How to inject a cat in the thigh: tips and tricks for beginners

02/12/2019 Drozd Nikolaevich Animals Every pet owner wants to see their animal in good health. But, unfortunately, like all other representatives of the fauna, they can also get sick. At the same time, for treatment, many veterinarians prescribe medications in the form of injections, which are in no way inferior in effectiveness to tablets, or even surpass them.

Experienced specialists can easily inject a cat in the thigh due to the specifics of their work. But pet owners, in turn, should also know how to do this procedure correctly and safely.

The need for injections

First of all, it is worth understanding that a prick and an injection are the same thing. That is, this means administering the drug by piercing the skin and tissue of a certain type (muscle). Almost every cat owner has had to take their pet to a veterinary clinic and see how this procedure is performed. Injections can be given on a regular basis (scheduled vaccinations) or carried out after the tailed animal has been injured - in order to maintain its immune system.

As we are all well aware, it is often impossible to recover without medications. It’s the same with pets: without the intervention and help of the owners, the disease will not go away. And since injections are highly effective in treatment, it is worth learning how to inject a cat in the thigh.

As a result, this will save not only time, but also money. In addition, the procedure can be performed urgently and thereby save the animal’s life.

Injection technique

This procedure is more difficult to tolerate because it is painful. However, it is in your power to do everything right, then the discomfort will not last long.

• The syringe must be taken in your hand so as not to be intercepted later.
• The movement itself must be fast, sharp and precise. The slower the needle enters the muscle, the more painful it is. Animals are often very patient. This is explained by the fact that their pain threshold is higher than that of humans. But you shouldn't abuse it.
• The correct direction of the needle is from the back of the paw. It is inserted at an angle of 45 degrees, no more than 1 cm.
• After the puncture is completed, there is no need to rush. Each ml of solution will require at least 3 seconds. In this case, each subsequent ml is administered more slowly, within 6-8 seconds.

If your cat is very tense, try to calm her down before the procedure. Pet her and place a plate of treats in front of her. You can also inject into the front paw, but here the muscle is smaller and it will be much more difficult for you. Immediately after administration of the drug, the cat can be released. If several similar injections are required, then each time change the paw into which you will inject the medicine.

Efficacy of intramuscular injection

Why do many experts recommend intramuscular injections for pets? Any pet owner may have a similar question. This need is due to pure physiology: the fact is that muscle tissue is penetrated by many blood vessels. And if solutions are injected into it for medicinal purposes, they are almost instantly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Moreover, you need to prick exactly in the back of the animal’s thigh. You can, of course, limit yourself to a subcutaneous injection (this is an injection into the cat’s withers), but in this case a strong reaction and pain syndrome may occur. In addition, the medicine takes much longer to dissolve from the subcutaneous tissue, which is why infiltrates may begin to develop.

Muscles are distinguished by the fact that they have a network of lymphatic and blood vessels. Therefore, nothing interferes with the absorption of injected drugs. Learning how to give injections is not difficult, but you should know a number of important rules. Actually, all this will be discussed further.

Preparation for the procedure

Before injecting your cat at the withers, you will need to prepare tools and medications. For cowardly and aggressive animals, you need to buy or rent a special restraint from friends. Instead, you can use a brave partner, ready to receive battle wounds from your pet.

Syringe selection

When choosing therapy, the veterinarian discusses in advance the specifics of setting up the injection and choosing tools. If something has escaped your memory, then you should start from the following criteria:

1. Age

   . It is better to inject the kitten at the withers with an insulin syringe. This option is not suitable for a cat that is too fat, since the needle simply will not reach the right place. For babies, a standard needle is partially inserted, and for adult animals – completely.

2. Type of drug

   . Oil solutions quickly clog thin holes, so it is better to abandon the insulin syringe in favor of a larger one (at least 3 ml).

3. Pet timidity

   . When using a thin needle during active resistance, there is a high probability of it bending or breaking.

For smooth and painless administration of the drug, choose instruments with rubber bands on the pistons. Consider not only the volume, but also the size of the needle.

Needle selection

It is better to infuse thick and oily medicines through a needle from large syringes with a well-beveled end. These thick needles are numbered from 18 to 20 and are marked with pink, cream or yellow.

Ordinary liquid preparations can be injected through needles No. 21-24; it is also better to choose a beveled tip. They can be identified by their green, blue, black or purple color.

It is better not to take needles thinner than No. 25 or insulin - the medicine will not flow very quickly, and it is not easy to insert a thin needle under the thick skin of a cat.

For hypodermic drips, a butterfly needle with wing-clamps and a long wire is ideal. It is used if you need to administer 5 ml of medicine or more to an animal. The optimal number is considered to be No. 20-21.

Regardless of the number, give preference to short, about 3 cm, needles. This reduces the risk of a through puncture or scratching the subcutaneous tissue with the tip.

Storage and collection of medicines

The drug is stored at room or sub-zero temperatures, depending on the recommendations specified in the instructions. After storage in the refrigerator, the solution must be warmed to 37 °C. Room temperature is enough, the main thing is not to cross the indicated mark.

Human hands or warm water are suitable for warming. You can also simply leave the medicine on the table for a few minutes.

Make sure the solution is warm before use. Injecting a cat in the withers with the introduction of cold liquid will be painful and may provoke a local reaction.

Always follow your veterinarian's recommendations. Subcutaneous administration of drugs intended for intravenous injection is fraught with burns and necrosis. With a large dosage, it is possible to administer it to several points on the scruff of the neck. This protects against irritation and bruising.

Before taking the medicine, prepare a syringe and ampoule. A blade is used to extract the solution. If there is a special mark, just press on it through a cotton pad. After opening, remove the cap from the needle and carefully insert it into the ampoule. For convenience, tilt the bottle slightly and take the required amount of substance, following the scale.

After successful insertion, lift the needle up and carefully release excess air, pressing on the piston until a small amount of liquid appears. Remove any remaining bubbles by lightly tapping the body.

Will you need a fixer or an assistant?

Brave representatives of the cat family can remain without fixation. The only problem is that the reaction to unpleasant manipulations is always unpredictable, so it’s better to play it safe the first time.

The most reliable means of fixation is a special securing bag. It leaves all 4 paws and the head of the animal open, facilitating access for manipulation. Veterinarians often use it for particularly aggressive clinic visitors.

If you don't have a bag, use the material at hand. Swaddles, blankets and towels work well. They should be tight enough not to allow claws to pass through. Swaddle your pet in cloth, leaving only the head and scruff of the neck outside.

For added safety, find a helper willing to free both hands for you at once. Most often, owners worry more than their pets, so try to calm down and strictly follow the instructions.

Preparatory stage

Since an injection for pets is somewhat reminiscent of an operation, then, like any procedure, it should only be carried out under sterile conditions! In general, an intramuscular injection (we already know where to inject an injection into the thigh of a cat) is not difficult, but everything must be done correctly. Otherwise, you should not hope for effective treatment.

In addition, it is important to use only those medications that are prescribed by a veterinarian, and not on the advice of a neighbor - they say, he treated his cat this way. In each specific case, diagnosis is important, and only after it has been carried out can the doctor prescribe the necessary course of treatment. Therefore, it is better not to self-medicate and leave the choice of drugs to a specialist.

It is worth considering that cats feel like masters in their own territory, and if they are scared or in an aggressive state, then the owner runs the risk of being bitten or scratched.

Fixing the animal

Cats are capricious and do not like medical procedures. Only a few will allow you to give an injection without resistance.

In other cases, before giving the injection, the animal must be secured by swaddling it in a terry towel. This must be done so that the injection site is accessible and the claws are securely hidden.

Cats experience more stress from restraint rather than from injection. Therefore, it is equally important to calm the pet and stroke it. And during the procedure, behave confidently and calmly.

For subcutaneous administration, it is better to fix the cat in a sitting position or lying on its stomach. For IM injections, the best position is lying on your side. One person holds the paws and head, the second performs the manipulations.

In hospitals, before giving the injection, they use special retaining bags. The product can be purchased in stores and for home use.

Syringe

You should take the choice of a syringe seriously, because if something happens, you can give the animal an infection. Just as in the case of people, injection instruments for pets must be new (fortunately, they are inexpensive, because they are, in fact, consumables, and for one-time use) and must be sterile.

The choice of a syringe for injecting a cat intramuscularly largely depends on the type of drug and its dosage. Often, most veterinarians recommend the use of insulin syringes. They have a thin and short needle, due to which minimal discomfort will be caused to the animal. This is the best solution for kittens!

However, if the dosage prescribed by the veterinarian exceeds 1 ml, it is worth purchasing a 2 ml instrument. It also does not have a thick needle, but this is quite enough for injections with solutions with particles. However, an even larger syringe may be required. Then it is better to inject with a large needle than to prick several times with a small one.

In any case, here it is worth relying on the recommendations of a veterinarian. Only he has the right to decide which drug and syringes to use in each specific case.

How to give an intramuscular injection

It is much more difficult to give an intramuscular injection to a cat. It is more painful than subcutaneous, it is better to do it together. Cats are not injected with intramuscular vitamins due to pain and solutions for infusion through a vein. If a course is prescribed, then you need to change the injection site and legs.

Execution tactics:

1. Place the pet on a flat surface (table, floor). Securely fix, especially the part where the injection will be made. It is better to inject the medicine into the hind leg (the area of ​​the femoris major muscle).
2. Disinfect the injection site (for hairless cat breeds).
3. It is better to approach your pet from the side rather than from behind. This way there is less risk of damaging the sciatic nerve.
4. With your left hand, grab your back leg so that its inner side lies on your palm. It is advisable to massage the muscles so that they relax.
5. The depth of administration depends on the location and fatness of the pet. Approximately 2/3 of the needle. You can’t insert it deeper; there is a risk of hitting the femur or hip joint. When working with an insulin syringe, the needle is inserted almost all the way. The insertion angle is 90 degrees.
6. After immersing the needle, check whether blood has entered the syringe. The contents are colored, which means the needle has entered the vessel. If this cannot be allowed according to the instructions, it is necessary to change the depth of insertion.
7. It must be administered slowly, but not for long.
8. Only after making sure that the medicine has run out, quickly remove the needle.
9. It is possible, but not necessary, to massage the injection site with light movements. This will speed up the distribution of the substance and reduce the pain slightly.

After the manipulations, the pet should be praised for showing perseverance and endurance. Give him a treat and pet him. And continue to act as if nothing happened. This way, it is possible to avoid revenge, which is believed to be more prone to cats than cats.

A drug

The dosage prescribed by the veterinarian, including his recommendations, must be strictly followed. When thinking about how to properly give an injection to a cat, it is also worth considering that some medications can be placed both in the withers and in the muscle, while others can only be placed in a strictly defined place. In this case, the volume of the drug is always indicated in cubes, but this is equivalent to millimeters.

It is also important to carefully read the instructions for the medicine. Some of them need to be stored only in the refrigerator, others are designed for one-time use, and others even require dilution with water.

After the injection, the cat limps - is this normal?

Like humans, cats may experience temporary lameness after the administration of certain medications. This is completely normal and there is nothing wrong with it. After a few minutes, the pain or numbness will subside and the limp will disappear.

It should also be mentioned that cats are quite artistic in nature and can feign their “suffering” a little longer than it actually occurs. At the same time, the cat tries to show the owner with all her appearance how “terribly” she is in pain and how wrong he is for doing this to her. Make amends for “your guilt”, give her something tasty and, perhaps, she will be more loyal to your “rash” act.

If the cat stops stepping on the paw and pulls it up, you need to consult a doctor; perhaps during the injection the needle got into the nerve plexus, in which case you will have to undergo a course of novocaine therapy.

You should also consult a doctor if a painful, hot swelling or any hard or soft lumps have formed at the injection site, or if your general condition has worsened.

Important Rules

Before proceeding directly to the procedure, owners should study a number of important rules, or even, rather, requirements:

• It is prohibited to mix drugs in one syringe unless directed by the doctor.
• The procedure itself should be performed only with clean hands. The sterility of not only the instrument itself, but also its needle is also important.
• If the ampoule contains a cold drug, you should first warm it up in your palms to body temperature.
• After drawing the medicine into the syringe, it is necessary to lift it up with the needle and release all air bubbles by pressing the piston. In this case, a few drops of solution will be squeezed out - a necessary measure.

We now know where to give a cat an intramuscular injection, but as for kittens, there are no special rules in this case.

It’s just that the owners should act more carefully, since the scope for manipulation is limited. The only difference is not in the method of administration of the drug, but in its dosage.

Basic Rules

The pet is first calmed down. Choose a place on the skin without inflammation. The cap from the needle is not removed until the drug is administered. Make sure that the needle is securely attached to the syringe. For the injection, take only the dose prescribed by the doctor. It is prohibited to mix several medications in one syringe. The exception is if such a prescription was made by a doctor.

It is prohibited to mix several drugs in a syringe.

The introduction of oil solutions requires some experience. Therefore, it is better to entrust such manipulations to a veterinarian. But if this is not possible, then you should make sure that the needle has not entered the vessel. To do this, insert a needle into the muscle and then easily pull it towards you. If there is blood in the syringe, choose another injection site.

Attention! If the oil solution enters the vessels, it causes the death of the animal.

During the pet’s procedure, you should not raise your voice or behave aggressively towards it. The owner's mood is transmitted to the cat. Additional nervousness of the animal will only complicate the task.

When giving a cat an injection, you must adhere to the following rules:

• Before each injection, hands are thoroughly washed with soap. It is advisable to treat the skin with a chlorhexidine solution or wear sterile gloves.
• To avoid infection, use only a sterile syringe and a sterile needle for each injection.
• It is forbidden to touch the needle even with washed hands.
• Drugs from previously opened ampoules cannot be used.

Be sure to wash your hands before administering the medicine.

If the medicine is expensive, but the volume of the ampoule is too large, then proceed as follows. The contents are drawn into several syringes. The filled instrument is stored in the refrigerator. The shelf life in this case is no longer than 3 days (unless there are other restrictions in the instructions).

Attention! It is not always possible to use medications wisely, and you have to throw away even the most expensive products. Unreasonable savings lead to allergic reactions and death of the pet.

Before the injection, the syringes are placed on a plate previously scalded with boiling water. If the cat has long, dirty hair, the injection site is cut off. This will not only simplify the manipulation process, but also reduce the likelihood of infection. It is not necessary to treat the skin puncture site with an antiseptic.

If the cat has long hair, the injection site is cut off.

Removing air

Before administering the medicine, the air is released from the syringe. Raise the instrument, wait until the bubbles rise up (you can lightly tap the reservoir with your fingernail), and release a little medicine through the needle.

Veterinarians use another method:

1. pull the piston towards themselves, drawing air inside;
2. rotate the tool vertically and horizontally, getting rid of bubbles;
3. Place the syringe with the needle up and blow out all the air.

If it is not possible to completely get rid of the bubbles, then the drug is injected while holding the syringe with the piston facing up - then all the liquid will be at the bottom and the air at the top.

It is necessary to get rid of air bubbles in the syringe

Calm, just calm!

Before the procedure, the animal should be calmed, because the muscle should be relaxed. To do this, you should take your pet in your arms and bring it into the appropriate state with affection. The area before the injection does not need to be treated with alcohol, but it is advisable to do so after the injection. At the same time, the surface of the skin itself should be healthy, without wounds.

It’s not just the pet that needs preparation—cats sense their owner’s mood very well. For this reason, if fear or severe anxiety has crept into your soul, you should not approach an animal with such a “load.” To begin with, you should calm down and start preparing for the procedure, and only after that go to catch your pet.

How to give an injection to a cat? It is impossible to prepare the pet itself for the procedure, so it is important to create comfortable conditions so that the injection does not result in severe stress. The best option is to stay alone with the cat, but often the injection is not always successful. Therefore, you have to hire an assistant to hold the animal.

Subcutaneous injection in stages

Prepare a flat, non-slip surface and all the necessary tools in advance. Secure your pet and try to calm it down with gentle talking and stroking. Your assistant can take on the calming role. Do not shout or scold a frightened animal. Over time, it will get used to the procedure and become calmer.

Thanks to the natural protective layer, the mustachioed pet’s skin will not have to be treated with an antiseptic. But your hands will need thorough disinfection: before the procedure, be sure to wash your hands with soap and treat them with an antiseptic solution.

After all the preparatory steps, immediately proceed to follow the instructions explaining how to give an injection to a cat at the withers:

1. Open the ampoule and take the solution. Don't forget to cap the needle afterwards. It can only be removed before immediate insertion. If you accidentally touch the needle, replace it with a new one. Otherwise, an infection may enter the animal's body.
2. Grab the skin on the scruff of the neck with your fingers and gently pull it a couple of centimeters. The resulting subcutaneous “pocket” lacks important nerve endings, so it is well suited for further manipulation. Remember to calm your pet throughout the procedure.
3. Spread the fur in the found area, remove the cap, bend the needle at an angle of 45 ° relative to the spinal column and carefully insert it. The permissible insertion depth is 1-1.5 cm. The entire insulin needle is inserted, since its length is much shorter than usual.
4. Gently press the plunger and begin to inject the medicine slowly. Try to act smoothly. The slower the insertion, the more painless it is. Please note that sudden wetness of the fur indicates that you have not gotten under the animal's skin.
5. Carefully remove the needle after injecting any remaining medication, and then release the fold. The droplets of solution remaining on the tip of the spout are taken into account in advance when choosing a dosage. There is no need to administer an additional amount of the drug. The wound is also not disinfected.
6. Hold your pet in your arms for a few minutes, massaging the injection site. Pet him and give him a treat for being brave.

When finished, place all used instruments in a durable plastic container. Indicate on the lid that the container contains sharp objects. This will help avoid injury to people searching dumpsters.

Before each procedure, be sure to check the expiration date of the drug and the tightness of the packages. Do not inject the medicine into broken skin and make sure it is applied as directed.

When self-administering the oil preparation, avoid getting it into the vessel. After puncturing the skin, pull the plunger back slightly. The appearance of blood will indicate entry into the bloodstream, which is very dangerous and requires calling a veterinarian. It is safer to trust this type of drug treatment to the staff of a veterinary clinic.

Intramuscular injection technique

An injection into the muscle fibers is a rather painful procedure for the animal. In addition, some drugs themselves can cause discomfort. Typically these include antispasmodics, antibiotics, and a number of vitamins. It is for this reason that you should calm your pet, because the needle may not even pierce the tense muscle.

Most likely, the animal will resist. Therefore, it is worth preparing the place for the procedure - a flat and hard surface where the “patient” can be securely fixed. In any case, you will need an assistant, because the cat will react unexpectedly to the injection itself: at the most inopportune moment, the pet may jerk sharply and escape.

The entire algorithm for how to inject a cat is as follows:

One of the participants in the procedure holds the pet firmly, the other needs to securely grab it by the back paw. The injection itself should be done in the back of the thigh - this is where it is the most “meaty”. In this case, you need to prick when the animal relaxes its paw and does not try to pull it out.

The needle should be inserted perpendicular to the bone so that it enters the muscle and not under the skin. The depth of penetration is no more than 10 mm (for a kitten - 5 mm).

The process of administering the medicine should be carried out slowly and smoothly (do not press the piston sharply). The more drug should be administered, the slower it should be done. It takes about 3-4 seconds for 1 ml. In this case, an injection of no more than 1.5-2 cubic meters is allowed in one place.

After the injection is made, the needle is removed and the animal is released. Sometimes it is better to do this to everyone at the same time, otherwise a disgruntled pet may cling to someone in order to take revenge on the “offender.”

How to give a cat an injection if a course of several procedures is prescribed? In this case, injections are carried out in both hind legs alternately - first in one, then in the other, etc. And after the procedure is completed, you should massage the injection site - this promotes rapid resorption of the medicine.

If the injection is done correctly, the procedure usually goes unnoticed for the animal. However, in some cases there may be complications or rather consequences.

Difference between intramuscular and subcutaneous injections

There are significant differences between these methods that you need to be aware of.

Table 1. Differences between intramuscular and subcutaneous routes of drug administration.

Features of injection	Intramuscular administration	Subcutaneous administration
Where to inject	Into the muscle	Under the skin
Area on an animal's body	Hip, shoulder	Withers, knee fold
Maximum volume of medicine	1 ml	Up to 60–80 ml
Painful sensations in the animal	Eat	No

Correct sites for intramuscular and subcutaneous injections

Lameness

Sometimes an injection into the thigh of a cat can cause the pet to limp, which is also normal. Particularly sensitive individuals may even harbor a grudge against such interference from the owner. However, there is no need to worry about this.

A cause for serious concern may be when a pet drags a limb or lameness does not go away after a day. This indicates that a nerve has been affected. This condition requires the intervention of a veterinarian, and the sooner the better for the animal. Therefore, after the procedure, you should carefully monitor your pet’s condition.

Actions for good

First of all, come to terms with the idea that this is a necessity. Moreover, it is extremely important for the health of your pet. And of course, do not choose medications yourself. Only the veterinarian's prescription must be carried out unconditionally. By the way, in this case, an on-site specialist will explain to you how to give your cat an injection in the withers.

The second step is to calm down. Animals react very strongly to your emotions, so before you start chasing your cat, prepare a syringe, a blanket to wrap your pet in, and take a few deep breaths. Now you can go in search of the patient.

Cone

Another complication that may appear after an injection is given to an animal is the formation of a lump at the injection site. There are several reasons for this problem:

allergic manifestation to the administered drug;

individual reaction of the animal’s body;

the injection into the feline's thigh was given incorrectly.

In this case, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the “patient”. And if within two days the dynamics do not change in a positive direction, you should go to the clinic. This is especially true in cases where the injection site has become hot and red. Then a trip to the veterinarian cannot be postponed, and the animal must be taken for examination as soon as possible.

Often the formation of a lump is associated with the accumulation of a purulent mass, and this is already the focus of a dangerous inflammatory process.

Blood after injection

A small amount of blood appearing at the injection site is normal, because small blood vessels are injured when a needle is inserted. In this case, blot the injection site with a cotton swab moistened with any disinfectant.

If bleeding continues, apply something cold for 15 minutes. You can put a piece of ice or snow in a plastic bag and wrap it in a piece of gauze or clean cloth and apply it to the puncture site. If this does not help, consult a doctor.

The procedure is ongoing

Without a doubt, the injection is unpleasant for animals and causes them considerable discomfort. Unfortunately, situations may arise when the injection must be given continuously over a certain period of time. In this case, it is worth taking care of maximum comfort for the pet in order to avoid prolonged stress.

It will not be possible to train your pet to endure pain, but there is an opportunity for associative perception:

Injections into the cat's thigh should be done at the same hours and in the same environment.

The pet must be in a calm state of mind.

Immediately before the procedure, you should begin to establish contact with the animal: stroke it, caress it.

After the injection, be sure to praise your pet and give him his favorite treat.

Following these recommendations will help the animal endure discomfort more patiently and be calmer.

What complications may there be?

After the injection there may be unpleasant reactions:

• Lameness. Occurs when a cat is given an injection in the thigh. It goes away on its own, usually within a few hours, or a couple of days at most. If a cat has been limping for a week, dragging his leg, or his paw is hanging loosely like a whip, there is a risk that a nerve has been damaged. Need help from a veterinarian. Usually a novocaine blockade is prescribed, and the cat is restored.
• Bleeding. If a little blood appears after the injection, the animal is not in danger. Simply blot the area with a cotton pad soaked in alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. You can try to stop blood oozing from a punctured large vessel with cold. Apply something from the freezer for a quarter of an hour, after wrapping it in a towel.
• A needle fracture in a muscle or under the skin. Occurs when the animal moves suddenly. The fragment is removed surgically.

However, violation of the injection technique and failure to follow basic rules leads to much more serious problems.

Complication	Causes	Additional Information
Painful lump (bump, infiltration)	1. Ingress of microorganisms. 2. As an allergic reaction, with the introduction of highly irritating substances. 3. Use of cold medicines (especially suspensions and oil preparations). The cold substance causes vasospasm and the drug does not dissolve quickly. 4. Incorrect removal of the needle, which causes part of the substance to enter the skin.	The seal appears in the first 1-3 days and lasts for 2-3 days, gradually dissolving. When administered intramuscularly, the cat may have lameness or even a loose paw. If after 3 days the lump does not decrease, apply dry heat. Sand or salt is calcined in a frying pan, poured into a fabric bag and applied to the seal. If the lump itches or increases in size, dry heat should not be used.
Abscess (formation of pus in tissue)	Entry of inflammatory pathogens into the injection site.	The temperature rises, the injection site is painful. The cat does not step on the leg where the injection was given. When administered subcutaneously, pus may drain below the injection site. An abscess can develop into phlegmon (spread inflammation). Veterinarian intervention is required. Prevention – compliance with sanitary rules.
Sarcoma (malignant tumor)	1. Penetration of irritating substances (acidic, alkaline) into the connective tissue, i.e. where they shouldn't go. 2. Formed from the use of oil preparations, suspensions and the administration of cold medicine.	Most often occurs in the withers area with subcutaneous administration of drugs. It appears after a couple of weeks, or after several months, even years. It grows quickly and metastasizes quickly. The growth that has begun does not stop.
Allergy	1. Use of expired drugs. 2. Individual intolerance to components.	It manifests itself as swelling in the muzzle, apathy, and lethargy. You need to seek help from a veterinary clinic.

In any case, after the injection, it is important to monitor the injection site and the behavior of the animal. If a lump appears, observe the cat’s “behavior”, and if the swelling grows, consult a doctor.

The main task facing the owner who is planning to give injections to cats is to do no harm. This can be done by observing the rules and strictly following the instructions.

Theory

Anyone who is theoretically savvy can give a cat a subcutaneous injection at home. Even if you have never held a syringe in your hands, there is nothing complicated about this procedure and believe me, everything will work out. Without experience, you should not, or rather, it is strictly prohibited, to do intravenous injections. More or less tissue-safe drugs are injected subcutaneously and intramuscularly, while solutions are injected intravenously that can burn the skin and muscles and lead to necrosis and sepsis .

When receiving prescriptions from a veterinarian, check what exactly is indicated in the dosage: the active ingredient of the drug or the drug itself . In the second case, you need to clarify in what dosage you need to purchase the medicine. Most drugs do not contain 100% medicine; in other words, they are diluted. In addition, a number of drugs have more accessible analogues, which may differ in dosage.

Subcutaneous administration of the drug is one of the ways to quickly deliver the active substance directly into the animal’s blood. Oral medications are less effective because the medication passes through the digestive system and is absorbed from the intestines. At the same time, with oral administration and overdose, the owner has a chance to correct the problem. If an excessive dose of medication is injected directly under the skin or into a muscle, it will be completely absorbed and the animal will suffer from an overdose.

The next important point is the volume of the administered drug. Sometimes cats are given injections of 5 ml or more. It is not recommended to inject a large volume of liquid into one place, as this can lead to tissue rupture and the formation of lumps. When administering a medicine that burns or causes other discomfort, there is a high likelihood of tissue irritation and inflammation.

Always check whether the drug is intended for subcutaneous administration; these details are indicated in the instructions, paragraph “Use and dosage”.

How to give an injection correctly

Giving an injection to a cat is not a very easy procedure, especially if it is not the first time he has experienced it. It is advisable not to carry out all preparatory manipulations in the presence of the “patient”, since animals remember well procedures that cause negative associations. Having once experienced pain from a needle and remembered the rustling sound while unpacking the syringe, the next time the pet will immediately hide.

Preparing your pet

It is most convenient to involve an assistant in the procedure: one person will hold the cat, and the second will stab. At this moment, it is very important to immobilize the animal, since in the event of a sharp jerk at the moment of piercing the skin, the needle may pierce deep into the muscle. This can be done in two ways:

• fix in a lying position, holding the paws;
• swaddle tightly in a towel, leaving the area for the procedure open.

If you have to carry out manipulations without outside help, you need to lay the animal on a comfortable surface and rest the forearm of one hand on the pet’s body, and with the other hand carry out the necessary manipulations.

In any case, it is important to behave calmly so as not to create additional stress for the cat. It is better to pet the cat during this process and talk in a gentle voice, without showing your excitement.

General recommendations

The pet owner must follow a certain list of rules, then he will be sure that the procedure will benefit the animal’s health and will not cause harm.

Among the most important are:

• The administration of any drug is carried out only on the recommendation of a veterinarian. It is unsafe to engage in self-treatment, as unwanted reactions may develop.
• Before administering the prescribed medication, be sure to wash your hands. The cat's skin and fur are not treated.
• If there are any damage to the skin and subcutaneous tissue (wounds, abrasions, hematomas, swelling, etc.) at the intended injection site, choose another site. Drugs are not administered into altered tissues.
• Most often, injectable drugs require storage in a refrigerator, but it is impossible to administer the drug so cold. To warm it up, just hold the ampoule in your palm for 2-3 minutes. This will raise the temperature of the medicine without overheating it.
• Before administering the drug, it is necessary to check the expiration date and its name to avoid using the wrong product.
• Only one medicine is taken into one syringe; mixing different drugs with each other is unacceptable. This is due to the fact that it is impossible to predict the chemical reaction they will enter into and the result may be poison.
• When injecting with oil solutions, you should make sure that they do not enter a blood vessel. After all, the introduction of such a drug into this area can provoke an embolism and death of the animal. To prevent this from happening, do the following: after puncturing the cat’s skin, pull the syringe plunger back; if there is no blood, you can inject it; if there is, inject it a little to the side.
• It is allowed to draw only one dose of medicine into the syringe, designed for one time. You cannot leave it with the collected product for subsequent injections.
• Before an injection, you should carefully study the doctor’s instructions and instructions for use, since for some medications there is no fundamental difference in the injection sites, but for others this is categorical.
• No more than 1.5 ml of the drug should be administered at a time; if a large volume injection is required, it is divided into several injections in different places.
• With intramuscular injections, the speed of movement of the piston is small, and the larger the volume of the injected agent, the slower it is done. For subcutaneous applications, it does not matter.
• If the cat is indicated for long-term use of drugs, then it is possible to carry out part of the course in liquid forms in combination with tablets. This issue is discussed separately with the veterinarian.
• Immediately before the injection, it is necessary to release the air from the syringe - it is raised vertically, with the needle up, and pressed on the piston until the medicine appears at the end of the needle.
• If you have doubts and/or fear before getting an injection, you should refuse it. Since nervousness can affect the correctness of the manipulation, and will also be transmitted to the animal, which will negatively affect its reaction to the procedure.

WHAT AND WHERE IS A CAT INJECTION GIVEN?

The veterinarian who prescribed the medicine will tell you where the cat needs the injection. Depending on the type of medicine, injections can be subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous. There are other varieties, but they are rarely used.

The type of injection determines where to inject the cat. Intramuscular injections are usually administered into the buttock (analogous to a human injection in the butt), subcutaneous - into the withers or under the shoulder blade. Usually more painful injections are given at the withers, because there are practically no nerve endings in that place - and the cat feels such an injection less. But, unfortunately, it is not always possible to place painful injections in this exact place.

INJECTION TECHNIQUE

Below is a general diagram, however, depending on the injection site, it will be supplemented with some nuances. You will read about these nuances below: in the part of the article where each injection technique is described (subcutaneous and intramuscular).

STEP #1. Prepare the tools: syringe, medicine, cotton wool (to open the bottle with the medicine), a file to open the medicine and alcohol (hydrogen peroxide). Everything should lie on a flat surface in one place.

STEP #2. Read the instructions for administering the drug. If it is written that it needs to be diluted in a solution or heated, etc., follow all the necessary steps. Or stick to what your veterinarian wrote. (If there are fundamental discrepancies in the veterinarian’s prescription and the instructions, it is better to call the veterinarian and check again whether you understood everything correctly.)

STEP #3. Disinfect your hands with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or another product.

STEP #4. Open the bottle using cotton wool, breaking off the top. Some bottles require filing with a special file: if this is the case, the file will be included. Before opening, make sure that the liquid is distributed evenly throughout the bottle. If there are bubbles or some liquid has gotten into the spout that you are about to break off, tap it with your fingers to move air to the top before opening it.

STEP #5. Draw the medicine into the syringe. You can draw by tilting the syringe and bottle almost horizontally or by turning the bottle upside down.

STEP #6. After you have drawn the liquid into the syringe, expel any trapped air. To do this, hold the syringe vertically with the needle pointing up and tap it with your fingernail. After this, when the air rises to the outlet, release it using the piston, holding the syringe with the needle up. Release air until liquid begins to come out of the needle. Perhaps after this, at the very exit of the syringe you will see a small, small bubble that does not come out: do not pay attention to it, it is not dangerous.

STEP #7. Place the cat on a flat, hard surface and have your partner steady it.

STEP #8. Now you can give the injection. If it is in the thigh, you don’t need to pinch the skin at the injection site. If the injection is at the withers, the skin must be grasped with your left hand (for left-handers - with your right). Take the syringe in your right hand (for left-handed people - in your left hand). Once you've aimed, gently but firmly insert the needle. The movement should be precise, accurate, fast, but not rude. The injection is not deep: 1 cm for an intramuscular injection and 0.5 cm for a subcutaneous injection.

STEP #9. Having inserted the needle, press evenly on the piston. Do not turn the needle inside the cat under any circumstances. The more medicine and the more painful it is, the slower it should be administered. However, the pet will not allow you to do this for too long. Therefore, a balance will have to be found. The main thing is not to inject so quickly that a lump of medicine forms under the skin: then it will be distributed throughout the body longer and cause more pain at the injection site. You can first practice on the pillow with a dry syringe, which you then throw away and take a new one for the cat.

Step #10. After injecting the drug completely, pull out the syringe along the same trajectory as you injected. The injection site does not require special treatment, because Cats have a protective layer on their skin that will prevent infection from penetrating inside. The main thing is that your hands and instruments are sterile.

What to do in case of complications?

Treatment depends on the type of adverse reaction.

Lameness

One of the most common symptoms after an injection is lameness. In most cases, gait is restored within a few days. Be sure to take the animal to the clinic if the cat does not lean on a limb for more than two weeks. This may be a sign of serious muscle damage.

Your cat may experience lameness

Attention! Lameness is sometimes caused by the wrong drug. For example, No-spa (drotaverine) is prohibited for treating cats.

Blood from the injection site

Bleeding after injections does occur, and in most cases it does not pose a threat. This occurs when the needle enters the vessel. If blood flows out profusely and does not stop for more than 15 minutes, then apply cold and seek help from a veterinarian. Serious consequences for the health of the animal are possible due to the needle getting into a large vessel.

Bleeding occurs after injections, but in most cases they do not pose a threat

Infiltrate

For infiltrates (seals on the skin), from 3-5 days you can apply dry warm compresses to the affected area - for example, heated sand or salt poured into a clean sock. Exposure time: 15–20 minutes. Such compresses activate blood circulation, due to which the compaction resolves.

Attention! You should not heat the inflamed area if its area increases or itching occurs.

Video - Mistakes when injecting pets