Beginning prozinc

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Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
It won't hurt your cat. The point is that you want to get blood on the first try or two and a larger lancet will do that. With the tiny ones, both you and the cat can become frustrated. So 25/27 gauge.

Once you have poked a few days or weeks, the capillaries will start to be more full of blood and a smaller lancet may work just fine. But in the beginning, it is almost as though they have to "learn to bleed"
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Do you warm the ear like everyone has said?
 
Here's what I bought today. If I can't get help I won't test him tonight. He just ate his dinner.
 

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Yes make sure the ear is warm. Some use a baby sock with some rice in it and warmed in the microwave. I just vigorously rub Colin's ear for several seconds and poke very near the edge. Have you watched a few of the videos and seen the picture of where to poke?
 
If you feel up to it. It sometimes takes a few try's to get it right, so the sooner you start, the sooner you'll get good at it! The most important thing is to relax and don't forget the treat after, even if you don't get any blood. He will learn there's a treat involved and will start to look forward to testing time.
 
Remember that the first few times you test might be frustrating. Our rule of thumb is to try 3 times then take a break for 10 minutes or so. Taht way you both aren't frustrated. :)
 
Didn't get to test him. I needed help and my neighbor wasn't available. I got the relion confirm, test strips, and 26 gauge lancets. Now I just have to break down and watch the video and test him!
 
Yeah, tonight I am going to test and see if he is still high as he was at vet. His diabetes came out of nowhere after only being on steroids for 6 weeks. That is why don't feel confident to rush into the insulin until I can test at home. I will probably go to my vet after I get a reading and get a good diet down him. I don't know what else to do but this is my plan for now.
 
You can do this! I agree with @Sharon14 try mixing the foods. Some people also suggest putting 2 bowls side by side, 1 with the old food and 1 with the new.
 
https://www.calvetsupply.com/product/2060/U40_Insulin_Syringes
Thats where I get my syringes and while not superbly sharp, they are $11/100 and my last purchase was 600 of them. Over the past two years I've used 500+. I used to use the Ulti care ones which were very sharp but got sporadic being in stock.
I'll give him some of the Fancy Feast but as for dry food I use the Young Again which is excellent but $5/lb. Superior to Purina and Royal Cainin for keeping the numbers down. With the other "Prescription" diets, I saw the glucose numbers rise. Using that he was off PZ for awhile before pancreatitis caused him to go back on a year ago.
I call him over, give him a scratch, put him on my lap with his front paws on the table, poke him, test him, give him his shot and then tell him "ok, lets go". He then runs off to the cage where he gets his food. If your cat doesn't mind the lap sitting, doing it is very easy it just takes a few weeks till you get really sure that you don't miss with the insulin aka "fur shot". With a 1/2" needle I can pull up and shoot the juice straight in.
 
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