BG testing Spots

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EddiesMom

EddiesMom

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Just curious,

is it safe to take a drop of blood on his paw pads instead of his ears?

i've tried 5 times, and 4 times no luck on his ears - or not getting enough to come out..
probably lack of experience, but at this time as i am learning ... is it safe to use his paw?

tks!
Levels are good today 6.9 / 124
 
Yes you can use the paw pad if you are having a hard time with using his ears. Just make sure to watch it so he doesn't get it infected from using the litter box etc.

One trick I learned to help with the ear pokes is to use the lancet pen but without the cap. That way I could see better where I was poking and still had the quickness of the lancet device. Worked like a charm for me, but you will figure out what works best for you and Eddie.

Mel
 
Yes, you can use paw pads, just try to keep it clean. Ears "learn" to bleed in time. Have you tried:

1. Warming the ear? You can massage the ear or use a warmed rice sock.

2. A thin smear of vaseline on the ear? It helps the blood bead up instead of flowing into the hair.

3. Do you put something firm behind the ear? I used to use a folded up paper towel. It also keeps you from poking yourself and you can use it to put a little pressure on the ear after getting blood.
 
never tried paper towel, i should....
i will try ears again, once he's comfortable approaching me again!!! it seems i have traumatized the poor little man ;-)
 
Massaging the ear before you try to get blood also helps. If you combine it with head scritches, you cat usually doesn't mind. Also after you prick the ear, continue massaging it to get the blood to flow towards where you are trying to get blood.
 
It was my first time tonight and it took almost an hour to do it right. Every time he heard the pop of the lancer he flinched and I ended up missing and went on the paper towel. Eventually I took the cap off and used the lancet by itself like the youtube video and it worked. I kinda thought I would have to prick again and I had not pricked hard enough but massaging his ear around the prick it started to come out and that was a surprise. I will try w/ the pen but it's hard to judge exactly where it is going to land if you're new at it.
Good luck -- plenty of wonderful help on here though to guide you through it.
 
Kristine, you will find a way that works best for you and Eddie. Give it time and try to relax. He will too. I found that out many years ago when we first started out. My hubby would hold him and I would try to poke. Tigger just freaked and didn't understand what was going on. Then my DH went out of town and I was forced to do it by myself. I relaxed, Tigger relaxed and we got blood!

You really do need to make sure the ear is warm. I don't bother with the rice sock anymore, although many still do that here - an individual thing. I use a thin wash cloth, run it under warm water, put it in a sandwich baggie that I keep for just that purpose, then zap it in the microwave for ten seconds. Works fine!

Your lancet gauge is important too. Don't go with too fine a gauge. I tried with a higher gauge (higher means smaller) and settled with a 28 gauge lancet. Some will have success with a higher gauge. Each cat's ears are different. I didn't ever need to use vaseline for instance either, but with a cat with long hair on their ears that would be a good idea.

Plus I don't put anything behind his ear other than my finger. I don't get poked. But, again, this is an individual thing.

In the end what works for you is what is important. Lots of good suggestions here in this thread. Good luck. You will do fine. After a while you will have the routine down and it will be no problem for either of you. :)
 
H i
I am new to this also.. Jack really hates to have his ears touched period.I noticed the vet used a roll of adhecive tape so I tried it and so far it has worked for me .. \i tried my finger but he moved and I got myself ..
good luck
Kathy & Jack
 
Kristine -

I don't know if you saw this video - but it's in the Health Links and then in the Home testing tips. A bunch of video and photo links to give you an idea of how various owners do it. I used this tonight and immediately drew blood and Ozzie didn't even notice. It might work for you too. The sweet spot did not work for me, neither going from the inside. I placed the paper towel under the area where she said and on the inside, I pricked the outside on the edge just above the flap - came out immediately did not have to massage. He was off my knee and didn't know what had happened, unlike last night which was an ordeal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NTvGq8xMeU

Last night I did the lancet without the pen b/c I couldn't judge at all and from the inside and today his ears are all bruised and battered. I looked for an hour at various videos and found this was very good and you can clearly see what she is doing.

Good luck and keep looking at various videos, one will suit you and Eddie.
 
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