Case of the Bloodless Ear

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RuthV

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I tried 5 times to get blood today from JOey's ear - nada. I had rubbed it well, so I was surprised. I gave up and let him eat. He has been OTJ for over a year, but lately, has been hungry a lot and has lost weight. I should clarify that - he hasn't lost weight, but is becoming boney along back, top of hips etc. He's also licked away most of the fur on the top of his front leg.
I fear that a new stage has been entered. So I want to get a bg for a start. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks.
 
RuthV said:
I tried 5 times to get blood today from JOey's ear - nada. I had rubbed it well, so I was surprised. I gave up and let him eat. He has been OTJ for over a year, but lately, has been hungry a lot and has lost weight. I should clarify that - he hasn't lost weight, but is becoming boney along back, top of hips etc. He's also licked away most of the fur on the top of his front leg.
I fear that a new stage has been entered. So I want to get a bg for a start. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks.
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Did you warm the ear?

Did you aim for the area between the outer edge and the vein?

And, if all else fails, aim for the vein. Just be prepared to apply direct pressure to it quickly after getting the sample, so blood isn't flicked all over you.
 
There are various methods to warm the ear including the very popular rice sock, just put uncooked rice in a sock and give it a bit of a zap in the microwave, be sure to test it on your inner wrist to make sure it's not too hot though. Also be sure you have something hard behind the ear where you're pricking or you won't be getting a good prick. I just use my finger but others use tissues or the like. Another possibility, if you are using a lancing device is that it needs to be turned up to a higher number.

Sounds like Joey is dehydrated too, please add water to his food if you are not already doing so.

I know you've been there and done this before but it's been a while so thought some reminders wouldn't hurt :-D
 
You may already be doing this...have you tried both ears? Poopy bleeds much better in one ear than the other. I find using a folded paper towel works great behind the ear too, as it holds the ear and gives a firm backing for the pokes. I then massage the ear to help the drop form, while still holding firmly to avoid the ear flicking.

Looking through the ear with a flashlight also helps find the sweet spot and veins.

Good luck! :smile:
 
Your subject line made me laugh. :-D I have been having been having the same experience and found that one ear bleeds and the other (the one that's easier for me to grab and poke :roll: ) doesn't. I also found that Charlie bleeds really well on the inner edge. All the videos/pictures I've seen show the outer edge, but he doesn't mind when I poke the inner so I hope that's OK.
 
I wish there were "like" buttons here, like FB... lol... Make sure the ear is nice and warm (I use a facecloth heated with hot water and squeezed out), and for behind the ear, I actually just use the container that holds the test strips - it's hard and pretty much the perfect size. I find the lancet device has a huge hole (since it's made for human fingers!), so try to aim it for between the vein and edge but frequently get the vein itself. A little pressure after fixes it all, though. All along, make sure you have a good hold of the ear so it doesn't flick.... Hope that helps!
 
i think the bony back is part of them getting older - it's just like with people, everything sorta slides down. gravity you know! :lol:

but as far as getting blood - if he was on insulin you must've tested before. are you doing anything differently? seriously warm ear, something hard behind the pokey spot so the ear doesn't just give way in front of the lancet. if you're desperate, hit the vein as BJ suggests.
 
I decided Ak had no blood for awhile. I can't get any blood out of him if I use a lancet. For some reason which i now forget, I changed to a different tester, and it came with a lancet whose top comes off, revealing the needle. If I use the needle, I can get blood. If I put the cover on and use the firing mechanism, nada. Good luck and patience, I find it so distressing when I try and fail to get blood from my cat. :sad:
 
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