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This guide is a home-care support tool. It does not replace personalized advice from your veterinarian. For any questions, contact us at 514-223-1197.
Why subcutaneous fluids?
When a dog or cat is dehydrated, or at risk of becoming so, they may need extra fluids. Alongside water and the intravenous route (more invasive, done in clinic), the subcutaneous route is often the best option at home, as supportive care.
Kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease is the most common reason: the kidneys flush out too much water.
Digestive losses
Prolonged vomiting or diarrhea makes a pet lose a lot of fluid.
Support at home
A hydration boost between visits, without the stress of the clinic.
How it works
The fluid is placed under the skin, where it forms a small reservoir the body absorbs slowly, over several hours. That is what helps maintain or restore good hydration.
Spotting dehydration
Two simple home checks: gently lift the skin over the back, between the shoulders; when your pet is well hydrated it springs back quickly, whereas it flattens slowly if dehydrated. The gums should stay moist and slippery; dry or tacky gums are a warning sign. These clues are only rough (age, thinness, and extra weight all skew them), so always follow the prescribed dose and schedule rather than adjusting on your own.
What you need
Your veterinarian will provide or point you to everything required. Here are the four basics.
Sterile needles
Usually 18 to 20 gauge, as your veterinarian advises.
Sterile fluid line
The tubing that connects the bag to the needle.
Sterile fluid bag
The prescribed solution, often saline (NaCl) or Lactated Ringer's.
Sharps container
A rigid, puncture-resistant container made for used needles.
Disposing of needles safely
Used needles are kept and discarded in a dedicated rigid container. You can bring it back to the clinic: we dispose of it as biomedical waste. If a needle accidentally pricks you, the risk stays low (the fluid is sterile): wash the area with soap and water, do not squeeze it, and call Info-Santé at 811 if you have any concern.
Setting up
Assemble everything calmly before bringing in your pet. The session will go faster for it.
Hang the bag up high
Take the bag out of its packaging and hang it well above the pet (an IV pole, a hook, any stable support). Height lets gravity do the work of moving the fluid.
Prepare the port
At the base of the bag, find the two ports (the small capped nozzles): one for the tubing, one for adding medication if needed. Remove the cap from the tubing port without touching the inside, to keep everything sterile.
Connect the line, clamp closed
First close the roller clamp (the small wheel that pinches the tubing) to keep the fluid from running. Then push the tubing spike into the port with a slight twist and firm pressure.
Prime out the air
Open the clamp for a moment to let the fluid fill the tubing and push out all the air, aiming the end into a sink or a container. Then close the clamp again.
Attach the needle
Attach a sterile needle to the end of the tubing, without touching its tip.
Set up your space
- A calm, clear spot at a comfortable height for you.
- One or two spare needles within reach.
- The sharps container, open and ready.
- Treats to reassure and reward your pet.
- A small backup supply (needles, line, bag), topped up before you run low.
Before you start
A few quick checks before the first drop.
Check your pet's condition first
If your pet is very weak, collapsed, cold to the touch, or clearly unwell, do not start a home session: call us or an emergency clinic. In that state your pet needs in-clinic care, and subcutaneous fluids are poorly absorbed.
- The right fluid, the right dose: use only the bag, amount, and frequency your veterinarian prescribed (for example, 100 mL, twice a day).
- The right needle gauge: the one your veterinarian specified, often 18 to 20 gauge (sometimes finer).
- Sterility first: do not touch the needle tip or the inside of the ports, and change the needle for each session.
- The same bag, over a few days: you can reuse the bag and line for a few days, within the time frame your veterinarian gives you, as long as you work cleanly and keep everything closed.
- Never make up a missed session: never double the next dose to catch up on a missed or partial session, and do not exceed the prescribed volume. Pets with a heart condition tolerate extra fluid less well: when in doubt, call us before adjusting.
Never use cloudy fluid
If the fluid is cloudy, or the packaging is damaged, do not use the bag: it may be contaminated. When in doubt, open a fresh one.
Warming, yes; microwave, never
Fluids at room temperature, or slightly warm, are more comfortable. Warm the bag in a water bath or under warm tap water, never in the microwave: it creates hot spots that can burn the skin. Always check the temperature before giving it.
How to administer
The heart of the procedure. Work calmly: your confidence reassures your pet.
The two landmarks
The right site and the right angle, and the rest falls into place.
The right site
The loose skin between the shoulder blades, or at the base of the neck: it tents easily there and the area is not very sensitive. Choose clean, healthy skin, and vary the exact spot a little from one session to the next.
The right angle
About 45 degrees, or a little less, to slide under the skin without going into muscle.
Settle your pet
On a stable, comfortable surface (a table, a bed, your lap). Ideally, have a second person soothe or gently hold the pet.
Make a skin tent
Between the shoulder blades or at the base of the neck, gently pinch the skin with your free hand to form a fold, a little tent.
Insert the needle
The skin here is loose and thin on nerves, which makes this step well tolerated. Hold the needle at about 45 degrees and slide it gently under the skin, between skin and muscle. If you feel unusual resistance or a wrong angle, pull the needle out and reinsert it, adjusting the angle.
Open the flow
Open the clamp to let the fluid run. Check that there is no leak around the needle; reposition it slightly if needed. The speed depends on the bag height, the needle gauge, and how much the pet moves.
Let the prescribed amount pass
First note where the fluid sits on the bag's mL scale, then let the recommended dose run in (for example, 100 mL) and close the clamp once the level has dropped by that amount. Timing varies: allow 5 to 15 minutes, sometimes more, but go by the level on the bag, not just the clock. You can gently massage the area to help the fluid spread.
End the session
Close the clamp as soon as the dose is in. Pull the needle out gently and press on the site for a few seconds to limit a small leak. Drop the needle in the rigid container. Leave the tubing on the bag, clamp firmly closed, for next time.
If your pet resists, stop
If your pet struggles hard, panics, or tries to bite, calmly stop the session: do not restrain harder or re-stick repeatedly. Try again later when calm, or call us to adjust the approach. Offering a treat or a lick mat before and during the session, not only after, helps make it a positive moment over the long term.
After the session
The session is done; here is how to finish well.
The little bump is normal
A swelling under the skin, where the fluid has gathered, is completely normal: it resolves over a few hours as the body absorbs the fluid. The bump may even shift downward, along a leg or toward the belly, under gravity; this is harmless. A gentle massage helps it spread.
- Reward your pet (petting, a treat) to link the session with something positive.
- Store the bag and line in a clean, dry place, following your veterinarian's instructions.
- Never leave the needle on the tubing between sessions: it risks contamination.
- Write the first-use date on the bag, for tracking.
- Keep a short log of each session (date, volume, how it went) to review with us at follow-ups.
When to call us
When done properly, subcutaneous fluids are usually well tolerated, but a few signs are worth a prompt call.
Breathing comes first
If your pet breathes fast or with effort after the fluids, treat it as an emergency: the body may be getting more fluid than it can handle. Stop the fluids and contact us, or an emergency clinic, immediately.
- Fast or labored breathing in the hours that follow: stop and call right away.
- A site that turns red, hot, painful, or oozes pus over the next days (a sign of infection).
- Marked lethargy, loss of appetite, or vomiting after a session.
- Sharp pain or a flat refusal, despite good technique.
- Fluid that keeps leaking, or blood in the line.
Your questions, our answers
What owners ask us most about fluids at home.
My pet runs off during the session. What do I do?
Is it painful?
Fluid is leaking at the insertion point. Is that serious?
No fluid flows at all. What do I do?
Can I warm the fluids in the microwave?
See also
A task that quickly becomes routine
Giving subcutaneous fluids is generally simple and safe when you follow a few precautions and work cleanly. With a little patience and calm, you do a great deal to keep your companion well hydrated at home. At the first doubt, pain, refusal, or persistent leak, we are here.
Want a hand with the first session?
We can show you the technique in clinic, adjust the needle gauge, or go over the protocol with you. Just ask.