Ear prick
- Thread starter CHenry
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Fiona and Sasha
Member Since 2015
I wasn't shown how to do it, but I also had no luck with the ears. Ended up using the paw pads. The instructions for ear pricking are here if you haven't found them already: http://www.felinediabetes.com/bg-test.htm. Includes lots of neat tricks, like getting the blood flowing with heat and finding the area where capillary density is best. I hope you have a torch handy. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
Elizabeth and Bertie
Member Since 2010
Hi Courtney,
Sometimes it takes a little while to get the hang of it. Very few people manage to get a successful test the very first time they try. Be kind to yourself!
I see Fiona has given you a link to some hometesting advice already, but here is the link to another page of info, tips and tricks, and example hometesting videos:
Hometesting Links and Tips
The most important thing is probably that the ear is warm. Warm ears bleed so much more easily than cold ones.
Massaging the ear can help to get the blood flowing; and some folks use a pill bottle filled with warm water, or a 'rice sock' (details in link above), and hold that inside the ear to warm it.
Putting something against the inside of the ear, opposite to where you're pricking, will give the lancet something to 'resist'; otherwise it can push the ear away rather than prick it. You can use a little bit of folded tissue, or cotton wool, or just one of your own finger tips (but you may occasionally get blood from yourself that way....
)
Two ear pricks very close together can often produce enough for a test where one ear prick might not.
Massaging immediately below the ear prick will help to 'milk' more blood out. The blood flow runs from the tip of the ear down to the outer edge, so massaging below the ear prick can help to 'catch' some of that blood on the way down.
A teensy weensy smidge of vaseline on the outer edge of the ear will help the blood to 'bead up' and stop it disappearing into the fur.
You will get the hang of it, honestly!
Eliz
Sometimes it takes a little while to get the hang of it. Very few people manage to get a successful test the very first time they try. Be kind to yourself!
I see Fiona has given you a link to some hometesting advice already, but here is the link to another page of info, tips and tricks, and example hometesting videos:
Hometesting Links and Tips
The most important thing is probably that the ear is warm. Warm ears bleed so much more easily than cold ones.
Massaging the ear can help to get the blood flowing; and some folks use a pill bottle filled with warm water, or a 'rice sock' (details in link above), and hold that inside the ear to warm it.
Putting something against the inside of the ear, opposite to where you're pricking, will give the lancet something to 'resist'; otherwise it can push the ear away rather than prick it. You can use a little bit of folded tissue, or cotton wool, or just one of your own finger tips (but you may occasionally get blood from yourself that way....
)Two ear pricks very close together can often produce enough for a test where one ear prick might not.
Massaging immediately below the ear prick will help to 'milk' more blood out. The blood flow runs from the tip of the ear down to the outer edge, so massaging below the ear prick can help to 'catch' some of that blood on the way down.
A teensy weensy smidge of vaseline on the outer edge of the ear will help the blood to 'bead up' and stop it disappearing into the fur.
You will get the hang of it, honestly!
Eliz
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I did it! I think I more got lucky with it than knowing what i am doing but I got a reading! Yeah! She was laying on the couch by the window, and in the light, I could see the vein. I also watched some of the videos and read the info you guys provided (thanks!)
On the downside, it is high. 333 about 1 hour after giving a little less than 1 unit prozinc. But that is down from 411 at the vet yesterday afternoon. This was only her second ever prozinc shot, first was last night. She also hasn't eaten much today, probably because I keep bothering her to try the glucose check.
On the downside, it is high. 333 about 1 hour after giving a little less than 1 unit prozinc. But that is down from 411 at the vet yesterday afternoon. This was only her second ever prozinc shot, first was last night. She also hasn't eaten much today, probably because I keep bothering her to try the glucose check.
jane and stewey
Member Since 2014
I have a small baby sock filled with rice. I heat it in the microwave and then apply it to her ear. The heat dilates the capillaries and bleeds more freely. Each microwave is a little different in intensitiy. I also don't hold it onto her ear continuosly but lift it on and off so as not to burn her ear. I use the reli on meter from Walmart and it requires very little blood. I also apply a bit of vaseline to her ear after making sure the bleeding has stopped. Her ears remain soft and not tender. Good luck from jane and stewey
Elizabeth and Bertie
Member Since 2010
Woohoo!!! Well done!
That 333 isn't bad at this stage of the game. Some cats have numbers much higher than this initially.
And it's only an hour into the cycle, Molly may not actually have started to drop yet. You may find that the lowest number (blood glucose 'nadir', or insulin 'peak') is between 5 - 7 hours after the shot.
Here's the Prozinc/PZI protocol that Sue wrote. There's a lot of useful info in here:
Protocol for ProZinc/PZI
Eliz
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Critter Mom
Member Since 2014
Yay!!!
Lisa and Witn (GA)
Member Since 2009
Congrats. I found that if you massage the ear from the base towards the tip before testing, that helps to warm up the ear and get the blood flowing.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Welcome to the Vampire Club!
jane and stewey
Member Since 2014
I use a small baby sock filled with rice. I warm it in the microwave and then apply it to the ear, rotating it so that it does not irritate the ear. Heat helps to dilate the capillaries for better blood flow. I hold pressure to the site for about 30 seconds and then apply a small amount of Vaseline to the ear. It keeps her ear soft, supple and without inflammation. Good luck from Jane and Stewey
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