BG testing question

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jkbank

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Hi All

Thank goodness I am back to regularly testing Gem, she seems to tolerate it pretty well, as long as I'm quick about it. And she definitely looks for her treat after!!

Just wondering - do you poke from the back of the ear in, or from inside to out (does that make sense?)? Also, do you switch off ears? I'm a righty so I always seem to hold her one way and poke the same ear, but I wonder if I should be rotating.

Also, I know everyone says don't aim for the vein or it will bleed a lot, but I seem to need to hit that large vein running down the side of the ear vertically to get enough blood. I've yet to have a gusher! Is it a problem to poke the vein?

Gem's ears are starting to look a little battered, like when the light shines through her ears I can see the pin pricks - is that typical?

Thanks so much!
 
jkbank said:
...Just wondering - do you poke from the back of the ear in, or from inside to out (does that make sense?)? Also, do you switch off ears? I'm a righty so I always seem to hold her one way and poke the same ear, but I wonder if I should be rotating.

From the outside of the ear, inward is how I did it, but folks with dark furred cats sometimes go from the inside since they can see better.
And I tried to switch off ears, though I'm a righty too. It would help to reverse Spitzer's position on my lap when using the opposite ear.

jkbank said:
...Also, I know everyone says don't aim for the vein or it will bleed a lot, but I seem to need to hit that large vein running down the side of the ear vertically to get enough blood. I've yet to have a gusher! Is it a problem to poke the vein?

Gem's ears are starting to look a little battered, like when the light shines through her ears I can see the pin pricks - is that typical?...

Getting the vein is more likely to cause bruising. Be prepared to apply direct pressure immediately after getting the blood, possibly with a cold washcloth to help vasoconstriction.

And yes, they will look a bit battered if you're having to make multiple pricks to get blood, or hit the vein often due to bruises and scabs. Your technique may improve as you gain experience.

A dab of neosporin with pain relief both helps the blood bead up, reduces some of the annoyance of pricking, and may help healing. Apply a dab a few minutes prior to testing, wipe off, test, apply direct pressure, and optionally, clean the ear of any residue.
 
You can poke on either side of the ear...with Musette since her ears are light colored I poke on the outside (furry side) on Autumn who's ears are black I poke on the inside (non-furry side). With both girls for the most part I use the same ear, although if I'm running a curve I try to alternate which ear I'm using but if it is just preshots and nadir checks I use the same ear, because..well one bleeds better than the other.

I also find the tip of both of their ears bleed the best without hitting the vein...if I go to the outside of the ear I almost always hit the vein and then look like a CSI crime scene..lol. I don't think there is much problem with hitting the vein occassionally except that you usually get a gusher, but you really aren't testing Gem all that often and you need to be quick with her because of the Cushings, so unless someone else knows why not to hit the vein in this case I would think its better to know you can be quick than shooting blind or risking her skin tearing. But then again I just don't know, no real experience in that department.

Also never having a kitty with Gem's added health problems but trying to think logically, I would think because of how frail her skin is right now that her ears would show the holes longer than a cat that their only problem was diabetes. At least my way of thinking if her skin can tear and not heal well or fast then those tiny little pokes (tears) that the lancet makes isn't going to heal real fast either.

Hopefully someone with more experience can help out with those other questions.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette, Autumn & The Fur Gang
 
Thanks guys, that all makes sense. Every so often I try testing the other side, but it's definitely less comfortable for me, which in turn makes her squirm more.

As for the vein, like I said, no gushers! I do apply pressure right after no matter what. Haven't done the neosporin, mostly because I"m looking to get in and out as fast as I can :)

Mel, that makes sense re pin pricks not healing as quickly as other cats w/o Cushing's. What's the word on sweet Musette?
 
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