Cat HATES glucose test. Help me go faster!

[Buddyboy14]

My cat Buddy was diagnosed with diabetes 4 days ago. He’s nearly 15 years old. He was diagnosed with pancreatitis a year ago and it developed into diabetes. So far my poor kitty hates when I prick his ears for the glucose test. How can I get better at this and make it faster? I don’t always draw blood the first time. I’m using the AlphaTrak 3. I’m using the lancing device and the lancets that it came with. I’m using the #4 setting on the lancing device. I give him a tiny bit of a churu to draw him over to the spot. I warm up his ear with a tiny heat pad. I prick in the “sweet spot” area the edge of the back of his ear kind of higher up where the vein is. I kind of hold down a bit because otherwise it doesn’t seem to draw blood. But then I noticed maybe blood was being wicked away into the device. I wait several seconds and sort of squeeze together that area to get the blood drop bigger. Sometimes it takes me like 3 or more tries to draw blood, which makes him more upset. I hold him there in between my knees and chest, sometimes I wrap him in a towel. Yesterday his reading was >500 because he was so stressed out.

I will also say, he trusts me more than anything and loves me so much. He's a cuddly cat. He’s never liked being poked and prodded though. Like for nail trims, for example. But lets me do it begrudgingly. He’s not super treat motivated. Meaning he’s not like so excited to get a treat that he’s ok with the ear poke.

I need to be able to get it the first time and fast, because I have a toddler as well and can’t be taking 10 min or so to do this glucose test. And I also hate stressing out my poor kitty when he’s already not feeling well. Please help me get better at this!

 

[CORKY]

My cat Buddy was diagnosed with diabetes 4 days ago. He’s nearly 15 years old. He was diagnosed with pancreatitis a year ago and it developed into diabetes. So far my poor kitty hates when I prick his ears for the glucose test. How can I get better at this and make it faster? I don’t always draw blood the first time. I’m using the AlphaTrak 3. I’m using the lancing device and the lancets that it came with. I’m using the #4 setting on the lancing device. I give him a tiny bit of a churu to draw him over to the spot. I warm up his ear with a tiny heat pad. I prick in the “sweet spot” area the edge of the back of his ear kind of higher up where the vein is. I kind of hold down a bit because otherwise it doesn’t seem to draw blood. But then I noticed maybe blood was being wicked away into the device. I wait several seconds and sort of squeeze together that area to get the blood drop bigger. Sometimes it takes me like 3 or more tries to draw blood, which makes him more upset. I hold him there in between my knees and chest, sometimes I wrap him in a towel. Yesterday his reading was >500 because he was so stressed out.

I will also say, he trusts me more than anything and loves me so much. He's a cuddly cat. He’s never liked being poked and prodded though. Like for nail trims, for example. But lets me do it begrudgingly. He’s not super treat motivated. Meaning he’s not like so excited to get a treat that he’s ok with the ear poke.

I need to be able to get it the first time and fast, because I have a toddler as well and can’t be taking 10 min or so to do this glucose test. And I also hate stressing out my poor kitty when he’s already not feeling well. Please help me get better at this!

Welcome Buddy, it takes a bit of practice, to be able to test, I have never used the pen, so I cannot help you with it, most of us members use the ReliON Premier monitor and Strips, at first I pricked my poor Corky about 4 times before I drew blood, I use a small sock with rice knotted, place it on the inner ear, flatten the upper portion of the tip of the ear, holding Corky's head gently between the ears, gently, and insert the lancet(needle), I use a small flash light in my mouth, I do not have the head flash lights, so I can see the veins and blood, it takes a bit of practice as I said, below is a link on how to home test, I hope this can be helpful

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

I've never used a lancing device; some cats find the click it makes scary, plus I felt like I had more control over the poke without it. That might help getting more consistently blood-producing pokes, but the other thing is that it takes a little time for the ears to "learn to bleed," so it might get better on its own.

For a non-treat-motivated cat, maybe you can find something else that Buddy likes, such as an extra cuddle session or brushing? Maybe you can set up a special extra-cozy spot for the testing (with a heating pad?). I'm sure you're already doing this, but whatever you do, give him lots and lots of praise and pets before and after the testing Build as many positive associations around the testing as you can, to help him forget/overlook the negatives of the brief poke.

Good luck!

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

It can take a couple of weeks for the capillary bed in your cat's ear to build up. Once that starts to happen, Buddy's ear will bleed more easily. Also, check the gauge of the lancet. When you're first starting out, you want to use a wider lancet so you don't have to repeatedly poke your cat. I would look for a 26 - 28 gauge lancet. Once the capillary bed has built up, you can move to a thinner lancet (e.g., a 30 gauge).

And as Nan has suggested, positive reinforcement (i.e., treats) can help.

 

[Buddyboy14]

Welcome Buddy, it takes a bit of practice, to be able to test, I have never used the pen, so I cannot help you with it, most of us members use the ReliON Premier monitor and Strips, at first I pricked my poor Corky about 4 times before I drew blood, I use a small sock with rice knotted, place it on the inner ear, flatten the upper portion of the tip of the ear, holding Corky's head gently between the ears, gently, and insert the lancet(needle), I use a small flash light in my mouth, I do not have the head flash lights, so I can see the veins and blood, it takes a bit of practice as I said, below is a link on how to home test, I hope this can be helpful

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

Thank you! I may try the headlamp on gloomy days or in the evening. I’ve been sitting him near our sliding glass door to use the sunlight. But I’m sure it would help a lot. That’s a great idea. I may also try the lancet on its own. Do you hold it at an angle or straight down?

 

[Buddyboy14]

I've never used a lancing device; some cats find the click it makes scary, plus I felt like I had more control over the poke without it. That might help getting more consistently blood-producing pokes, but the other thing is that it takes a little time for the ears to "learn to bleed," so it might get better on its own.

For a non-treat-motivated cat, maybe you can find something else that Buddy likes, such as an extra cuddle session or brushing? Maybe you can set up a special extra-cozy spot for the testing (with a heating pad?). I'm sure you're already doing this, but whatever you do, give him lots and lots of praise and pets before and after the testing Build as many positive associations around the testing as you can, to help him forget/overlook the negatives of the brief poke.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for the idea! I ended up getting him a new comfy bed for the spot I’ve been doing it. I’m also trying to be more calm and give him lots of kisses and cuddles beforehand. He was so much more calm this time with the new bed. I’m sure he was feeding off my stress. I may also try the lancet on its own but I’m scared to for some reason!

 

[Buddyboy14]

It can take a couple of weeks for the capillary bed in your cat's ear to build up. Once that starts to happen, Buddy's ear will bleed more easily. Also, check the gauge of the lancet. When you're first starting out, you want to use a wider lancet so you don't have to repeatedly poke your cat. I would look for a 26 - 28 gauge lancet. Once the capillary bed has built up, you can move to a thinner lancet (e.g., a 30 gauge).

And as Nan has suggested, positive reinforcement (i.e., treats) can help.

That’s good to know! I’m glad it will start to bleed more easily. I’ll have to see if I can figure out the gauge of the lancet to see if it’s 26-28. Thank you!

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

I’m sure he was feeding off my stress.

Oh, that is absolutely true, they are so sensitive, they know when we are nervous!

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

@Buddyboy14
Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. You can fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also.Just keep rubbing the ears with your fingers to warm them up

6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capilares, it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 10 or 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand not the lancing device
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
Look at the lancet under a light and you will see one side is curved upward, that's the side you want to poke with

Try putting a thin layer of Vaseline on the ear so the blood will bead up

 

[Buddyboy14]

@Buddyboy14
Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. You can fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also.Just keep rubbing the ears with your fingers to warm them up

6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capilares, it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 10 or 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand not the lancing device
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
Look at the lancet under a light and you will see one side is curved upward, that's the side you want to poke with

Try putting a thin layer of Vaseline on the ear so the blood will bead up

Thank you so much! This is very helpful. Is the curved side supposed to be up or down? Do I poke at an angle or straight up and down?

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

Angled-- you don't want to poke all the through (although we have all given our cats pierced ears at one point or another!)


From Testing and shooting tips

"But did you also know there is a particular way for the lancet to be used? It has one side that is bevelled so the sharpest part goes in first, if used correctly. In the photo below, you can see the lancet is angled. When you poke the ear, it should be held in the position shown below so the longest side of it is on the bottom. Lancets should only be used once to ensure they are at their sharpest.

"

 

[CORKY]

Thank you so much for the idea! I ended up getting him a new comfy bed for the spot I’ve been doing it. I’m also trying to be more calm and give him lots of kisses and cuddles beforehand. He was so much more calm this time with the new bed. I’m sure he was feeding off my stress. I may also try the lancet on its own but I’m scared to for some reason!

the, lancet straight down it's better than the Noice he won't hear from the needle. try to find a small pocket flashlight, I place it in my mouth while I grab the ear with the rice sack for support, if you look with the flashlight where the hair is not you can see the veins from the other side this way you get to be familiar were to pinch, also as you test the vein capillaries get larger, if you read the link I send you can see where they are and what is called the sweet spot, don't worry I always say what I have been told here, Breath in, Breath out, your anxiety will transfer to Buddy ok!!

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

In addition to the great advice you have received, I also suggest massaging the ears towards the tip before testing to help get the blood flowing. Do this often to help Buddy get used to you handling his ears. Also, if you are nervous about testing, he will pick up on it and respond the same way. One trick we recomnend is to sing while testing. The sillier the song the better. It is hard to be nervous when you are doing something silly. It sounds crazy but it works.