own fluids an hr after I gave them. I was literally putting my shoes on 2 take her back 2 the vet cuz she was breathing so hard but right as I'm bout 2 take her, she just stops breathing. I rushed her 2 the vet who was only a 5 min drive but it was already 2 late. If id just left earlier like my gut told me 2, she wouldntve had 2 suffer like that. I'll never 4give myself.

I'm freaking out this dog has a huge bubble of fluid on his neck

Hello friend I am technician mail I am Indian boy good night friend

Subcutaneous dogs don't have veins ?

Does she think the mask will protect her from the youtube viewers?

(You're wearing a mask talking to the camera?!) Seriously-- muffled voices are horrible for communication!