When to give insulin shots for cats
How to administer insulin to your cat
to keep your diabetic pet happy and
healthy giving insulin injections will
become an important part of your daily
routine insulin administration is an
important piece of your pet's diabetes
treatment and is just another way to
show how much you care
initially giving your pet an insulin
injection may seem intimidating or
overwhelming but over time the process
will become just another part of your
day
this short video will walk you through
each step of the administration process
your veterinary team will be able to
give you advice specific to your pets
needs let's get started
unless otherwise directed by your
veterinarian feed your pet before giving
insulin take your pet's insulin out of
the refrigerator and prepare it
according to your veterinarians
instructions some types of insulin
should be rolled between your hands to
gently mix it while another type must be
shaken until it appears milky clean the
rubber stopper by wiping it with rubbing
alcohol it's very important to make sure
you're giving the correct amount of
insulin with the correct syringe your
veterinarian will let you know how many
units of insulin your pet should receive
and which type of syringe to use while
many people aren't comfortable around
needles and syringes remember that
insulin needles are very small and very
sharp so your pet will barely feel the
injection never change your pet's
insulin dose or the type of syringe
without speaking with your veterinary
team to prepare the syringe first remove
the cap draw a pair into the syringe to
the number of units your pet will
receive we will use five units as an
example inject the air into the insulin
bottle this helps keep the pressure in
the bottle stable over time turn the
insulin bottle upside down making sure
the tip of the needle is covered by
liquid this ensures that once you start
pulling back on the plunger you're
drying up liquid not just air draw up
the prescribed amount of insulin in our
case five units now it's time to find
our patient and give them some TLC you
may need help from another person to
keep your pet still but some will stand
quietly if distracted with low
carbohydrate treats
find a good location for the injection
that works for you and your pet many
pets tolerate injections well when given
about one to two inches from the middle
of the back near the shoulder blade or
the hip bone be sure to alternate the
location each time to avoid soreness
pinch a fold of skin into a tent and
gently insert the needle into the center
of the fold for safety and to keep from
losing any of your pets dose do not
place your finger on the plunger until
the needle is in the skin once the
needle is through the skin draw back the
plunger if you see blood enter the
syringe you're in a blood vessel pull
the needle out and try another location
if you do not see blood enter the
syringe gently push the plunger all the
way down until the full dose has been
given remove the needle from the skin
run your hand over the injection site to
feel for moisture this could be the
insulin wasn't correctly injected under
the skin call your veterinarian if this
occurs safely dispose of the needle and
syringe and a closed sharps container
talk to your veterinarian if you need
one now celebrate you did it diabetes
management is a journey filled with ups
and downs and your veterinary team will
be beside you to make your pets future
as bright as it can be
