Info TESTING AND SHOOTING TIPS

[Laura and Gremlin (GA)]

Thank you! This is just what I needed, at the right time. I'll be doing my first BSL test in about an hour!

 

[Sharon14]

Thank you for all the suggestions. I've been injecting for several months now and recently have had a lot of fur shots. I see several tips here that I hope will help.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

@Laura and Gremlin and @Sharon14 You're both welcome. Pls let me know if you have questions.

 

[Harley and Duke]

Thank you so much for the tips! We are newbies and although we are ok at shooting, for the past 2 days we have not been able to get a blood sample from my old guys ear??!! It is very frustrating and I feel bad for him. We are using the Alphatrak and I will try holding the device in the ear before and after and see if that helps. We make sure the ear is warm but still no luck!
Thanks again!

 

[Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)]

thick skinned or thin skinned orange to practice?

 

[Marje and Gracie]

thick skinned or thin skinned orange to practice?

Not sure that it matters. I actually never did this

 

[Judy and Boomer]

The warmed up rice-sock idea really helps!!!! I find that I need to leave it on for about 45 to 60 seconds. Boomer doesn't mind....he gets some lovely chin and head scratches at the same time!

 

[Ross's mom]

Thank you thank you!! This was all so helpful I already posted a thread to say thanks I didn't think to add to this one lol but we did our first test tonight and it went pretty well I need a Lil work on lancing I almost went thru his ear but I was happy we got thru it and Ross was a champ! Thank you again for all your help!!

 

[tonimarmalade]

What an array of great information!!! I just read all of these posts on testing and shooting tips! Where have I been? Need to take better care of Marmy's ears. I don't warm them up just gently rub if they are cold and I just press with a Kleenex when I'm finished. She is usually an angel. Sometime I miss the sweet spot and get the gusher vein and sometime I get nothing and must prick her sweet little ear again.
Thanks for al, this info. A bit belatedly! Bless you all

 

[tonimarmalade]

@ Julie andPunkin "You can also stack reading glasses from any drugstore on top of each other, ie, wear 2 pair on your nose at the same time. This is a special kind of fashion statement that looks even better if you have a headlamp on at the same time. "

This couple sentences made my day. I laughed out loud ( btw, I did not know lol meant laugh out loud!!I always use it to mean lots of love!! I bet some people I sent lol were a bit confused thinking it meant laugh out loud while I thought I was saying lots of love. Now I'm laughing again. Maybe too much wine.) for quite a while until my sister finally checked out why I was laughing and then we both laughed all over again. What a mental picture thie conjures up! Thanks for the laughs as well as the good info. As always!

 

[d.eileen.d]

success! thank you SO much for the guidance! Xavier had his first ear prick BG this afternoon. (I do not know how we survived before the internet...)

i'll pass along a thought that helped me do the free-hand lancing... which I couldn't imagine doing. it's pretty much the same feeling of resistance as when you pierce a piece of quality fabric with a pin--like when you pin a seam or attach a pattern. gentle insertion... not a stab or poke. very similar angle, too. (except of course we aren't going through the ear!) don't know if that makes sense or not. but maybe that peaceful analogy will speak to someone.


thank you so much to all those who put in so much time and love to make this board work!

 

[tonimarmalade]

Congratulations! I will never forget how nervous I was! Although Marmy took it pretty much in stride from day one. And your " peaceful analogy" spoke to me! Thanks for sharing and great start!

 

[d.eileen.d]

thanks, Toni!

yes, the actual jab doesn't seem to upset Xavier at all. the trick was finding a way to control his squirming around on my lap! burrito wrap was workable... and stressful. but when I tucked him next to me in the easy chair, the pieces fell into place. *wipes brow*

eileen & xavier

 

[Misterbeesmom]

Thank you so mich for this. Learned something new which should make things easier for my cat and i.

 

[d.eileen.d]

Re: 12/15 TODAY'S LESSON -- TESTING AND SHOOTING TIPS

Mark,
One thing you can try is to see if you can get the drop of blood onto a fingernail, and then you can let Oliver loose, and sip the blood onto the strip off of your fingernail...

Carl

omg, this tip is a lifesaver! I can't tell you how many times we've gotten a perfect drop of blood only to have Xavier turn into a bucking bronco while I try to catch it on the strip! seriously, SO CLOSE... and then FAIL. but I tried this today and we got a nice number with little stress. it's the restraining that bugs him most...when he's done, he's DONE!

on a lighter note, everybody was right about the 'learning to bleed' thing... I can definitely tell the difference 8 days in.

eileen

 

[tonimarmalade]

You are doing great, Eileen!

 

[d.eileen.d]

You are doing great, Eileen!

thank you, my friend! been a bit of a rollercoaster, but we're getting there...