Nancy,

I hope Roscoe is doing Ok. I have a cat that has had kidney failure for many years, not because of the recent recall, simply because he is old. We have been giving him subcutaneous fluids for seven years now and, believe it or not, he is 23 and so far so good. It is a pain to do it, but he has a full and normal life because of it.

The cost of $50 to $60 for the subcutaneous fluids your vet is charging you can be reduced to approximatly $6.00 per set-up, if you order directly from a supplier. Ask your vet to give you a perscription for the fluids; Lactated Ringer Bags, IV lines and needles, and then call UPCO at 1-800-254-8726 or Terumo at 1-800-216-3213 and order what you need. Both Upco and Terumo will not fill your order without a perscription, which they will request that you send (fax)to them. Also, the cost will depend on how much you order. If you order more than 12 bags you can get the best deal, (around $2.75 to $3.25 per bag) and be sure to ask them how much you will have to spend to avoid shipping cost. By the way, we like Terumo's 18 G X 1 needle, it seems to go in and stay in easier, but it really depends on your personal preference.

Good Luck