I just purchased the home kit to test my cats bg and I can't do it. I've tried wrapping him in a towel, I've tried warming his ear, I've tried holding him down, I've tried when he's sleeping. I can't do it. He coughs, screams, scratches, bites, and flips around. Now he won't eat. I'm terrified I'm killing him and I want to scream. I feel so helpless witthis and I need advice.
I WANT TO SCREAM. I CANT TEST AT HOME
- Thread starter anwahs23
- Start date
- Status
Squeaky and KT (GA)
Very Active Member
First - BREATHE!!!
Now second - BREATHE!!!
Whew - feels better now doesn't it? Yes you can do it - we've all been in your shoes. First thing is to calm down, your anxiety transfers to him making it harder for both of you.
...another breath here....
You're NOT killing him altho' our kitties are the best actors. Let's back off the testing for a little bit and let him calm down too. Explain what you mean by "now he won't eat".
Hugs - gonna post this, you're not alone...
Now second - BREATHE!!!
Whew - feels better now doesn't it? Yes you can do it - we've all been in your shoes. First thing is to calm down, your anxiety transfers to him making it harder for both of you.
...another breath here....
You're NOT killing him altho' our kitties are the best actors. Let's back off the testing for a little bit and let him calm down too. Explain what you mean by "now he won't eat".
Hugs - gonna post this, you're not alone...
jt and trouble (GA)
Very Active Member
Breathing is GOOD.
What city do you live in? Maybe there are some members that live near, willing to come help. Sometimes "hands on" help works best.
jeanne
What city do you live in? Maybe there are some members that live near, willing to come help. Sometimes "hands on" help works best.
jeanne
Joanna & Bix (GA)
Very Active Member
Hang in there! It took me about a month before I really got the hang of it, and then after that it was easy. I would take the day off from the attempts - if you are stressed and he is stressed, it's going to make it a lot harder.
The secret is to find a routine that isn't stressful. For me, the picture changed when I went from desperately trying to force the test on my cat, to making it sort of a colaborative thing. I let him get used to the test kit, I played around with the lancet device without any lancet in it so he could get used to the noise and the feel of it, etc. I rubbed his ears off and on for a few seconds a few times during the day, so he would get used to having his ears handled.
Then I only tried to get an actual test once he was calm and didn't really care what I was doing, and I was relaxed too. For us, that approach made all the difference. I had gotten some tests before that, but they were accompanied by growling and running away (him & me, lol!), and then I never knew how I would get the next test. Once I shifted my approach, we got into a routine where I could pat the test spot and he'd come jump up, then I'd give him a little toy to focus on while I got the test, and then he got pets & snuggles & sweet talk.
Eating is important, so I would set aside the testing for the moment and focus on getting him to eat. Once he is back to eating regularly, then I would gradually try steps to get him used to the testing process, and just take it one step at a time and only move to the next step once he is comfortable with the first step. If he runs and hides as soon as you unzip the test kit, for example, you are already set up for failure. If it works out to have someone else come over too to help, that is a great idea to get you started. It's one of those things that once you get it working you'll be amazed at how easy it is, but it can take some experimentation and practice to find the routine that works best for the 2 of you.
The secret is to find a routine that isn't stressful. For me, the picture changed when I went from desperately trying to force the test on my cat, to making it sort of a colaborative thing. I let him get used to the test kit, I played around with the lancet device without any lancet in it so he could get used to the noise and the feel of it, etc. I rubbed his ears off and on for a few seconds a few times during the day, so he would get used to having his ears handled.
Then I only tried to get an actual test once he was calm and didn't really care what I was doing, and I was relaxed too. For us, that approach made all the difference. I had gotten some tests before that, but they were accompanied by growling and running away (him & me, lol!), and then I never knew how I would get the next test. Once I shifted my approach, we got into a routine where I could pat the test spot and he'd come jump up, then I'd give him a little toy to focus on while I got the test, and then he got pets & snuggles & sweet talk.
Eating is important, so I would set aside the testing for the moment and focus on getting him to eat. Once he is back to eating regularly, then I would gradually try steps to get him used to the testing process, and just take it one step at a time and only move to the next step once he is comfortable with the first step. If he runs and hides as soon as you unzip the test kit, for example, you are already set up for failure. If it works out to have someone else come over too to help, that is a great idea to get you started. It's one of those things that once you get it working you'll be amazed at how easy it is, but it can take some experimentation and practice to find the routine that works best for the 2 of you.
Sue and Oliver (GA)
Very Active Member
I would do as Joanna suggests and step back and start again. It seems as though this is easy for everyone and everyone got it the first time. Not so! Oliver was cooperative for us, but we spent a whole weekend poking the poor kitty before we got a drop of blood. The magic for us was to heat the ear and get a big enough lancet (25-28 works well)
Start with playing with his ears, giving treats, praising. The lancet and poke can come after you are both more relaxed with the process. It will happen.
Eating is the important thing right now. Some kitties like parmesan cheese sprinkled on the food. Some like it heated up till stinky. Others like it chopped up and mixed with warm water to make a gravy.
Start with playing with his ears, giving treats, praising. The lancet and poke can come after you are both more relaxed with the process. It will happen.
Eating is the important thing right now. Some kitties like parmesan cheese sprinkled on the food. Some like it heated up till stinky. Others like it chopped up and mixed with warm water to make a gravy.
BJM
Very Active Member
While you're learning to get the blood testing to work, you can pick up some ketodiastix or the generic equivalent to test the urine for ketones and for glucose. The urine tests show what was going on a few hours previously, so they aren't perfect, but some data is better than none.
DaisyPaws
Member
You can handle this, and it will get easier.
I agree with all of the great info posted above, and just wanted to check - are you using the spring-loaded "pen" to try to get the stick with the lancets?
I think a few people use that thing, but the noise and suddeness was way to much for our cat.
We do better just holding the lancet in our hands.
I agree with all of the great info posted above, and just wanted to check - are you using the spring-loaded "pen" to try to get the stick with the lancets?
I think a few people use that thing, but the noise and suddeness was way to much for our cat.
We do better just holding the lancet in our hands.
Squeaky and KT (GA)
Very Active Member
I can't free-hand, KT got used to the lancet pen sound as quickly as everything else. I started off on the deepest setting but have now backed off a mark, if ear is very warm, I dial it back two marks.
We've all wanted to scream - me this morning!!! I'm using another meter right now and I have loads of trouble with the strips/time/draw. This one requires more blood which he refused to give me this morning so had to pokie twice. I called that meter bad names..... :roll: ....
Hugs again,
We've all wanted to scream - me this morning!!! I'm using another meter right now and I have loads of trouble with the strips/time/draw. This one requires more blood which he refused to give me this morning so had to pokie twice. I called that meter bad names..... :roll: ....
Hugs again,
- Status