BG testing question

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Tomtomsmom

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Hi, still a relatively newbie here with a question for those who have cats that at first did not like or reacted badly to BG testing. I am going to start attempting to test on his ears today (have been only doing his urine) since we have not started on insulin yet (Sunday is our date with the vet) and I am afraid Tom is not going to take the testing well. I have seen many youtube videos, but I am wondering what do you do, if your cat gets angry, growls, hisses and puts up a general fight. I am so anxious that my big boy is going to react this way and that I am so going totally fail at this. After reading this blog for the last couple of weeks, there is just no way I am going to give my baby insulin w/o testing him first.

How do I get him to at least tolerate the testing....HELP. BF and I have been totally anxious and overwhelmed after Tom got his diagnosis. nailbite_smile

Thank you all again,
 
You could start by getting him used to the tester, the lancet, and having his ears warmed up. Some folks use a pill bottle with water, some use a rice sock, I just rub Hobbs' ears because that seems to work the best for him. Maybe do some mock runs where you don't stick him and follow it up with a treat. So I rub Hobbs ears, get the tester ready, then hold him with my left arm, hold his ear against a paper towel also with my left hand, and then poke/test with my right. So you could do all that (or whatever set up feels comfortable) just don't stick him (and don't set the meter up or you'll waste strips but maybe make it beep if you can) and give him a treat. That way he can associate the whole process with getting a treat. :)

Hobbs tolerates it really well so I guess I'm lucky all around with that. He hates having his ears futzed with though but he usually lets me test him.
 
I think your concerns and fears may transfer to your cat, so just relax as best you can.
Testing is necessary and so you should feel good about it, not fearful.

Test yourself. Use the lancet device and make adjustments to the depth.
Next, test yourself with a lancet freehand; many people poke freehand, but I think it will help you to know how each method feels yourself and then you will know what your cat is feeling.

I have to say that my cats come to me to remind me of testing, or else I have to find them and test while they are sleeping. most times, they can't be bothered to wake up fully, so it sure can't be hurting them much, right?

you may be nervous the first few times, and your cat may be thinking HUH? but you will both settle into it quickly.

if you have any difficulties, just post and lots of the others can give you tips to help.
 
Mikey has never growled or hissed at me, but he does wiggle and cry and carry on when he gets tested. He knows there's a treat coming, and he inhales them, but still acts like a goober. Half the time he hollers like a nerd BEFORE I even stick him. I handle his ears between pricks, rub on neosporin (which I think he hates at least as much as the pokies), handle him regularly. He isn't fooled.

Testing him on my lap doesn't work for me, mainly because I can never get good enough light; he always manages to make me turn so it blocks the light, and it's harder to hold him still. I test him on the kitchen island instead, because the light is better and because the height is easier for me to hang onto him. I get everything ready first and push the strip into the meter at the very last second. Then I use my right arm to pin him against my side with the elbow, hold the lancet in my right hand and a cotton ball in the left, select the ear and poke. I prick the back of the ear; some people like the inside better. Then I firmly hold the ear and cotton ball with my left hand, grab the meter, and get the test. Once I have it, I quickly drop the lancet (I freehand; never could get blood with the pen) and move the cotton ball to apply pressure to the hole for a few seconds (or as long as I can because Mikey is usually squirming like a nut by then)while the meter reads the strip. Mikey runs to the fridge for his treat (I keep them on top) and we're done. Some people keep the treats right there as they test; I can't because Mikey is even worse when I have the treats there and spends the whole time trying to get away from me and into the treats. It's definitely a challenge, but we get it done!
 
Yeah, that's exactly what I am afraid of transferring my anxiety over to Tom. He is generally such a mush and very sweet and loving. I hate that he is sick and BF and I are adamant that we want to do right by him and if that means poking him in the ear a few times a day, than that's what it's going to be. I don't feel bad over it, I am just hoping he allows us to do it so that we can get him healthy.

Thank you for you kind words of encouragement. :mrgreen:

Mimi
 
Both of my two diabetics were adopted as diabetics, neither of them knew me from Adam when I started testing their ears...Maxwell is a big boy so he gets tested while sitting next to me, while Musette is a tiny little petite girl so her I test while she is on my lap...Maxwell was always easy to test he is just a go with the flow kind of guy...Musette on the other hand...she was a whole different story, she would slap, growl, and bite when I would go to test her at first. So in the beginning with her I tried the kitty burrito, she squirmed out of that, so into a pillow case she went...lol

Now both of them come running when they hear me shake the magic treat box and assume the position to be test, even though Maxwell has been in remission for over a year, he still comes when it is time to test, so now he gets the treat without the ear pokes. :lol:

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang
 
Wow, your story sounds very promising. I am hoping my big boy will go with the flow. He did better than I thought with the oral antibiotics and I am praying that he will learn to handle this (actually, its probably me more that needs learn than him).

Thank you for your helpful post, Mimi
 
Ruby has adapted to the testing really well. Every now and then she'll give me grief, but not often.

I sit on the floor with my legs crossed. I pick her up, tuck her bum under her and nestle her down into my lap. That way she can't get the leverage to jump up and run. I think I'm lucky in that she's always loved a good firm ear rub. I'm making sure I sit on the floor more often to pet her so she doesn't think that the only time I get down its to do something mean to her. I also talk to her the whole time, telling her what a good girl she is and I have a terrible habit of making up silly songs with her name in them.
 
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