Click here to download PDFStorage: Storage instructions for medications vary. Please follow manufacturer’s storage instructions. If the medication is refrigerated, always remember to warm in hand to room temperature before use.
Drawing Up the Proper Dosage:
1. Clean medication vial top with cotton ball and rubbing alcohol.
2. Gently mix contents of vial by rolling gently.
3. Turn vial upside down.
4. Ensure the needle is well attached to syringe, then remove the needle cap.
5. Pull air into syringe to equal amount of medication that will be withdrawn from vial.
6. Insert needle into center of vial stopper and push in air.
7. Pull plunger of syringe back to fill syringe a little beyond the required amount. (Make sure the needle is in medication in vial and not air)
8. Gently tap the syringe, while needle still in vial, to bring all air bubbles to the surface.
9. Eliminate air bubbles from syringe into vial by pushing slightly on syringe plunger.
10. Also, inject back into the vial any excess medication; make sure the exact amount required is in the syringe, free of air.
11. Remove needle from vial.
***IF AT ANY TIME THE NEEDLE TOUCHES ANY SURFACE (INCLUDING YOU) OTHER THAN ENTERING THE VIAL, REPLACE WITH STERILE NEEDLE BEFORE INSERTING NEEDLE INTO THE VIAL OR GIVING INJECTION.
Administration of Injection:
1. Be sure a sterile needle is attached to the syringe, and proper dose has been prepared.
2. Use one hand to lift the skin between the shoulder blades to form a “tent”, or space under the skin.
3. With the other hand, insert needle into skin with the syringe parallel to the cat (you should feel the needle gently “pop” through the skin).
4. Pull plunger BACK very slightly. If you see no color change, follow the rest of administration instructions. If blood comes back into the syringe, pull needle out of skin, prepare new injection.
5. Inject medication under the skin by pushing the plunger.
6. Remove needle from skin-you can either pinch skin around needle as you remove the needle, or after you remove it rub the injection site softly.
7. Store used needles and syringes in glass jar with a lid, when full dispose of in trash.
PLEASE CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS-OUR TECHNICIAN STAFF IS HERE TO HELP YOU!
Your cat may experience discomfort with placement of the needle under the skin {as you would when receiving an injection). Beware that your cat may attempt to move away from you, scratch, or bite.
For further training see: www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/index.shtml
Look under Caring for your Diabetic cat for a video demonstrating how to give an injection.