5/18 Junior AMPS 110

[MauiGuppy]

Good morning Lantus Land!
I hadn't read your comments from yesterday's post until this morning. You guys make me laugh and brighten my day! Yes, when we were living in LA, we flew to Chicago often enough to the point where I asked the airlines if he could get frequent flyer miles. Answer was no.

Anyway, yesterday was another day learning to ear poke. I feel less anxious thanks to the advice I've gotten and with his numbers being the way they are, I don't feel stressed that I have to find blood every 20 minutes to prevent a hypo. I think I need a bigger lancet for bigger holes. Junior's ears bleed on the inside but nothing is coming out, even with the Neosporin to bead the blood. Even when I poke myself I barely bleed.

I read the Reli-on lancet device is good so I'll stop by a Walmart when I'm in the burbs today. I also think I need to hold his head better because it's hard to aim when he keeps moving his head. Another day, another day to to get better.

Thanks for stopping by today and hope you all have a wonderful day!
Bonnie

ps, this is the picture of when Junior bit me on Sunday after all the pokes. The camera phone isn't that clear but the bruise actually goes all the way up to the other red teeth marks and over to the edge of my t-shirt. He also got my hands and forearms. Yeah, it was a bad day for both of us. See the bags under my eyes?

 

[Ann & Maggie11 (GA)]

Good morning, and it's a nice AMPS for Junior. A lot of the Beans use the Relion meter; It's easy to use and swipes up the smallest bead of blood. Have a nice day.

 

[Melissa & Tarragon]

Good morning Bonnie and Junior! Ouch on the bruises!! Good luck with the pokes. You have to learn what works best for your cat. I actually have the best luck pinning Tarragon between me (sitting) and the sofa arm and testing him that way. I never thought he would ever allow it, but he is actually pretty good about it anymore. He hates to be tested at night though and I have to straddle him between my knees on the ground.

Hope you have a great day!

 

[PeterDevonMocha]

Hi guys .. we use the relion meter too, and have always had luck with it .. of course, we never came out of battle with the scars you have! ouch! Hopefully the larger lancets will help .. have a great day guys!

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

good heavens, your arm looks awful! i've just been reading about Bartonella's (cat scratch fever) and your arm sent up all of my red flags. Look in marjorie's condo for the links on it - you might want to get your arm looked at, especially if junior's got the risk factors for bartonella's. punkin has every single one of them, so i'm going to get that test done when i get him checked for acro this week. my mom got cat scratch fever from one of my previous cats and she was horribly sick for about a week with it - probably should've gone to the hospital.

if he continues to give you grief, i'd burrito him for a while. it really isn't so bad and they stop struggling. punkin is especially wiggly and uncooperative in the mornings when he's hungry.

hahahaha ETA: before i saw your picture i was going to say "great amps!" :lol:

 

[Stephanie&Willy]

Ouch!!!! Oh my goodness!!! That looks painful!!

We do pad pricks on Willy because he reacts so badly to ear pricks.. you're much braver than we are.



I don't know if any of this would be helpful to you or if I'm repeating information you already know (most likely) but:

Are you warming the ear? Some also suggest massaging it from either side toward the area you're pricking (so from by the top of their head outward, bottom on their head near their whiskers upward and inward). I think I read the blood flows from the top of their head (where the ear is) around and down so by massaging in this way, it kinda gathers the blood in one spot a little bit better. I am not sure if any of this makes sense. I am having a hard time with words today :lol: :lol:

Bigger lances help-- I think a lot suggest 28 for ear pokes? Also double poking (one poke right next to the other in quick succession) helps A LOT.

I have read for cats that don't bleed enough (but do bleed) that you can scrape the blood up with your nail and test it off your nail.

I have read that people use calming collars for testing and comfort zone/feliway. Also some have suggested that until the cat adapts to testing you can use the heavy gardening gloves (leather) with the fingertips cut out to protect yourself. Kitty burrito works too but it seems like you might need some teef protection (at least he's feeling feisty enough to fight!! ;-) ;-) )




We use the ReliOn Micro.. I like it a lot.