Big vs little drop of blood
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Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)
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I saw that with Bob. But, if you get a big drop, as long as you place the tip of the strip just close to the drop and let is "sip" the blood up the strip, you should get a more reliable reading. It didn't seem so much the size of the drop, but how quickly the strip gets blood on it. Sip rather than "drown". A lot of times with newer members who are just starting to test, they hit the vein, which gives you a flood of blood. But the meters are supposed to be used to check capillary blood, rather than venal blood, and the blood from the vein will also give you a higher reading that from the capillaries.
Carl
Carl
owlgal
Very Active Member
I think i have been hitting the vein rather than the capillaries. Lately i've been getting so much blood coming out of hole. I didn't think there were veins as much in the ears. How do you just get the caps? Maybe going to deep? Where is a good spot? What size gauge do you use? I used to use the 31guage, but was getting harder to get out blood, so switch back to 28guage. Is this too big of guage? What size guage do most of you use?
THanks!
lori
THanks!
lori
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Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)
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At first, I tried 33g without luck. I then went with a box of 26, then 28. By that time I was an "expert" and was able to use the 33s finally.
None of them, even the 26s are "too big" though.
If you hold a flashlight and shine it through his ear, you should be able to see the main vein that runs all around the edge, about 1/4 or 1/8 inch from the edge. You want to poke between that and the edge. Sounds like not much room, but given the tiny size of the lancet, there's plenty of space. Have you ever seen this pic? Not necessarily the "sweet spot", but it shows the veins and all the little capillaries too.
Carl
None of them, even the 26s are "too big" though.
If you hold a flashlight and shine it through his ear, you should be able to see the main vein that runs all around the edge, about 1/4 or 1/8 inch from the edge. You want to poke between that and the edge. Sounds like not much room, but given the tiny size of the lancet, there's plenty of space. Have you ever seen this pic? Not necessarily the "sweet spot", but it shows the veins and all the little capillaries too.
Carl
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Teresa and Poopy
Very Active Member
I second the flashlight! You may get a bit of head action of kitty following the light on the ceiling, but you'll also get a good idea of where the veins are.
And there is a difference of sip versus dunk readings. If the drop is large enough, and you think you may have dunked, test again using the same drop and try to sip.
(One reason I scoop the droplet onto the back of my nail.)
And there is a difference of sip versus dunk readings. If the drop is large enough, and you think you may have dunked, test again using the same drop and try to sip.
(One reason I scoop the droplet onto the back of my nail.)
owlgal
Very Active Member
Very good info. SOmetimes i get the sip. I think i've been hitting the vein all along. Easy to see his vein. But trying not to hit it and get beside it is going to be a challenge. His ears look like a battle zone. He just doesn't like to get pricked no matter what kind of treats i offer him. He always flicks his head around right before i prick. SOmetimes he is better than other times and i can get him without sticking too deep. But when he flicks, it's hard not too.
I wish someone would invent an iv of sorts to implant in their vein so that we could moitor 24hrs. THey can do it for humans, why not cats or dogs? WIsh i had the money and brains to do this. WOuld make it so much easier.
Lori
I wish someone would invent an iv of sorts to implant in their vein so that we could moitor 24hrs. THey can do it for humans, why not cats or dogs? WIsh i had the money and brains to do this. WOuld make it so much easier.
Lori
Teresa and Poopy
Very Active Member
A bit of triple antibiotic ointment rubbed into his ears at night will help him heal faster. :smile:
About the flick...Poopy will do that too, so that's why I "trap" his ear under my thumb, holding it firm against something when I poke (I use a folded paper towel). If he tries to flick, all he gets is head movement. The ear stays in place. :mrgreen:
About the flick...Poopy will do that too, so that's why I "trap" his ear under my thumb, holding it firm against something when I poke (I use a folded paper towel). If he tries to flick, all he gets is head movement. The ear stays in place. :mrgreen:
Teresa and Poopy
Very Active Member
Great!
hmjohnston
Very Active Member
Teresa-
I liked your nail idea. I usually try to prick it enough to start, get out my strip and put it in and go back to the ear- which may or may not still be easily accessible (depending on her mood). After I get the blood I hold the ear to stop the bleeding- sometimes I do get venial shots and if I don't act fast she flicks blood all over the place! Sometimes the test didn't "go" or the numbers look wonky and I don't want to retest the ear. On the nail will definitely help me.
And I didn't know that the numbers would be higher with a gusher than a beader.
HMJ
I liked your nail idea. I usually try to prick it enough to start, get out my strip and put it in and go back to the ear- which may or may not still be easily accessible (depending on her mood). After I get the blood I hold the ear to stop the bleeding- sometimes I do get venial shots and if I don't act fast she flicks blood all over the place! Sometimes the test didn't "go" or the numbers look wonky and I don't want to retest the ear. On the nail will definitely help me.
And I didn't know that the numbers would be higher with a gusher than a beader.
HMJ
Teresa and Poopy
Very Active Member
If you get your strip to "sip" it's better than a "dunk", regardless of it's cap or vein blood. But vein blood will run a bit higher. I try to look at the trend...not just the one number. :smile:
I learned about the nail early on (a tip from the friendly folks here!), when Poopy wasn't to pleased with the whole ordeal (we were learning) and many a drop was smeared across his ear from him squirming. :roll: Now I do it every time, holding the poke spot almost immediately after scooping. Has helped Poopy too, keeping his ears less bruised.
I learned about the nail early on (a tip from the friendly folks here!), when Poopy wasn't to pleased with the whole ordeal (we were learning) and many a drop was smeared across his ear from him squirming. :roll: Now I do it every time, holding the poke spot almost immediately after scooping. Has helped Poopy too, keeping his ears less bruised.
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