My research subject keeps complaining about the taste of saline, am I doing something wrong?

Posted by vialclub in Side Effects and Safety

So I've been doing some research on a new compound, nothing too exotic, just standard stuff. My research subject, let's call him 'Mr. Whiskers' (he's a cat, obviously for research purposes only), has been a bit finicky lately. Every time I administer the saline control, he gives me this look of utter betrayal. I'm using sterile bacteriostatic water for reconstitution and then diluting with sterile saline for the actual administration. I've double checked everything, expiration dates, sterility, all that jazz. Is there some secret cat friendly saline I'm unaware of? Or is Mr. Whiskers just being a drama queen? It's not like I'm giving him a shot of lemon juice, it's just saline. I'm starting to think my technique is just so bad it offends his delicate feline sensibilities. Any thoughts from the collective wisdom of this sub? Asking for a friend, who is definitely not me, and definitely not currently covered in cat scratches.

6 Comments

vialclub

Warming the saline is an interesting thought, I hadn't considered that. I'm using a 29 gauge, which I thought was pretty small. Maybe Mr. Whiskers just has a flair for the dramatic.

amberrat

That's a good point about the bacteriostatic water. I've heard of some research subjects reacting to it. Might be worth a trial with plain sterile water.

rust_pdx86

Cats are notoriously picky. Have you tried warming the saline slightly? Sometimes temperature can make a difference for sensitive subjects.

clinicalwolf

I've had similar issues with my research subjects. Sometimes it's just the novelty of the experience. They get used to it eventually, or you get better at distracting them.

assayhead

Could it be the bacteriostatic water? Some animals are more sensitive to the benzyl alcohol. Have you tried a plain sterile water for injection for the reconstitution?

vialfiles38

Seconding the warming idea. Also, what gauge needle are you using? A smaller gauge might reduce discomfort and therefore the dramatic reaction.