ear bruises

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dnb

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Hi-
Since this is my first post, I wanted to first mention that I have done a ton of reading of past posts and resources on this site. It is a tremendous resource for someone like me with a newly diagnosed kitty (and clearly a great community). Many thanks to all who have put so much time into this site, it is really, really helpful.

I thought I would write and ask a question or two I haven't seen directly answered here or elsewhere. After I found out about the diagnosis last week the first thing I did was go read as much as I could about home care and testing. So far I've succeeded with getting a good sample about 1/3 of the time, which is quite frustrating but I understand is to be expected. I think I've made almost all of the beginner mistakes as I tried different ways to get a droplet I could use and hit all of the common snags (not poking in the right place, with the right angle, blood wicks into fur, you name it). My cat has been pretty great about this, though I suspect she's starting to lose some of her patience with me mucking about with her ears.

I think one mistake I have definitely made is not applying pressure after both the successful and unsuccessful attempts. As a result, I see (if I use a flashlight) what looks like little circles/pools sort of coming out from the vein that are a day or two later starting to merge together a bit. The top of the ear in that area looks a little reddish in this area as well. I'm guessing I've just bruised her ear a bit (which I don't feel great about).

So. here are the two questions:
  1. Should I do everything I can to avoid the bruised area, even if that means holding off on testing for a bit? (she's got more pronounced veins in the right ear, so I could try the left, but I'm not so hopeful)?
  2. How long would you guess it would take for bruises like these to heal? Is it days, weeks, months?

Thanks for any help you can offer. I've read that this whole process becomes easier as time goes on. I'm sure looking forward to that!

-- dNb
 
Don't worry about the bruising. All of our kitties have had bruised ears a time or two...or three!!! I put a cotton ball behind Champ's ear when I poke and after I get the blood drop and do the test, I take the cotton ball, dip it just a tiny bit in his water dish, and press it on the poke. The coldness of the water and the pressure I put on it stop the bleeding immediately and usually reduces any bruising. You don't have to wet the cotton ball...it just seems to help a bit more. Unfortunately, they will bruise, though, but it's not a problem. Good job on testing!!!! Best thing you can do for your kitty!!
 
Patty is correct - water and firm pressure on the spot afterwards well prevent bruising. I dabbed water on the spot, then took a tissue and held it there for only a few seconds. Gandalf was tested for over 6 years and on the day he passed his ears were beautiful. I will admit that one had some scar tissue and was harder to get a drop out of, but to look at them, you could never tell.

You also don't want to be poking the vein itself, you want to do the area between the vein and the very edge of the ear. Here is an illustration:

sweetspot.jpg


Thanks to member Sheila, Beau & Jeddie for the illustration.
 
Thank you both for your responses and encouragement. Do either of you have any thoughts on my two questions above (do I have to avoid the bruises/wait for them to heal and how long that process might take?). Thanks!

-- dNb
 
Welcome! I wouldn't hold off on testing because of some bruising. Think about it. Which is more important, a slightly more bruised ear or risking a hypo? Testing is the only way to know what's going on.
 
What you can do is to alternate ears each test, if you have equal success getting blood from either ear. Some kitties, like mine, bled a lot better from one ear.

On that picture, showing the sweet spot? That is an ideal location because it's convenient to poke and there's a good bit of space between the vein and the edge. But, you can use the entire edge area all the way around the ear too. As long as you can hit between the edge and vein, it's okay. That will "spread the pain", so to speak, and give the poke areas longer time to heal.

Carl
 
Maggies Mom Debby said:
Welcome! I wouldn't hold off on testing because of some bruising. Think about it. Which is more important, a slightly more bruised ear or risking a hypo? Testing is the only way to know what's going on.
Click to expand...

Right, I totally understand. My concern was that bruised areas would be very tender/painful and hence the cat would really *not* want to be tested (either now or in the future because she associated testing with that pain).

But I totally get it and I'll see if I can make things work on the other ear. Does anyone have any experience with how long a bruised ear takes to heal? I know in humans diabetes can slow healing like this so I was curious if we were talking a matter of days, weeks or months.

Thanks again to everybody of helping out a newbie like me (and our cat).

-- dNb
 
Some people rub a little bit of neosporin on the poke area to help with healing. What eventually happens is that the ears will become less sensitive, and will "learn" to bleed easier. Probably has something to do with scarring, or like a callous? The most important thing is to provide a reward of some type after every poke, whether successful or not. Kitty learns that poke mean treats, and shots mean feeling better. It will get to a point where she will remind you it's time for treatment. The whole test/treat ritual will lead to a greater bonding between the two of you. Everyone gets told that, but when you see it for yourself, it's really incredible.

Carl
 
A 'bruise' is leaked blood under layers of skin. When we as humans have a 'bruise', it is usually caused by being hit or poked with something. It's the area UNDER the bruise that's truly hurting altho' we perceive it to be the bruise. A bruise in itself caused by leaked blood due to a pokie doesn't have the pain, there wasn't a 'hit' or 'crush' of tissue. So...yes, keep testing, the bruise will be absorbed by the surrounding tissue fairly quickly. I think we've all done that at one time or another.

Hugs! You're doing GREAT!
 
sigh... three frustrating lancets and two test strips later and almost nothing to show for it from the other ear I decided to go with the Kenny Rodgers wisdom of "You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold ''em. Know when to walk away, especially when the cat decides to run." and try again later tonight. So far I haven't been able to get a nadir sample (though the cat has an appt tomorrow at the vet right at that time, I'm guessing precisely for that reason).

Thanks again everyone for all of your helpful advice. I'll keep on keeping on.

-- dNb

P.S. On the plus side, this time I kept post-poke pressure on so hopefully I'm not chewing up the other side too.
 
My cat Pinky's ears looked sore where the pokes were when I looked at them with a flashlight.

Now I buy box of small gauze pads and cut them in two to make them go further. We put generic Betadine on the pad and fold the pad over the ear to press on the bleeding ear. Betadine helps them heal. They look much better now.

Pinky squirms but I still manage to test. Warmed cloth helps them to bleed but the most important thing that I learned was to tie a treat to the whole process. I got the Chicken breast liv a little treats and she comes when I shake the jar or I give a spoonful of people tuna. Or just feed her regular meal.

Good luck and hope it gets easier with practice.
 
Vicky & Gandalf (GA) said:
You also don't want to be poking the vein itself, you want to do the area between the vein and the very edge of the ear. Here is an illustration:
Click to expand...

Ooh, while I have you on the line and there is such a fabulous illustration available, can I ask one naive question? Namely, why not tap the vein vs. the capillaries surrounding it?

I ask because the vet tech who was supposed to be giving us our diabetes orientation suggested they always do it right on vein with a regular 25-gauge needle. This, plus a few other things she said contradicted some of what I read here and elsewhere (like you don't have to test very often), so I found myself not having a lot of faith in what she said. For my own curiosity sake, has anyone heard a reason why that truly is the "sweet spot." I totally believe it is, I'd just like to have an educated response should the topic come up again at the vet's office.

Thanks!

--dNb
 
My understanding is that the meters and the strips are made to read capillary blood rather than venal. Not sure what the difference is, but that's what I've read here.
I guess that's why people poke a finger tip rather than an easy to find vein? Beyond the fact that a vein poke bleeds a lot more, and probably hurts.
Carl
 
carlinsc said:
My understanding is that the meters and the strips are made to read capillary blood rather than venal. Not sure what the difference is, but that's what I've read here
Click to expand...
Hmm, I never would have guessed that was the answer but it makes perfect sense. And I can definitely find corroboration for this theory in humans (googling "glucose meter capillary venous" turns up stuff like http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar ... 2704000905). Thanks for your help, this is an awesome site.

-- dNb
 
I seem to remember maybe when reading the manual for my meter something about capillary vs. vein too.
This site is pretty awesome, isn't it? :-D
Carl
 
My Cat's bruises stayed there for months, so I usually test on her paw pads which works very well for us. Important thing I found with ears and feet, is to have them warm first: everyone will have their favourite way to achieve this, I have a small plastic medicine bottle to which I add hot water taking care nit too hot and I hold this against her ear for a while, maybe 30 sec or so. I take great care not to burn her! With feet, having her on a flectabed and covered with a fleece helps as does her favourite thing, a snugglesafe.

My lancet has the option of a clear see through head which, when pressed onto the pricked site, acts as a vacuum and more blood generally then wells up, meaning that I hardly have to squeeze. I trued freehand and thought I was doing ok until I tried a lancet - least setting for ears and highest (deepest) for her feet.

All the best.
 
mrswoodwoose said:
My lancet has the option of a clear see through head which, when pressed onto the pricked site, acts as a vacuum and more blood generally then wells up, meaning that I hardly have to squeeze.
Click to expand...

This sounds kinda cool. Would you mind saying what the brand is and/or where you got it? Thanks!

-- dNb
 
dnb said:
mrswoodwoose said:
My lancet has the option of a clear see through head which, when pressed onto the pricked site, acts as a vacuum and more blood generally then wells up, meaning that I hardly have to squeeze.
Click to expand...

This sounds kinda cool. Would you mind saying what the brand is and/or where you got it? Thanks!

-- dNb
Click to expand...

Abbey Freestylite Lite (I am in the UK not sure where you are?) Perhaps there are otehr brands with this optional head?

Kay
 
I suspect that's the clear head for "alternate site testing," Some diabetics test on the forearm, etc. rather than always doing finger pricks. Any meter designed to allow alternate site testing should have a clear head (my relion confirm and one touch ultras both come with clear caps).
 
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