Question re- supplies for Sub-Q fluid injections for cat with kidney disease

[snot]

My cat was just diagnosed with kidney disease, so we're going to be injecting him with saline solution a couple of times per week (following on some other difficult challenges among our nuclear humans this year). The vet charged > $40 for one bag of salt water! It's got to be cheaper elsewhere.

Researching online, it appears there's been a shortage lately . . . . Thought it couldn't hurt to ask whether anyone here happens to have found a good, cheap supply recently.

Many thanks for any suggestions!

[shenmue]

1. {{{Kitteh}}}

Extra cuddles are good.

[Sedona]

2. I got slightly expired bags of saline for free from a local doctor

who did minor surgeries in his office. When that supply dried up (no pun intended) my vet was charging less than $10 each. Shop around I think you're being gouged. You only need like 20% of the bag each time so you get 4-5 treatments from each bag.

Have you tried mail order?

http://pet-supplies.drsfostersmith.com/petsupplies/Subcutaneous

[Paper Roses]

3. See your local pharmacist and ask for a price. Get a written RX from the Vet.

Sometimes you can get a discount on items that are near expiration date.
Years ago, my kitty had this same problem and I asked for the price from the Vet. Far more than I could afford. I then went to the local Rite-Aid. The pharmacist looked at my prescription and told me that they could fill it at a price far below the vet.
This same kitty had to take other medications which were also filled by the pharmacist. All were cheaper.
I wonder how you could do with a pharmacy from Canada?

[Sunlei]

4. KV vet has for about 7.50,1000ml your vet can give them a phone RX

http://www.kvsupply.com/sterile-saline-solution-0.9-1000-ml-bottle


all the 'bags' are here and even less- http://www.kvsupply.com/cat/medications/electrolyte-solutions

[ginnyinWI]

5. just FYI--

When my cat got to that point (aged almost 18) he was only four months from the end. Our vet charged $100 each time--and we didn't do it all that often, maybe three times. He was still eating and drinking on his own.

[Number9Dream]

6. Our vet charges $33 for 1000ml of Normosol, with potassium added

We've been giving our 16 y/o CRF patient 200ml every M-W-F for over three years. It has cost us a lot, but has kept him relatively healthy.