Getting the blood

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Hosanna

Hosanna

Member Since 2012
I just can't seem to get Martha's blood to start. Tonight I poked her in BOTH ears, and pricked about 7 times before I got a drop. Her ear was good and warm. and I also used the warm sock. What am I doing wrong, or what can I do differently?
 
I get that sometimes but usually from cool to the touch ear.

It takes a few weeks for the ears to bleed easily but there will be an occasion or two.

Are you rubbing the ears, scritching the chin, other stimulation that increases circulation?

Have you looked at the pictures again recently to make sure you are in the sweet spot of the ear?

I've even gotten closer to the tip occasionally which gives me an adequate droplet.

Are you using a devce, have you changed the lancet recently? Is the pressure adjustment on a high number or low? Sometimes when
I change the lancet, it turns the dial and I'm o a different number setting.

If you cat is breathing, there is blood there somewhere. :-D
 
Do you know what size the lancets you are using are?

Carl
 
I have no idea what size lancet I am using. I used some that came with the One Touch mini meter. They seemed really small. I am not using a lancing device because I'm afraid Martha would bolt when she hears that little click.
 
I found these tips posted by Ry and Scooter in another condo. We use 28 guage lancets but we've been at this for a while. Higher numbers are smaller sizes. You might want to try a bigger lancet until it gets easier. We freehand the poke too. I don't like those lancing devices. There best spot is toward the tip of the ear. (corrected)
Liz

Here are a few more tips for being successful in testing.

1. Use a larger sized lancet, 25-28 gauge is good. Sometimes they are marked for alternate site testing.
2. Freehand the lancet instead of using the device. Hold the lancet between your fingers, beveled side up, at a 45 degree angle, and poke the edge of the ear quickly.
3. Use a little dab of Polysporin ointment or Vaseline on the ear and wipe it off right before testing to help the blood bead up better and not get soaked into the hair.
4. Use a flashlight behind the ear to help see where the vein is better. You are not aiming at the vein though - you're aiming at the sweet spot between the vein and the edge of the ear.
5. If he has dark hair, try testing on the inside edge of the ear.
6. Along with the rice sock try massaging the ear also. After poking, stroke the ear towards where the poke hole is to help it bead up.

ETA: here are other resources about How to home test.
 
I think you would have the One touch ultra soft adjustable device with 7 depth settings.
But I'm betting these are a fine gauge and if you are just freehanding the lancets that fit in it , they are too fine.
The website doesn't tell anywhere an actual number but it brags about how painless and easy so that implies the finer gauge which
is more difficult for getting blood from kitty ears for the first many weeks.
I had a fine gauge like that and I often had to stick the ear numerous times.

So I think this is why you are having the problem.
 
I also find the click now makes my cat happier because she knows when its coming.

You can also just click the device and give them a treat and they start associating the click as good.
 
'Hosanna' (Sorry, I don't know your name) -

We started off with the larger lancets, but always use a lancing device. I don't think I could ever free-hand...maybe I'm just a wimp. Anyhoo - when we started, we turned the lancing device up to "4" (We found "5" went through his ear.) but, now can use it on "2."

I don't have the greatest aim apparently, because I rarely hit anywhere near where the pictures says is best. :roll: I found one of my biggest problems (when his ear is warm enough) is that I don't put enough pressure on the backside of the ear. I fold a napkin over a few times and hold it behind the ear while giving pressure with the lancing device. (I hope that makes sense.)

We do use a little Vaseline, but found there is such a thing as using too much...so, now just a thin smear. :smile:

I hope it gets easier for you soon.

Have a great night -

Libby (& Hershey, too!)
 
I can see I might be using too fine a lancet. I will check tomorrow at WalMart for the 28 G and try those.
Also, I see I might not be putting enough pressure on the back side of her ear. I tried holding a napkin as you said, but what happened was she would move and the blood would go on the napkin. Then I did have a mess.
I use the device on myself, could never freehand it on me--but feel I have more control freehanding it with Martha.
I like the idea of "click-and-treat." :lol: I might get brave enough to try it one day.
 
Oh and P.S -- I have watched those videos on testing. Sure wish I could get down on the floor like some of them do!
 
When I went out to buy a higher gauge, I had a hard time finding one in the stores. The were all geared for humans ( fine small gauges)

And many of them don't tell the gauge on the box.
So I had to buy one online after someone else told me it was 26.

The Accu-chek Softclix plus device

or the accu-chek softclix lancets which actually might be easier to find, if you decide you want the device, you can hunt it down later.
I am looking at the box now and it doesn't say anywhere what the gauge is but I looked them up online.
 
When I got the relion meter, I think it came with 33g lancets, which were way too small for me to get blood with at first. If you can find 25, 26 or even 28 gauge, it should really help you out. If you aren't going to use the device, you can buy any brand lancets if your brand isn't in stock. I always free handed when testing Bob.

I also used a cotton ball as my "backing" on his ear. Then I just folded it over to stop the bleeding after the poke.

Carl

edit to add to what Rhiannon said... The Relion lancets I bought did have the gauge on the outside of the box.
 
Hi, I like freehanding better too, I can get a better aim that way. We use very fine lancets and there are a couple of tricks that help. Don't go straight down, hold the lancet at a 45º angle and twist slightly as you poke. The lancets are actually faceted and the twist opens the slit they make up for easier bleeding. It' is actually less poking and mor placing the tip against the ear and then the slight tsist.

I also think that all lancets are not equal. BD brand seems to be sharper and less painful. Others have really made Tess flinch.
 
If you need to double poke, try to poke as close to the spot where you initially tried. Often, if you get 2 small drops of blood, they'll coalesce into one larger drop.
 
Sometimes Hershey moves. Once, he even shook blood all over my shirt! Never knew one drop could spread so far!! Now, he's never done anything like that to Doug - he knows who's the REAL alpha male around here! :lol:

I always follow the same routine for testing. (Okay, not always now, but I did in the beginning.) I sit in the testing chair (the one beside the lamp to aid my maturing eyes.) hold him in my lap, with him on my lap and my legs crossed kind of 'may-style' around him. Just a reminder to stay there. I rub his head and ears and take hold of his right ear with my left hand (kind of over his head) while at the same time putting the napkin (cotton ball, whatever you want to use) to the inner part of his ear. Holding it firmly enough to remind him to stay with me (and talking to him a lot, but I always do that!), I dab a little vaseline and 'poke!' Then, I fold the 'napkin' over to stop the bleeding, while rubbing and telling him how good he did. Of course, we end with a treat :-D

HTH -

Libby (& Hershey, too!)
 
Just purchased some 28G
I also have a box of Accuchek softclix but the box does not specify gauge.
 
They were either 26 or 28.
I can look on the website again if you need to know which one.
But they were better than the 31 gauge fastclix I had that came with my meter. (it has a barrel lancet group that you can't use one lancet out of )
 
I think either size would work. Yes much better than the very fine ones I've been using. Is it possible to use a 25G needle---the kind that attaches to a regular syringe?
 
I don't know if there is one like that.
Maybe someone else will know.

I think the new lancets will be good enough.
Let us all know how it goes for the next few tests.
 
Hosanna said:
I have no idea what size lancet I am using. I used some that came with the One Touch mini meter.
Click to expand...

That would be the Delica lancets. Those are 33 guage, too thin to get any blood with from a cat. You definitely need thicker lancets.

Here's a lancet gauge chart: http://www.walgreens.com/marketing/library/centers/diabetes/lancets.jsp

rhiannon and shadow said:
The Accu-chek Softclix plus device

or the accu-chek softclix lancets which actually might be easier to find, if you decide you want the device, you can hunt it down later.
I am looking at the box now and it doesn't say anywhere what the gauge is but I looked them up online.
Click to expand...

SoftClix is 28 gauge which is a good size to use.

The rice sock doesn't need to be just warm. It needs to be REALLY REALLY warm but not so hot that you can't comfortably hold it for a minute and you definitely don't want to burn the cat's ear. Try warming the sock up a few seconds or so longer. Warm the ear up for a minute, then hold it under the ear to provide a firm surface while you poke on the other side with the lancet.
 
Tonight I used the Softclix but had just as much trouble getting that precious drop. This morning it went really well with the softclix. I used the very warm sock, plus rubbed her ear.
It is difficiult also because, just when I do get a nice drop, she moves her head. I trust you guys when you say it gets easier. But from here to there....well...... :cry:
 
You can always scrape the drop off with your fingernail and test from that so you don't have to hold your cat's ear in a vice-like grip!
 
Try holding the ear between thumb and forefinger and wrapping the other three fingers around the head. I helps to keep them still!
 
Great news! It makes a big difference when testing is easy. Less stress for everyone involved:-)

Carl
 
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