home glucose testing

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JulieM

JulieM

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I was wondering if there is anyone from Nebraska on this forum? Been 2 weeks into insulin shots. All supplies bought for home glucose testing and lots of advice but no luck getting mollies ears to bleed. I really need someone to help get it started. She's tierd of me poking her ears and starting to develop an aversion to it.
 
Have you tried testing on her paw? The main pad is where you would poke, I had trouble with the ear, so I used my cat's paw for a few days. It worked and got me started testing. I went back to the ear again, once I was feeling more confident and had looked at a lot of videos. I know you have had all the advice about warming the ear, free handing the lancet, using vasoline, etc. That is why I am suggesting the paw, it works great for some. Best of luck to you!
 
While we are looking for help, can you tell us your process. Is it that you can't get blood? Are you sure warming the ear till nice and warm? Are you using a big enough lancet (25-27 gauge may work best at first). Have you looked at her ear with a flashlight so you can easily find the capillaries? What setting is the lancet on? Sometimes it has to be on one of the deeper settings at first.
 
CatX4 said:
Have you tried testing on her paw? The main pad is where you would poke, I had trouble with the ear, so I used my cat's paw for a few days. It worked and got me started testing. I went back to the ear again, once I was feeling more confident and had looked at a lot of videos. I know you have had all the advice about warming the ear, free handing the lancet, using vasoline, etc. That is why I am suggesting the paw, it works great for some. Best of luck to you!
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Yes I did and no blood the first two times and after that she was having nothing to do with that lol
 
JulieM said:
Yes I did and no blood the first two times and after that she was having nothing to do with that lol
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Well darn it! Maybe you are not poking hard enough? I sometimes still don't get blood on my first poke (ear) and then I give a harder one and that does the trick. I know it is hard to do, we are so worried we will hurt them, but they are a lot tougher than we think!
 
Remember they don't have as many nerve endings in their ears as we have in our fingers...so it doesn't really hurt as much. Gypsy used to get annoyed...but just because she wanted her treat faster.

The double prick in the same area worked really well for me at the beginning while her ears were learning to bleed.
 
Well we just we t thru another round of trying home glucose testing. Wrapped her like a burrito so she'd stay still got everything I needed and no blood. She cried each time I poked her little ear. I feel bad and I just don't understand why I can't do this. This is going on 3 weeks. :(
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
While we are looking for help, can you tell us your process. Is it that you can't get blood? Are you sure warming the ear till nice and warm? Are you using a big enough lancet (25-27 gauge may work best at first). Have you looked at her ear with a flashlight so you can easily find the capillaries? What setting is the lancet on? Sometimes it has to be on one of the deeper settings at first.
Click to expand...
Yes using 26 gauge lancet, warming ear, padding behind ear and poking in the spot between the vein and the edge of the ear. I think I'm doing everything right, just no blood and her crying when I poke her ear. :(
 
JulieM said:
Yes using 26 gauge lancet, warming ear, padding behind ear and poking in the spot between the vein and the edge of the ear. I think I'm doing everything right, just no blood and her crying when I poke her ear. :(
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I'm just using the lancet itself because the automatic one doesn't even seem to pierce her ear.
 
It is so hard for us to try to help you long distance. It does sound like you are doing everything right, Julie. Have you been contacted by any of our beans in Nebraska? I know several of us put out feelers for you.

The best thing I know, Julie, is to keep trying. Heat the ear, have confidence and poke firmly. Try 3 times and then stop - treats for you and your kitty. One thing I think you may not have tried is to hit the vein to get blood. If you get blood, you can put it on your fingernail and test from there. Poking the vein is not a good idea all the time, but maybe it will give you some confidence. Continuing to heat the ear will help those capillaries pump up over time.
 
It does sound like you are doing everything right, maybe she is just not an easy bleeder, but if you keep at it, you will find that sweet spot for your kitty. Like Sue said, try 3 times, then give treats, then try again later. We all feel for you, Julie, it is very frustrating because you want to help your kitty, don't give up, we will all be keeping our paws and fingers crossed for you!
 
I tried again today and she let me warm her ear and I poked 3 times using a flashlight but nothing. :(
 
Well, heating the ear and letting you poke is progress. At some point, her capillaries have to give you some blood. What did you think about aiming for the vein?
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
Well, heating the ear and letting you poke is progress. At some point, her capillaries have to give you some blood. What did you think about aiming for the vein?
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It was hard to know where I was poking with her flipping her ears around and moving her head. But where ever I was hitting no blood.
 
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