Help Timmy will NOT let me test- in San Francisco! (Repost)

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jeniblue

Member Since 2012
It was suggested that I inlclude my location and repost this. So here goes.

Help. Timmy WILL NOT let me test his glucose.
by jeniblue » Sat Aug 18, 2012 11:39 am

I am at my wits end trying to get my baby to let me get a prick on his ear.

He is not wanting me to do anything to him actually. He is getting two shots a day, which he tolerates but fusses over. (And, yes I am doing the shot correctly, bevel up just under skin, aligned with spine, not straight down.) He is also getting antiboitc in his eye because of a recuring uler. Which he hates! I'm surpirsed he still loves me at all.

Food does nothing to motivate or pacify or distract him. He eats ok, and likes some treats, but is not super into anything. He is friendly and likes to get pet, but is not a lap cat lover. He is a light sleeper too, so I have trouble sneaking up on him even then.

Every time I try to prick his ear he wiggles, moves his head all around, grumbles and turns into a total noodle. I am desperate here. I know I need to start home testing him, and potentially increasing his insulin if I have any chance of getting him into remission. And yep, I've discussed that with the vet.

Any suggestions would be very appreciated.jeniblue
 
Re: Help Timmy will NOT let me test- in San Francisco! (Repo

Make sure you have a positive attitude, and a no nonsense approach. Think to yourself that it will work, no problem... Timmy deal with it.. say it TO Timmy. He has to know you are boss and that it will happen. Cats are smart, and they know when you are hesitant or dont think you can do it, and they take full advantage of it.

Are you getting blood and he reacts after? Or does he not let you prick? You need what the oldtimers on the FDMB called "Vulcan Ear Grip".

I am in SF, city proper.. downtown TenderNob. Theres a couple of us in SF. I do work FT but if you still have problems I can come help you if you would like. I dont bite ;) but my cat Baloo might! So if Timmy isnt biting, thats half the battle LOL!
 
Re: Help Timmy will NOT let me test- in San Francisco! (Repo

I have tried the burritto, but maybe I haven't wraped him tight enough. He wiggles and shakes his head all over the place and growls and squirms. I haven't even gotten to the poke. He moves his head all over and I can't get an aim or even hold his ear.

I will try the clothespin trick. It is worth a shot. I probably am hesitant, and he is picking up on it. He doesn't bite though he does scratch.

Thanks for your suggestions.
 
Re: Help Timmy will NOT let me test- in San Francisco! (Repo

For some cats, less restraint is better...so just hold onto that ear but not so much of the cat.
 
Re: Help Timmy will NOT let me test- in San Francisco! (Repo

Have you tried the back pad approach? I know some people don't like it, but my Motor would NOT let me get near his ears. Chunks of mine and DH's hands were missing. We stopped the ear and tried the back pad. NO PROBLEM!

It helps I've been playing with his feet his whole life. But now I get the tools, a towel for the couch, and a bag of bonito flakes and he comes running! He growls a little bit, but I put the towel over his head and he just lays down. You do have to watch out for the tail getting into the blood, but otherwise works great.

Worth a shot?

jaimie & Motor (who's getting tested again, cos he's lost so much weight a creeping up numbers)
 
Re: Help Timmy will NOT let me test- in San Francisco! (Repo

You have to let Timmy know that this is not his choice to make. Boo was a terror at first too but after having gone through DKA with him, I wanted to have control of this. Luckily, I'm bigger than him and knees work pretty well to hold a cat still.
 
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