Getting the blood sample..

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skippersmom

skippersmom

Member Since 2013
I'm having a hard time getting the blood sample, so I watched a couple videos on youtube. One guy seems to go right on the edge of the ear and the other person went from the back of the ear. I have been doing it toward the edge but on the inside which means I kind of have to bend it. I understand where the sweet spot is, jut not how to get there necessarily. Also if I poke him and try to massage the blood out he gets mad. I have neosporin but not with pain relief so I will get some tomorrow...

Any advice welcome. I dread it every time!
 
You can do the pokey-poke from the front or back of the ear. Whichever is easier.

Do you warm his ear before testing?
Does Skipper get a lo-carb treat after each poke? Maybe he won't get mad at momma-bean if he gets a treat. :smile:

You may have already seen the info in this link, but here it is in case you missed it. :smile:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13c_CPZVKz27fD_6aVbsguadJKvjSrSAkD7flgPPhEag/pub

His ears will "learn to bleed"....it just takes a little time AND patience. It does get easier.
 
I had the best results by going just a little higher than the sweet spots and close to the edge. My cat has black hair so I have shaved a little off in the past.

http://s1336.photobucket.com/user/rhiannonandcat/media/ear_web1_zps0bf45a17.jpg.html?sort=3&o=114


It might also be your lancet/lancing device. Most of the ones out there are a finer gauge for human use. The higher the number, the finer the gauge.
It helps to find a 26 gauge lancet/lancing device. I have noticed it is getting harder to find them.
I have an accu- chek softclix plus http://www.medicalsupplycorner.com/accu-chek-softclix-plus-lancet-device-1-ea/

You can also quickly poke in the same spot twice if your gauge is too fine. Their ears have to learn to bleed so to speak. And the ears will grow
little capillaries over time.
 
Ok - perhaps we can refine your technique..

- what size lancets are you using? are you free handing or using the tool?
- What are you using to warm the ear?
- what do you put behind the ear to press against?

Let us know and we can see how we can fix it

Wendy
 
Like Wendy said having something behind the ear where I am going to poke is a must. I fold up a Kleenex to about 2"x2". Also sometimes I have to wait a few seconds after till it starts to bleed. I don't know what meter your using but the Relion confirm [walmart] requires very little blood and sips it up very fast. The strips are $35 for 100. My guy can be ornery too so fast is a must. And of course a treat and plenty of head pets etc if he likes that. Try to do it in the same area so he gets used to this is the spot I get tested/treat. You will both get the hang of it. Somebody here once said "after awhile it becomes a routine like putting away the dishes and you won't give it much thought". Something to that effect, but they were right. How are things going?
 
Also, massaging the ear before you poke also helps. Whenever you can, massage your cat's ears even when it is not time to test him. The massaging helps to increase the blood flow. With a lot of cats, the ears need to learn to bleed. Most cats love head scritches and if you massage even when you are not testing, it will help him get used to you touching them. You also want to reward him with a treat even if you are not successful in getting blood. This will help him associate testing with a rewards. Use low carb/high protein treats such as freeze dried chicken or fish.
 
I had the same problem with my cat, who is very ear shy. I gave up on the ears and now paw test.

Paw testing was easier because his paws were already warm, paws can firmly press against the lancet, and my cat was already used to me trimming his claws and handling his feet.

The downside of paw testing is that cats use paws in the litter box, so if you try paw testing be sure to use alcohol wipes or neosporin to prevent infection.

Liz
 
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