Onions..Winnie...help?

[Marty]

We took Win to the Vet after DH (read D***H ) came home from work to be taught how to give the fluids at home.

Then he went out to get some subs, left them on the tray table to do something else, and Winnie got ahold of half of his sub..of course there were onions on it...Win doesn't need this, and I am furious.

I called the Vet but it was after hours, and the person I spoke to wouldn't page the Vet unless it was an emergency... I will call in the morning. She seems OK for now...

[Traci]

Call the vet back, and demand of the answering service that he return your call. Onion toxicity is indeed a medical emergency. Hopefully Winnie didn't ingest enough to cause serious consequences, but we're not there and don't know how much she ingested. Your vet does, however, understand the consequences of onion toxicity.

Don't wait, call him back immediately.

[Traci]

Marty, do you have an update?

[Marty]

Sorry for not getting back sooner...getting ready for a baby shower here.

Winnie is fine. We got her to upchuck...I think most of it was shredded lettuce, and not too many onions.

On a different note, we did our first attempt at giving her fluids today. It was moderately successful...LOL! It seemed to keep getting too hard too quickly and not spreading out, and we felt we had to move the needle too much. But we got the needle in there, which I was mostly worried about. A nurse, I am not! We'll get better with time...the first is the hardest.

[Traci]

Thanks for the update, I was worried.

Try not to fret with the fluids, yes, the first time is the most difficult.

Try using the needle at a slight angle (parallel to the body), once inserted under the skin, then slowly withdraw the needle a fraction ever-so-slightly (do not remove it, just pull back on it a fraction). If there is too much fluid in one place...take the needle out and re-insert on the opposite side of the body (ideal site location is on either side of the shoulder blades, where the skin is most elastic) In a larger dog, you'd want to evenly administer the amount of fluids in two different places. (i.e., especially if you're giving 200 or more ml's).

[Marty]

Thanks for the tips, Traci. I do appreciate the advice you give...and Davet ...and everyone.

Win is getting 750 mil twice a week...lotta liqiud, but she has a lotta skin.

Her last blood test came back with high sugar, which is not normal and will be redone on Monday. I might get get really good with this needle thing...

[Traci]

Whoa, do you mean 750 ml total for the week? Like 375 ml one day and 375 ml another day?

Even if that were so, 375 ml in one day is a lot, and particularly in one injection site!

[Marty]

Now you have me scared...it is 750 ml twice a week... It's on the prescription. They have been doing this for a few months with no problems.

[Traci]

If she has chronic renal failure and is generally dehydrated most of the time, it is probably correct. But can you humor me and double-check with your vet just to make sure.

That's alot of fluids in one session. For one day I would at least give 375 ml in the morning and the remaining 375 ml at night, this way, she has more even distribution. I'd also give them in the opposite side of the body each time. You can give all of 750 ml in one sesssion, if she's comfortable with it, but do divide it and give on opposite sides of the body. I just find most pets prefer a morning and night session, it gives them a better feeling, more perky throughout the day.

Then a couple days later, do the same.

[davet]

Havn't read everythib but i think if you give too much sub Q the worst thatill happen is that it will gravitate down and you will get a hung belly but this will be absorbe in a while...but I think traci said try to split the doses that is better.