HELP-iv for dogs

[pastelballs]

My uncle's dog is pretty sick, he needs a sub q iv for him, he could take him into a vet er but one, they're mostly closed, and two, he knows how to do it himself (had done it for a cat a yr ago for a while), and they would want to see him and all, but he isn't in a place to be moved.

So does anyone know where to get the iv bag from?

[Spiritserpents]

You can only get those as a prescription and no vet will prescribe without a physical exam. If the dog is that sick, it needs to be seen by a vet. Emergency vets are open.

[StillBP]

have to agree any animal that needs a IV needs a vet

[Spiritserpents]

have to agree any animal that needs a IV needs a vet

I believe they are actually referring to subcutaneous fluids, which use the same LRS bags that are used for actual IVs. Either way, if the animal is either dehydrated enough to need subbies, or suspected to be in kidney failure, it needs to go to a vet.

Just giving SQ fluids without seeing a vet is potentially dangerous. If the animal has a heart condition, you can kill them with fluid overload.

[pastelballs]

Thanks guys-- we ended up having to put him down later that night.
The vet guessed he had a liver tumor that ruptured, causing internal bleeding and she couldn't really do much to fix him up. He was 12 years old, lived a good, eventful, loving life.

[Spiritserpents]

I'm sorry. Those liver and splenic tumors are nightmares as you often have no idea they're there until they rupture, and then there's pretty much nothing you can do. My condolences.