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Fluid Therapy in Cats
Written By hannah hollinger
Published: 01/06/2017Updated: 01/13/2022
Veterinary reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon, MVB MRCVS
What is Fluid Therapy?
Fluid therapy involves the intravenous or subcutaneous administration of fluid to an animal. This is typically done to replace fluid that has been lost either due to injury or disease. Vets use fluid therapy often, as it is a key part of treating some of the most common medical problems that owners will bring their pets to a clinic for.
Fluid Therapy Procedure in Cats
Fluids are commonly administered to cat intravenously (through a vein), or subcutaneously (under the skin).
Intravenous
To begin intravenous (IV) fluid therapy, the vet will shave the area around the vein being targeted for injection. This will both allow the vet to easily locate the vein and make it more straightforward to attach the IV drip to the cat. The next step is to clean the skin and insert a catheter using a hypodermic needle and tape it in place before attaching the drip. The drip is then connected to a bag of fluid (normally a saline solution), which is elevated above the cat so that it can drain via gravity at a steady pace into the cat's body. Fluid pumps are often needed so we can control the rate of fluid adminstration. When the bag is sufficiently depleted, the fluids are replaced or, if the cat is well again, the catheter is removed.
Subcutaneous
A subcutaneous fluid administration procedure is similar to IV administration, but rather than inserting a catheter into a vein, a needle is used to deliver fluid under the cat’s skin near the spine. The procedure is performed in-office by vets, but is also commonly recommended for at-home administration for cats with chronic health issues, such as kidney disease. It is far less effective than IV fluids and cannot deliver the same amount of fluids. It is not appropriate for those who have acute kidney failure or severe dehydration.
Efficacy of Fluid Therapy in Cats
After having undergone intravenous fluid therapy, the cat should show improvement within a couple of hours. That said, if there is a serious underlying condition it will take time for the cat to fully regain its health, as fluid therapy in this context should be thought of as a management strategy and not a form of treatment. Intravenous fluid replacement therapy is much faster and more efficient than oral replenishment (i.e. simply drinking the water), as it enters directly into the bloodstream with no waiting period.
Fluid Therapy Recovery in Cats
Following the procedure, there will be a period during which the cat is much more alert and energetic than before the fluid therapy. It is important for owners to remember that this is still a recovery stage and they should limit the activity of the cat as much as possible, lest their symptoms return. In the case of injury especially, extra care should be taken to make sure the cat does not re-open their wounds either by biting (which is fixable with an e-collar) or by vigorous activity (which can be mitigated by keeping them indoors). The vet will also most likely want to schedule further visits in order to check the progress of recovery and refill any prescriptions for medication or painkillers. The vet might also wish for the cat to undergo fluid replacement at home, in which case they will provide the owner with instructions and equipment to carry out the procedure themselves.
Cost of Fluid Therapy in Cats
Owners will be pleased to know that the price for fluid therapy can be quite low, with many clinics charging around $100 inclusive of materials and diagnosis. However, fluid therapy is often administered as just one component of a larger treatment plan. Kits for at-home fluid therapy cost roughly $30.
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Cat Fluid Therapy Considerations
Although most fluid therapy procedures go off without a hitch, cat owners should be aware that there are some potential downsides. Pain and general discomfort is the first problem.Much like humans who have injections or give blood there will be residual pain and numbness after the procedure. There is also a slight risk of limb swelling and pain, as if the needle misses or over penetrates the vein, it will deliver the fluids into the surrounding tissues. Although not usually a life-threatening problem, this can be very uncomfortable for the patient. Infection is another risk, as needles that come into contact with dirt and grime can spread bacteria and viruses extremely easily. Fortunately, a competent vet will use a fresh, sterile needle and will takes steps to lessen the risk of an outside infection by cleaning the injection site.
Fluid Therapy Prevention in Cats
Despite many causes of kidney failure being hereditary and therefore almost impossible to avoid, owners can always strive to lessen the risk of their cat becoming dehydrated. Making sure to always have accessible fresh water (especially in summer) and not constantly relying on dry food will keep a cat's fluid intake at a healthy level. If the classic symptoms of dehydration do start to appear (e.g. dry gums, lethargy, and infrequent urination), then taking the cat straight to the vet will help prevent more serious conditions from gaining a foothold.
Fluid Therapy Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
tabby
Candy
2 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pregnant cat was taken to the clinic as she was not eating, they adminitered IV fluids for a day and she did get better, but I took her the next day as she was still weak. They administered IV fluid 75 ml and B complex, but as soon as she was administered, 2 minutes later, she stopped breathing. How could this have happened?
Sept. 15, 2018
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Forest
Whiskey
7 Years
7 found this helpful
7 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lost Appetite
My cat have kidney failure, we took him to a vet and gave him iv saline, its his 1st day and made small amout of urinary activity , but still not eating .is it normal for a 1st day treatment?
Sept. 6, 2018
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Maine Coon
Fiq
11 Years
8 found this helpful
8 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Renal Illness
hello, my vet advice to give my cat a sub-Q drip to her everyday due to her kidney illness.around last two weeks, she was in a bad shape. i gave her drip of 150ml NS everyday. Her energy somehow gained after each day. What concerns me - after almost 3 weeks taking sub-q. Her appetite increased 3 times. right before she was diagnose to have renal illness. she hardly finish her 85grm wet food (equals to 1 pack) but now she managed to finish 3 packs under one seating. is that a good sign for her? or bad?
Sept. 2, 2018
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stray
Mia
7 Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting
Vomiting;
Vomiting; Diarrhoea
Hi. I'm just looking for some info here. Unfortunately my dear cat passed away 2 days ago and I don't have diagnosis yet. I rushed her to the vet in critical condition but she didn't make it. Have few test results on on hand and treatment medication list so I've searched web for possible answers.
To give a little bit of history of sickness progression- she was vomiting in the morning but I thought she's just not well so I left her to mind herself and sleep it off. She was almost unconscious at lunch when I checked on her (ran straight to vet). She was still vomiting & now diarrhoea added to the condition.
Test showed MCV and RETIC were high. WBC, NEU, MONO, EOS, PLT were very low
Another test showed CA high and GLU, ALKP were low. Other reading were within normal range however they were either on the low side or high side of normal limits.
From what I could find myself, all indicates on liver/kidney disease. One of the treatment injections was NORODINE which apparently is not to be given when liver/kidney is present.
Vet told me that her condition have improved after few hours of treatment but then everything went downhill and she was gone.
3 years ago she had issues with pancreas and went through an operation (although symptoms were totally different). She was on prescription dry food too afterwards. Count this initial operation be related?
She was only 7.5 years old domestic cat. She can't be brought back but I'm destroyed and desperate for some answers. Please help!
Aug. 7, 2018
2 Recommendations
We can make ourselves crazy thinking about why our loved ones passed away and whether anything could have been done differently; without examining Mia (necropsy) and possibly submitting some samples for further testing I cannot give you a specific cause of death. Norodine (trimethoprim and sulfadiazine) is a broad spectrum antibiotic and is contraindicated in cases where there is “...severe liver or kidney parenchymal damage…” but may be suitable in mild cases, however we don’t have any biochemistry results so we cannot determine the severity of the liver or kidney disease. I wish I could give you some closure, but I don’t have enough information. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.norbrook.com/products/norodine-24-solution-for-injection
www.idexx.eu/globalassets/documents/parameters/8093-us-alp-interpretive-summary.pdf
www.idexx.eu/globalassets/documents/parameters/8961-us-wbc-interpretive-summary.pdf
www.idexx.eu/globalassets/documents/parameters/9524-us-plateletcountmanual-interpretive-summary.pdf
www.idexx.eu/globalassets/documents/parameters/8058-us-glucose-interpretive-summary.pdf
www.idexx.eu/globalassets/documents/parameters/8076-us-calcium-interpretive-summary.pdf
Aug. 8, 2018
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Himalayan Rag doll
Will
10 Months
8 found this helpful
8 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea Dehydration
Hello,
My kitten is 10 months old. He has a brother who lives with him as well. He had terrible diarrhea yesterday. I brought him to the vet right away and they told me he has a fever and is dehydrated. I decided he should be treated right away. They still aren’t sure what the cause of his sickness is. He was clearly in pain as he would not stop meowing. He got diarrhea all over the apartment. He’s already not a big eat and I would go so far as to call him a shy eater. He stayed over night with the IV but the vet today said he is still running a fever. He’s not better but not worse.
He still isn’t eating (which might be explained by his picky eating habits) but I’m really worried about him.
What are his chances of overcoming this?
Should his brother be removed from the apartment in case it’s a contagious virus or something?
They are indoor cats so I don’t know where he could have gotten sick.
Thank you,
Nathan
July 25, 2018
8 Recommendations
Despite owner beliefs, indoor cats may still get infections from fomites and other sources; however if it is something contagious we would expect Will’s brother to be affected too. Dehydration is common with diarrhoea and it can be difficult to narrow down a specific cause for the diarrhoea as infections, parasites, poisoning, diet, stress, foreign objects among many other causes may lead to diarrhoea (and fever). Fluid therapy is a good supportive method of care but it is important to determine the specific underlying cause so that the underlying condition can also be treated. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2018
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DOMESTIC
Stitch
13 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Vomiting
my cat lcked up bleach, after I was cleaning my floor. I looked around & she( my cat ,stitch)was licking the floor that I just sprayed with bleach.
I yelled at her & she stopped.
She later ate & threw up ,twice.
Next morning, she was throwing up,like white or yellowish foam saliva.She was not her self.My son called me at work & told me all of this. By the time I got off work,my vet was closed.Next Morning, we were at our vet. I told them what she did,they ran tests. All came back good. So, they gave her fluids (sub q),injection of hernia. Gave me Cerenia to give her at home.
She did a little better. no vomiting, yeah. But, she still is not eating or drinking. This is day 4,since she first kicked up the bleach.
How long before she starts to come back to her old self ?
Maincoon
anika
15 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Stopped Eating,Peeing Other Place
my cat started peeing tiny bits and then completely missing the box when she was in it! I figured it was a infection and she got some penicillin but was also told she has kidney failure. The first week we were told to give her 200ml once a day. she was doing fantastic eating and drinking and her numbers were closer to normal but still showing dehydration.Now we were told to give her 200ml 2x a day for a week then go to 200ml and 100ml for 2 weeks. after that we have to bring her back in. she eats not only her food but everyone else's too (cats). She drinks water all day but apparently is peeing it out. I'm worried that we are giving her too much fluid ! Everyone says they give between 100 -200 once a day. Im not sure if I should follow these instructions. They were hopig we could drop down to a couple times a week after this.
