Storyseeker
Well-Known Member
...does anyone do these themselves?
I took some pics of my boys on Wednesday, and I was noticing that Jeffrey looked a little down. Thinner than normal and just old looking. He's 25 months old right now.
I made a point of feeding him separately the next day with easily eaten lab block porridge. I watched him carefully around work and school, but by evening he was quite sick- A little puff ball curled in the back corner of the cage.
The vet today said he's not sure what's wrong. His lung and heart sounds are good, and he sees no evidence of tumors or growths. He's got him on AB's in case it's an infection, and as he was quite dehydrated, he injected him with some Sub Q fluids to rehydrate him.
He gave me the option of doing more Sub Q's as needed myself, teaching me how he did it, which involved four hands, and a firm and fearless scruff grip and hind leg hold to prevent any potential kicking, biting, and thrashing. Jeffrey was quite understandably ticked off when it was done.
If anyone does it themselves at home, what do they do? Is there a less stressful trick to it? Is this drama typical for this procedure? Do you have to guard yourself against biting, and if so how? Basically, any little detail you can share will be helpful.
I considered making a injection friendly alteration on the rat burrito, using a PVC tube with an opening sawed in the top where the back was, so the skin can be lifted. Thoughts? Opinions? Warnings? Help?
I took some pics of my boys on Wednesday, and I was noticing that Jeffrey looked a little down. Thinner than normal and just old looking. He's 25 months old right now.
I made a point of feeding him separately the next day with easily eaten lab block porridge. I watched him carefully around work and school, but by evening he was quite sick- A little puff ball curled in the back corner of the cage.
The vet today said he's not sure what's wrong. His lung and heart sounds are good, and he sees no evidence of tumors or growths. He's got him on AB's in case it's an infection, and as he was quite dehydrated, he injected him with some Sub Q fluids to rehydrate him.
He gave me the option of doing more Sub Q's as needed myself, teaching me how he did it, which involved four hands, and a firm and fearless scruff grip and hind leg hold to prevent any potential kicking, biting, and thrashing. Jeffrey was quite understandably ticked off when it was done.
If anyone does it themselves at home, what do they do? Is there a less stressful trick to it? Is this drama typical for this procedure? Do you have to guard yourself against biting, and if so how? Basically, any little detail you can share will be helpful.
I considered making a injection friendly alteration on the rat burrito, using a PVC tube with an opening sawed in the top where the back was, so the skin can be lifted. Thoughts? Opinions? Warnings? Help?
