Sodium Chloride 0.9% Solution
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Sodium Chloride 0.9% Solution during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
(soe-dee-um klor-ide)
Description: Sodium Chloride 0.9% Solution
This is a product used to replace body fluids and body salts.
Other Names for this Medication:
- This product may also be called saline or normal saline.
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals: This comes as sterile (germ-free) liquid in bags or bottles sized 500 mL, 1000 mL, 3000 mL, and 5000 mL.
- For people: This comes as sterile liquid in bags sized 250 mL, 500 mL, and 1000 mL.
Key Information
- This is a sterile liquid that adds water and salts (sodium and chloride) that are normally present in the bloodstream.
- Be careful using it in animals that have kidney failure or heart failure.
- It is used together with an administration set (also called an “IV set” or “drip set”) and a needle.
- To give the fluid under the skin, you must use a sterile needle.
- Used needles must be thrown away the right way and must NOT go into normal household trash.
- When the bag is empty, the empty bag and the tubing can be thrown away in regular trash.
How is this medication useful?
Sodium chloride 0.9% solution is used to add extra water and salts to the body. The FDA allows veterinarians to prescribe this solution for animals in many different situations and for many different problems. You and your veterinarian can decide together what is best for your animal.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this solution works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines can affect this solution. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, and any your animal had in the past.
- If your animal has had treatment before for the same problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss with your veterinarian what risks may come with using this solution.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist if your animal has ever had side effects from a solution in the past. Examples listed include allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, and hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
- You should expect this solution to help your animal feel better within 1 to 2 hours. After that, the signs you are seeing in your animal should start to get better.
- This solution does not last long in the body. Its effect ends within 24 hours. The effect may last longer if your animal has advanced kidney disease and/or advanced liver disease.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No treatment is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns related to using this solution for your animal.
This solution SHOULD NOT be used in patients:
- Animals that are allergic to it.
This solution should be used WITH CAUTION in patients:
- Animals with heart failure.
- Animals with serious kidney problems.
- Animals with a health problem that could get worse because of the salts in this solution.
- Animals with severe liver impairment.
- Animals that are retaining water.
- Animals that have high potassium levels in the blood.
- Animals that have too little acid in the blood.
If your animal has any of the conditions or signs listed above, speak with your veterinarian about the possible risks compared with the possible benefits.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
- Stinging or a burning feeling where the fluids are given.
- Fluid buildup. Fluid can collect under the skin of the legs and chest. This swelling should be gone before the next scheduled time fluids are due.
If any of the side effects listed above are strong, get worse, or do not go away, contact your veterinarian.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
- Infection. This may look like redness, soreness, or fluid draining at or near the place where the fluids were given.
- Cough.
If you notice any of the serious signs listed above, contact your veterinarian immediately.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
- If you think your animal may have been given too much of this solution, contact your veterinarian and ask what to do.
How should this medication be given?
For this solution to work as intended, you must give it exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed it. Read the prescription label to confirm you are giving it the correct way.
Preparing the solution for your animal:
- Before you give the solution, look at it. The liquid should look clear. If it looks cloudy or has changed color, do not use it and throw it away.
- Take the fluid bag and the administration set out of the outer wrapping.
- Make sure the solution is warm, but not warmer than normal body temperature (99° F, 37° C).
- A common way to warm it is to put the container into a zip-close bag and place it in warm water.
- Mix the bag well so the warmth spreads evenly.
- Do NOT use a microwave to warm the bag.
- Choose a clean place to set up and give the fluids.
- During setup, you will need to let a small amount of fluid run out of the bag. You may want to work near a sink or use a small container to catch the fluid.
- Make sure every clamp on the administration set is closed.
Administering the solution:
- To open the bag, flip it upside down and remove the plastic stopper at the top.
- Keep the bag upside down until the tubing is connected, or the fluid will leak out.
- Insert the spike from the administration set into the top of the bag.
- Do not touch the spike and do not let it get dirty.
- While inserting it, do not let the spike poke any other part of the bag.
- Use the hole (eyelet) at the top of the bag to hang it as high as you can. This height helps the fluid flow by gravity.
- A coat hanger or an S-hook can be used to hold the bag up.
- Open all clamps.
- Press the sides of the drip chamber until fluid starts moving from the bag into the drip chamber and then into the tubing.
- Let the fluid run through the tubing.
- Let a small amount of fluid run out into a sink or a clean container. Do not touch the end of the tubing while doing this.
- Close one clamp on the tubing to stop the flow while you get ready to give the fluids.
- Put the cap back on the end of the tubing to keep it clean while you bring your animal and get them ready.
- When you are ready to start, connect a new needle to the end of the administration set.
- Your veterinarian will show you how to give these fluids. Do not give fluids on your own until you fully understand the instructions.
- The steps below are meant to remind you of key points for giving the treatment at home.
- If your animal is hard to treat, or if at any time you are worried your animal cannot handle the process, stop and call your veterinarian for more instructions.
- Your animal’s skin should not have dirt or debris on it. However, you do not need to clip hair, shave, or clean the skin with disinfectant to give these fluids.
- At first, you will need two people. One person gives the fluids, and the other person holds and comforts the animal.
- Kind handling such as praise, petting, cuddling, wrapping (swaddling), and offering food as a distraction may help your animal accept the process.
- Your veterinarian will tell you where to give the fluid and how much to give.
- The fluid is given under the skin about ¾ to 2 inches (2–5 cm) away from the middle line of the back. The area runs from the head toward the tail.
- The location can vary from just behind the shoulder blade to a little in front of the hip bone.
- If you are giving fluids more than once, change sides each time so you alternate between the right and left side.
- With your free hand, lift up a fold of skin.
- Hold the needle so it runs along the body, with the slanted opening (bevel) facing upward.
- The needle tip should be on the lower side, and you should be able to see the opening of the needle.
- Do not poke yourself.
- Push the needle into the middle of the skin fold as your veterinarian instructed. Use gentle but steady pressure.
- If the needle is not under the skin, you will need to change the direction and repeat the step.
- After you are sure the needle is under the skin, open the clamps so the fluid starts going in.
- If the fluid is going in very slowly, or if you see fluid dripping onto the skin, adjust the needle position.
- This can happen if the needle is not under the skin or if it went through the skin fold and out the other side.
- Use the measurement marks on the bag to know when you have given the amount your veterinarian prescribed.
- It may help to draw a line on the outside of the bag with a permanent marker.
- A soft swelling (lump) will appear where the fluid was placed. It should slowly go down over 4 to 6 hours.
- If large amounts are needed, you may have to give the fluid in more than one spot at the same time, or you may need to give fluids more than once in a day.
- Giving the fluid may take only a few minutes for each 100 mL.
- Watch the drip chamber to make sure fluid is still dripping.
- If dripping stops, the needle may need a small twist or a slight repositioning under the skin.
- Do not take the needle out.
- When the correct amount has been given, stop the fluid by closing the clamps.
- Remove the needle quickly and firmly.
- Be careful not to poke yourself with the needle and do not inject yourself.
- A small amount of fluid may leak from the spot where the needle came out.
- Right after use, put the needle into a sharps container.
- See the section titled “How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?”
- If you did not use the whole bag, place a new, clean needle on the end of the administration set to cap it.
- This solution may be needed for different lengths of time.
- Some animals may need this fluid treatment for a long time or for the rest of their lives.
- Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it.
- You may need prescription refills before the full treatment period is finished.
- If you want to stop giving this treatment, talk with your veterinarian first. There may be important reasons to keep going.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember.
- If it is close to the time for the next scheduled dose, do not give the missed one. Instead, skip it and give the next dose at the normal time.
- After that, go back to the usual schedule.
- Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep unused solution in its original packaging.
- Store it at room temperature and keep it away from light.
- This solution has no preservatives.
- Once opened, fluid bags and administration sets should be thrown away and replaced every 5–7 days, or sooner if your veterinarian tells you to.
- Keep fluid bags, fluid lines, and needles where children and other animals cannot reach them.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
- No special safety steps are listed for handling this solution unless you are allergic to it.
- Wash your hands after you handle this solution or any medication.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- If you have unused sodium chloride 0.9% solution, you may pour it into a sink or toilet.
- After that, the empty plastic container can be put into regular trash or recycling.
- If other medicines were mixed into the solution, ask your veterinarian or pharmacist how to dispose of it correctly.
- Do not keep leftover solution to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
- Ask your veterinarian or pharmacist how to get containers for throwing away used needles.
- Keep sharps containers away from children and animals.
- When the sharps container is about three-quarters full, dispose of it using the rules in your community.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this solution. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this solution.
- If you have more questions about this solution, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”