Can't get a blood sample

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Bruce Blount

Bruce Blount

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Cannot get blood from his ear - holding a flashlight to see the vein, trying to get a drop of blood, while he is fighting me - just isn't working - I have tried 7 times so far....should I use an alternate site? Also, although I an giving what the vet recommended - 3 units twice daily, his litter is saturated with urine - indicating he is drinking a LOT of water. Advice?
 
Bruce Blount said:
Cannot get blood from his ear - holding a flashlight to see the vein, trying to get a drop of blood, while he is fighting me - just isn't working - I have tried 7 times so far....should I use an alternate site? Also, although I a giving what the vet recommended - 3 units twice daily, his litter is saturated with urine - indicating he is drinking a LOT of water. Advice?
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Hi Bruce,

We have had success here with the paw pad. One person holding the cat and the other going for the rear pad. A little vaseline helps the drop form.

Has anyone talked to you about getting a spreadsheet setup?
 
Bruce Blount said:
Cannot get blood from his ear - holding a flashlight to see the vein, trying to get a drop of blood, while he is fighting me - just isn't working - I have tried 7 times so far....should I use an alternate site? Also, although I an giving what the vet recommended - 3 units twice daily, his litter is saturated with urine - indicating he is drinking a LOT of water. Advice?
Click to expand...

Welcome to the Forum Bruce, it is difficult at times when you start to test for you as well as your cat to get use to testing, but is very important to test before each shot, you do not want to shoot on a very low BG to avoid hypoglycemia, a suggestion I can give, is that just before testing you have all you need to do so handy, sit you cat close to you caress him for a bit, let him see the stuff, so he gets used to seeing what you do, take a small sock and fill it with rice knot it, place it inside the ball of the ear holding her head slightly in between the ear, have the strip already in the monitor, I place the flashlight in my mouth ( a small one) you can look at the other side first to you can see the veins, then slightly pinch the best place to start at least for me, was the tip of the ear the vein is larger, within time the capillaries will swell, an it will be much easier for the both of you, as you both learn to get tested, you can go to the sweet spot, below is a link on how to test also, you can give a low carb treat such a small piece of ham, so your kitty can relate that testing means a treat afterwards, try not to stress, cats are very sensitive to stress, so take a step back breath in and breath out, and before you know it will a breeze for both of you, also below is a link to help us help you by creating your signature and spreadsheet so we can assist you in your concerns we need to know more about your cat, such as what insulin you use, labs, if any, what are you feeding, how often do you feed , when you create your signature you will know what to add to it, and where are you from so if needed to guide your information accordingly, if you need assistance to create the spreadsheet or signature, post us and we will help you:bighug::cat::cat:
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/
 
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Bruce, you are not saying when your cat was diagnosed, but for the record it is also very important the food a diabetic cat consumes, diabetic cats need to consume a diet of between 0-10% carbs, wet can foods, kibbles(dry foods) contain approximately between 25-30% carbs do not get sold by your Vet on "Prescribed" food, these foods contain between 20% carbs or more, Vets make commission on these foods, plus the fact that your cat's BG will never regulate because of the high Carbs being consumed, causing for the pancreas not to heal, and more unneeded Vet visits, below is a Drs Food list, here in the Forum like to go by, there are many brands to choose from, the third column contains the % of carb for each food., you should also have handy what we call a HYPO KIT, this should contain KARO syrup or honey, some medium carb foods between 11-15% and some high carbs between 16-24%, this is to be used in a case where the BG goes below 50, but we can help you hike it up with a food protocol, Karo and Honey are only a quick fix, Here in the Forum many of the members enjoy the Fancy Feast Pates, many flavors from 0-10% to choose from and they are US regulated, so no waste goes into their foods, for me the most important factor for a diabetic cats, is the low carb foods, and the dosing, and unfortunately many Vets treat Feline diabetes like they treat dogs, they are not too familiar with FD, so always ask ask ask,:bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-chart.174147/
 
Tim & Pookey said:
Hi Bruce,

We have had success here with the paw pad. One person holding the cat and the other going for the rear pad. A little vaseline helps the drop form.

Has anyone talked to you about getting a spreadsheet setup?
Click to expand...
I do have a spreadsheet designed for me - but I am an old man, confused about stuff like this, and I need to learn about it.
 
Bruce Blount said:
I do have a spreadsheet designed for me - but I am an old man, confused about stuff like this, and I need to learn about it.
Click to expand...
Do you mean someone here on the forum (like Bandits Mom) set one up for you? If not she or someone can make one and I’ll ask the moderators for help for you. Or do you mean yes she set one up but you need to figure out how to fill it in? If that’s the case most of us can help you when you have time—I know right now you’re crazy busy taking care of you kitty so paperwork can be a bit later.
I think everyone gave you all the useful tips (maybe they didn’t mention treats? I use a high value, low carb treat that he only gets for tests after I’ve tested. Some let them eat while testing but my boy yanks his head away because he’s afraid I’m trying to steal his treat then.

it’s going to be more difficult since your boy is black. It’s tough to see blood on black ears. If you use a paw pad use a non-weight bearing pad
 
One thing that may help on a black cat, I’ve read and seen videos (like this one from AAHA
) that say you can test inside the ear as well as outside…i said this once before and was criticized for it but for what it’s worth, some say it can be done and in a pinch in a black cat you might consider it.
 
SmallestSparrow said:
Do you mean someone here on the forum (like Bandits Mom) set one up for you? If not she or someone can make one and I’ll ask the moderators for help for you. Or do you mean yes she set one up but you need to figure out how to fill it in? If that’s the case most of us can help you when you have time—I know right now you’re crazy busy taking care of you kitty so paperwork can be a bit later.
I think everyone gave you all the useful tips (maybe they didn’t mention treats? I use a high value, low carb treat that he only gets for tests after I’ve tested. Some let them eat while testing but my boy yanks his head away because he’s afraid I’m trying to steal his treat then.

it’s going to be more difficult since your boy is black. It’s tough to see blood on black ears. If you use a paw pad use a non-weight bearing pad
Click to expand...
Good to use a small flashlight on black hair, I place mine in my mouth to have free hands, It make so much easier to see the drop of blood:bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
 
Bruce Blount said:
I do have a spreadsheet designed for me - but I am an old man, confused about stuff like this, and I need to learn about it.
Click to expand...


Maybe this will make it easier to understand how to enter numbers on the spreadsheet
About the spreadsheet to make it easier for you to understand
AMPS - means AM Pre Shot the first test you take in the AM that number goes there ,you need to withhold food 2 hours before testing so it's not food influenced

Units is where you would put how much insulin you gave


+1 is one hour after giving insulin if you were to test then that's where you enter his _BG number
+2 two hours after giving insulin. ditto
+3 and so on until you get to PMPS - PM pre shot withhold food 2 hours before testing

+1 same as you do for AM cycle

We don't give times because we are all in different time zones that's why we use the + numbers



You can look at any members spreadsheet to see what it looks like, it's at the end of everyone's signature just tap on it

On the spreadsheet where you put the dates, you just put the dates
Like
11-12 next line under that
11-13 then
11-14 and so on


Take a look at Tim and Pookey's spreadsheet just to see what it looks like

https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/11-27-pookey-amps-273-8-233.296048/#post-3223639

Tap on where it says Pookey's spreadsheet

Have you started home testing yet ? If so can you add what meter you are using to your signature

@Bruce Blount
 
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Diane Tyler's Mom GA said:
Maybe this will make it easier to understand how to enter numbers on the spreadsheet
About the spreadsheet to make it easier for you to understand
AMPS - means AM Pre Shot the first test you take in the AM that number goes there ,you need to withhold food 2 hours before testing so it's not food influenced

Units is where you would put how much insulin you gave


+1 is one hour after giving insulin if you were to test then that's where you enter his _BG number
+2 two hours after giving insulin. ditto
+3 and so on until you get to PMPS - PM pre shot withhold food 2 hours before testing

+1 same as you do for AM cycle

We don't give times because we are all in different time zones that's why we use the + numbers



You can look at any members spreadsheet to see what it looks like, it's at the end of everyone's signature just tap on it

On the spreadsheet where you put the dates, you just put the dates
Like
11-12 next line under that
11-13 then
11-14 and so on


Take a look at Tim and Pookey's spreadsheet just to see what it looks like

https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/11-27-pookey-amps-273-8-233.296048/#post-3223639

Tap on where it says Pookey's spreadsheet

Have you started home testing yet ? If so can you add what meter you are using to your signature

@Bruce Blount
Click to expand...

You are welcome to also see Corky's spreadsheet, below in blue, if you scroll to the end of the day you will see REMARKS, you can get an idea of feeding times carb %s and how much
 
I think I am a little late to the party. Hopefully you've had some luck, Bruce. Love that you're trying. If you're looking for more tips, my personal recommendation is prick their ear further to the edge of the ear than you think. And then even further.

If you were interested in how Kevin and I do it, is we microwave a sock with rice for like 15 seconds. I take that warm sock and pet him, he loves it. I especially try to rub and warm up his ear to increase blood flow to the ear. Then after I have everything ready, I flip his ear onto the sock, and prick really close to the edge. Works well. I have an instagram page of me doing it a good handful of times if you wanted it.

Goodluck!
 
Georgia & Kevin said:
I think I am a little late to the party. Hopefully you've had some luck, Bruce. Love that you're trying. If you're looking for more tips, my personal recommendation is prick their ear further to the edge of the ear than you think. And then even further.

If you were interested in how Kevin and I do it, is we microwave a sock with rice for like 15 seconds. I take that warm sock and pet him, he loves it. I especially try to rub and warm up his ear to increase blood flow to the ear. Then after I have everything ready, I flip his ear onto the sock, and prick really close to the edge. Works well. I have an instagram page of me doing it a good handful of times if you wanted it.

Goodluck!
Click to expand...
Thanks - I will give this a try.
 
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