Difficulty Home Testing

[Jacquie]

Hi All,

Oliver has been on insulin for about two weeks now, and does not enjoy but reasonably tolerates his insulin injections most of the time. I have been trying to home test his BG, but he absolutely will not abide it. Even if he is in deep sleep, he somehow seems to know that I am coming to test his ears and will fight it tooth and nail. I have been petting him and playing with his ears on non test occasions which he doesn't mind at all, but come time to get the little poke, he will do anything to avoid it. Even on the occasions when I am capable of pricking his ear and drawing blood, he won't let me near enough to him after the poke to get the blood onto the test strip or my fingernail, or he will jerk away, smearing the blood on my hand or the wall in the process.

Its just me and Oliver, so I don't have anyone who can keep him in place or anything and I'm not sure that would work anyway. I have tried rewarding him with treats or his favorite food when he gets the poke but it doesn't seem to have the desired effect, he just goes after the food and won't sit still for the poke.

Anyone have any advice for this situation? or if not, just encouragement that he might get more used to it? Its hard to know whether the insulin is working without the testing but I'm not sure he is going to ever come around. Thanks

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Bump

 

[tiffmaxee]

I used to test Max in one spot. I put him in the bathroom sink. It was the perfect height for me. So he knew he was safe everywhere else. I gave him a treat after each poke. He was way though. When I started fluids he was not easy. I found a special treat he loved. He only got it after fluids. Soon he waited after we were done if I forgot the treat instead of running under my bed.it will get easier. Give a treat every time, even if you are not successful in getting blood. Good luck.

 

[Ann & Sister]

It's just me and Oliver, so I don't have anyone who can keep him in place or anything and I'm not sure that would work anyway. I have tried rewarding him with treats or his favorite food when he gets the poke but it doesn't seem to have the desired effect, he just goes after the food and won't sit still for the poke.

Anyone have any advice for this situation? or if not, just encouragement that he might get more used to it? Its hard to know whether the insulin is working without the testing but I'm not sure he is going to ever come around. Thanks

Sister actually jumps up onto my bed now to get her test done. I have her morning gravy/wet food in a dish sitting nearby and she knows it comes next.
She purrs and bumps the testing kit with her head! Amazing. So they do get used to it.
I use the blue ReliOn lancet device with the CLEAR end so I can see where I am poking. No sense in accidentally hitting a vein causing unnecessary pain.
I tried free hand ONCE, and I just poked right through the ear. I do not need blood flowing on both sides of the ear. The device gives me the right depth once set.
Earlier, months back, I "sandwiched" Sister, facing forward, in between my lounge chair arm and me so I had better control and access to her head.
Good luck,

 

[Hshray]

I had a lot of trouble testing when we first started. I ended up having luck with giving him a little bit of Tiki Cat tuna while testing. I would only give it to him at testing times, and if he wanted a treat he would have to let get tested in order to get one…it’s the only thing that worked for us (we tried allll of the freeze dried treat varieties) but he’s amazing at it now after we hunkered down and really worked with him on it. The way it started I never thought he would be ok with it, but it does get much better after they get into a routine and finally associate it with something they like.

 

[Marc & Cooper]

Cooper took to his insulin extremely well but wasn’t a big fan of testing early on. Now at the sound of me opening the test strips he comes running from wherever he is and gets into position on his tree.

My advice would be is find his favorite place (Coopers is his tall cat tree where he eats and drinks and sleeps a lot) and make sure he knows that he will get a treat each time you even attempt to do a test. It takes time but eventually he will come running when he knows it’s test time. Make sure you talk to him in a calming voice as well. Cats sense frustration, fear, nervousness and pretty much any mood you give off. Give him some affection before you test him and make sure he knows it’s ok. If you have to make sure he can see his bag of treats so he knows what comes once he gets tested.