First attempt at home testing

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buddhasmom

Member Since 2016
Well, I tried doing an at home test for BG tonight & I failed. I tried sticking him like 5 times w/ 28g lancet in lancing device set to highest setting. I rubbed the ear first until it was warm & rubbed it after too to try to coax blood out & nothing, not 1 drop all 5 times. I tested in the "sweet spot" area. I was very happy that he didn't seem to feel it or fight me, but am pretty upset that I couldn't get a sample. Maybe I need to warm his ear w/ rice sock or whatever? They haven't had any problems at the vet. I doubt they are doing anything more to warm the ear than rub it. I don't know what they are doing differently & why it's so easy for them. Maybe I need a 23 or 25 lancet?
 
A couple ideas. Yes, I would try the rice sack or a prescription bottle filled with very warm water and keep it until the ear is very warm. Until the capillaries fatten up, it can take a lot of heat. Also, having something behind the ear to poke against helps - we used a makeup sponge. The other thing you can do is make a quick second poke in the same spot as the first to make the hole a little bigger.
 
I usually have a very thin layer of the salve we use on his ear to lessen the prick and rub his ear to get the blood flowing--I prick it quickly on a 45 degree angle so that anticipation is gone--(if I hesitate is no bueno)
you will find what works for you.... My first test was a nightmare--
you are doing great!!!:bighug:
 
buddhasmom said:
Well, I tried doing an at home test for BG tonight & I failed. I tried sticking him like 5 times w/ 28g lancet in lancing device set to highest setting. I rubbed the ear first until it was warm & rubbed it after too to try to coax blood out & nothing, not 1 drop all 5 times. I tested in the "sweet spot" area. I was very happy that he didn't seem to feel it or fight me, but am pretty upset that I couldn't get a sample. Maybe I need to warm his ear w/ rice sock or whatever? They haven't had any problems at the vet. I doubt they are doing anything more to warm the ear than rub it. I don't know what they are doing differently & why it's so easy for them. Maybe I need a 23 or 25 lancet?
Click to expand...
I am using a 30. Can you see the vein on his ear where the sweet spot is? i think i know whats wrong i had an issue with the lancing device so what i do is take off the lid so you can see the needle exposed and just poke the sweet spot. the vet tech showed me how to do it that way its quick and easy don't even use the button.
 
I think I posted this yesterday but just in case here is another view .... kitty ears everywhere :cat:
laur_danny_famoussweetspot.jpg
 
Here's something I wrote up for others that needed help with testing...maybe it'll help you too!

It can be really helpful to establish a routine with testing. Pick one spot that you want your "testing spot" to be (I like the kitchen counter because it's got good light and it's at a good height....it also already blocked 2 escape routes due to the wall and the backsplash) It can be anywhere though...a rug on the floor, a table, a particular spot on the couch...wherever is good for you. Take him there as many times a day as you can and just give his ears a quick rub and then he gets a yummy (low carb) treat. Most cats aren't objecting so much with the poking..it's the fooling with their ears they don't like, but once they're desensitized to it and learn to associate a certain place with the treats, they usually start to come when they're called! Or even when they hear us opening the test kit!

You also have to remember...you're not poking him to hurt him...you're testing him to keep him safe and understand what's going on inside his body. There's just nothing better than truly understanding what's going on inside your kitty's body and with this disease, the more knowledge you have, the more power you have against it. The edges of the ears have very few pain receptors, so it really doesn't hurt them. Also, if you're nervous and tense, it's going to make your kitty nervous and tense too. As silly as it might seem, try singing! It forces you to use a different part of your brain!

It's also important to make sure his ear is warm. A small sock filled with a little rice and microwaved or a small pill bottle filled with warm water (check temp against your wrist like you would a baby bottle) works well

Finding the right "treat" will be a great help too! Freeze dried chicken, bonito flakes, little pieces of baked chicken...whatever low carb treat you can find that he really enjoys will help him to associate the testing with the treat! China's Achilles heel was baked chicken, so I'd bake a piece, chop it into bite sized pieces, put some in the refrigerator and freeze the rest to use as needed. It didn't take long for her to come any time I picked up the meter!
 
buddhasmom said:
Well, I tried doing an at home test for BG tonight & I failed. I tried sticking him like 5 times w/ 28g lancet in lancing device set to highest setting. I rubbed the ear first until it was warm & rubbed it after too to try to coax blood out & nothing, not 1 drop all 5 times. I tested in the "sweet spot" area. I was very happy that he didn't seem to feel it or fight me, but am pretty upset that I couldn't get a sample. Maybe I need to warm his ear w/ rice sock or whatever? They haven't had any problems at the vet. I doubt they are doing anything more to warm the ear than rub it. I don't know what they are doing differently & why it's so easy for them. Maybe I need a 23 or 25 lancet?
Click to expand...


You could try testing on the paw pad, there's very little feeling there and with a little bit of "pumping" the blood comes quite easily. Remember you only need a drop the size of a pin head.
 
What helped me was hitting the vein. I'm going to test him in a few mins and try the sweet spot. But the vien really made it work for me.
 
Yeah hitting the vein usually does work, but it's more painful for the cat....and if they shake their head your house could look like a crime scene from NCIS...LOL

If it's the only way, it's better than not testing, but keep trying the "sweet spot"....it does get easier as new capillaries grow in! I think I could just look at China's ears hard and they'd start bleeding ;)
 
Before Beauregard got so ill, I FINALLY got brave enough to test myself. Before that, Vet techs were coming twice a day and testing his ear. THey tried 4-5 times on that little ear (before I found this board and was told about the warming of the ear), and it killed me. Plus, we both had to hold him, and without them, I was convinced I could never do it myself.

I got the Relion Micro (and used it on myself and as amazed at the tiny little speck of blood required), and tried his paw, and got it on the first try. I used the tester, because the thought of jabbing him was more than I could handle (yes, sissylala here). It worked.

I have NO clue about him using the litter box and all that might occur with paw testing. Beau got his wings before I had a chance to further test, but you might try it if the ear is just too much for you. Everyone on here swears by the ear, and I might have gotten the nerve eventually, but I do know testing is important, and whichever way works the best for you, I say do it.
 
Hi Everyone. If Budhasamom doesn't mind, I will chime in on this post. I did my second BG home test last night and had to stick my cat named Paw what seemed like 10 times to get 1 drop of blood. Then I messed the test up and failed to get a reading, grrrr. I will try more heat. I was just rubbing.

I am interested in how safe is it to use the Paw pad to get blood from? I would like to rotate areas. What is the best way to clean the area and can anyone recommend a lancing device that does not make a clicking noise to use on a cat and where to get it from please?
 
It is fine to use the paw if the kitty will tolerate it.

One suggestion - if you get blood and can't manage the meter and the cat, get a drop on your clean fingernail and test from there.
 
Sorry, just now saw this post. I found paw pad testing WAY easier than ear testing. The pads have very little feeling and they bleed quite easily. I just be calm about it, talk softly and love him up some. I have everything ready before I gently lay him on his side on the kitchen counter, he doesn't fuss one bit. You can use your forearm to help keep kitty on his/her side so you can use the fingertips of both hands to kind of pump the sides a little, kind of like squeezing a pimple (gross, I know, but that was the best analogy I could think of. Lol). Hope this helps.
 
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