Posted by Katherine on August 22, 2000 at 19:19:46:
In Reply to: stomach tube .... more posted by iZ's mom on August 22, 2000 at 14:20:53:
If I was a tame wild animal, I wouldn't want someone sticking a needle under my skin either. :)
Problem with stomach tubes is that you **really** have to know what you're doing. I was bottle feeding some two-day-old kittens, one was very weak so vet showed me how to tube feed... I suspect I did it wrong at home and the kitten died.
Although I really think the poor thing would have died anyway, I think the timing was my fault, and I still feel kinda guilty about it...
Katherine (hoping she never has to make this decision with Goliath)
Goliath (you'd better not stick a needle in me and try to force fluids under my skin!!)
:
: guess it comes down to what you are capable of doing ... i've had to put a tube down to iZ's stomach to get fluids into him ... he did *not* tolerate sub-q fluids well at all (+ i have the scar to prove it) ... in my experience, it wasn't the needle poke, but rather the pressure under the skin once i got more than 1-2cc in there, which isn't enough to do much good at all ... i felt the stress of *multiple* sticks was close to being as bad as the dehydration as far as stressing his weakened system ...
: i had *very* good luck/experience with a tube down to his stomach tho and after the initial gag reflex, iZ was quite relaxed the entire time ... i did have the benefit of having excellent teachers on *how* to do it and how to aspirate tummy fluid to make sure you're in the stomach + not the lungs tho .. . (i work in Peds ICU ....)
: but yeah, you're right! whatever works! *grin*