Really need help with testing :(

[Carlyfofarly]

I have been trying to get AMPS and PMPS since Sunday night and all but once have been fails. He just doesn’t produce blood droplets. At the most I see a little tiny speck and when I squeeze nothing and it seems to close immediately. I’ve been warming his ear with rice sock, putting Vaseline on, trying freehand and lancet device with 28g lancets, doing two little pokes side by side, been trying the outer part and inner part of ear all along the edge (I’ve seen the sweet spot pictures), I’m using a cotton round behind it and massaging and squeezing and absolutely no luck! He’s gotten to the point I’m stressing him out. He stops purring and tries to run away and tries to cover his ear with his paw. I don’t know what to do. I’m at a total loss and just feel like I’m failing him. The only number I actually did get was 19.9mmol so I have been continuing the 1U of Caninsulin each time but I don’t know where to go from here. Please help

 

[Mocha's_mom]

I just bought some 26g lancets off Amazon and they work much better. Sometimes I'll have to do 2 pokes right next to eachother and that helps. He's not thrilled about it, but I wouldn't dare give insulin without knowing where he's at. Today he shocked me with a low number (because he won't eat) so I'm grateful to know where he stands.

Do you have anyone that can help you? Maybe hold him down while you try?

Try poking about 1mm from the side of the ear, almost to the edge and then fold the ear back and forth. That helps sometimes with Mocha.

 

[Carlyfofarly]

I just bought some 26g lancets off Amazon and they work much better. Sometimes I'll have to do 2 pokes right next to eachother and that helps. He's not thrilled about it, but I wouldn't dare give insulin without knowing where he's at. Today he shocked me with a low number (because he won't eat) so I'm grateful to know where he stands.

Do you have anyone that can help you? Maybe hold him down while you try?

Try poking about 1mm from the side of the ear, almost to the edge and then fold the ear back and forth. That helps sometimes with Mocha.

I do the 2 pokes next to each other every time. I do poke him there. I’ve seen all the pictures about where the sweet spot is. No I don’t have anyone to help. I’ve tried wrapping him in blanket, tried to trap him under my legs while leaning over him, tried to just do it while he stands. I’m giving him insulin regardless because his numbers were sooo high and he eats non stop. He probably goes through 6-8 cans a day. He needs to gain the weight. And he has been acting like he is improving since the shots so I will continue it.

 

[Mocha's_mom]

I'm pretty new at this too. Not quite 1 week yet. But from what I've seen so far (when I'm able to test) is the Vetsulin/Caninsulin does cause a quick drop and then he goes right back up. So I think as long as Chester is eating, especially a lot then you're probably ok. Mocha didn't eat this morning so you can see how quickly it dropped after I gave him the shot. He's eating now so I'm gonna test again at +4 to make sure it's going back up. Otherwise I have some high carb food and Karo nearby if he goes low.

Wish I had more tips. I'm still learning (trying and failing, trying & succeeding) every day. I ordered the lancing device recommended by @Judy & Fritz which is supposed to come today. It has 26g lancets and she said Fritz did really good. I keep jabbing Mocha in the exact same spot so it's bleeding better. Doesn't help that my hubby poked all the way through yesterday and now he's got a scab (and a blood trail on the floor to prove it! -- I'm like "what the heck did you do?? That's a lotta blood!").

I can't really get the other ear because it's awkward for me. I do his right ear because I sit behind him on his right side. Maybe try the other ear if you haven't already? Who knows, maybe one bleeds better?

 

[Mocha's_mom]

Is he going back to the vet for the glucose curve? My vet recommended that after 1 week on insulin (and discouraged home testing). But since I'm comfortable testing I'm gonna try to do his curve at home on Sunday which will be one week. I'm scared to bring him back in and get abnormally high readings from the stress of the visit.

Did the vet show you how to check his glucose? Maybe bring him in and have one of the Vet techs try with your meter. It may be helpful to have another person there to watch your technique and see if they can help. Just a thought.

 

[Carlyfofarly]

I'm pretty new at this too. Not quite 1 week yet. But from what I've seen so far (when I'm able to test) is the Vetsulin/Caninsulin does cause a quick drop and then he goes right back up. So I think as long as Chester is eating, especially a lot then you're probably ok. Mocha didn't eat this morning so you can see how quickly it dropped after I gave him the shot. He's eating now so I'm gonna test again at +4 to make sure it's going back up. Otherwise I have some high carb food and Karo nearby if he goes low.

Wish I had more tips. I'm still learning (trying and failing, trying & succeeding) every day. I ordered the lancing device recommended by @Judy & Fritz which is supposed to come today. It has 26g lancets and she said Fritz did really good. I keep jabbing Mocha in the exact same spot so it's bleeding better. Doesn't help that my hubby poked all the way through yesterday and now he's got a scab (and a blood trail on the floor to prove it! -- I'm like "what the heck did you do?? That's a lotta blood!").

I can't really get the other ear because it's awkward for me. I do his right ear because I sit behind him on his right side. Maybe try the other ear if you haven't already? Who knows, maybe one bleeds better?

Yes that’s why I am keeping him on the shots. He was diagnosed Aug 3 so I’ve been reading on this forum since then so I know what I should be doing I just can’t get it to work. I’m in Canada and I can’t find 26g anything and those safety lancets are not available. I’ve done both of his ears as it’s been a week of testing twice a day and I haven’t been able to get it.
If he bled that much he must have hit the vein. Going right through their ear doesn’t do that. I’ve gone through on Chester’s and I don’t even get drops. If I can’t get his testing done myself yes I am taking him to the vet for his curve.