Herman gets something similar especially when maybe I didn’t hold a ear for long enough after a poke and it scabs up a bit and the blood dries I find putting some Vaseline on it helps soften them up again but they do feel like he’s formed permanent scar like ridges on his ears….. that said he doesn’t seem to notice the pokes at all so I don’t think it hurts him. He’s almost cuddly when I do it. A far cry from our disastrous first few tries! I’ve also noticed that I have to use the Lancet at a different height for each ear …one needs to go deeper than the other to draw blood. A final observation ….on days when his numbers are a little high and I do less pokes when I do poke I find it harder to get blood sometimes it takes me a few tries on days where I’ve had to poke a lot because his numbers are low I get a perfect little drop of blood every time, it seems.
Amy, thanks so much for your insights. I put Vaseline on Chispa's ears before poking them to help the blood bead up on top of the fur, and I apply pressure with a cotton pad wrapped over the edge of her ear after the poke, but still, I guess it's just an accumulation of tiny scars over time. Very surprised to hear that Herm doesn't mind the pokes or even notice them!! Chispa gets up in my lap and purrs while I'm getting my supplies ready, then squawks when I test her, and then goes back to purring when she gets the treats.
Herman will occasionally shake his head, but that’s it as far as acknowledging the poke…however….if he is in a grumpy mood in general…there’s no hope of even getting close enough to him to pet him let alone poke his ear.
Hi Karen
I can just imagine …Herman will occasionally shake his head, but that’s it as far as acknowledging the poke…however….if he is in a grumpy mood in general…there’s no hope of even getting close enough to him to pet him let alone poke his ear.
Hi Diane — Thanks for this tip. I have some pure coconut oil in my kitchen cabinet already, and I am going to try this right now! I don’t see why you couldn’t use it in place of Vaseline for testing too. It seems like it would be healthier for them if they are going to groom their ears and lick it off of their paws.
I’m sorry this is happening to Biggie too. Obviously it’s a thing. Let’s all try coconut oil and see if we can get those furry little ears back to normal!
Thanks, Diane. Chispa says, “Me too!” I’ll report back in a week or so.
I for one am going to get the pure coconut oil for myself. All the rinse up of feeding bowls and spoons and wet food cans in hot water made my hands super dry, plus the scratches gained from playing with Oreo. Ah, time to give him a manicure!
Good thinking! For years I had this in my house and used it for everything, but I got away from it…It is good stuff though!I for one am going to get the pure coconut oil for myself. All the rinse up of feeding bowls and spoons and wet food cans in hot water made my hands super dry, plus the scratches gained from playing with Oreo. Ah, time to give him a manicure!
So true! I’ll bet we could all use a coconut oil manicure, if not a complete spa day by now.I for one am going to get the pure coconut oil for myself. All the rinse up of feeding bowls and spoons and wet food cans in hot water made my hands super dry, plus the scratches gained from playing with Oreo. Ah, time to give him a manicure!
Diabetes care seen from the cat's point of view, in a nutshell
