But the little monster still insists that I sit by her and talk to her before she will eat.
I also was able to talk to a more aware vettech, and got away with their last box of Nipro needles. Nipros are much sharper and have much thinner walls than "average", which means they hurt a lot less, and deliver more fluid faster, getting it over soon.
Worked well too. She's getting accustomed and resigned to the procedure, and mostly sat quietly in my lap while I pricked her and hydrated her.