Irritated Ears

[scienceofcats]

Hey guys... so my sugarcat, Lola, has some irritation in her ear from pricking. What do you do to help it heal/not be so inflamed? I feel bad for her... that’s got to be pretty uncomfortable. Any tips are much appreciated

 

[Sean & Rufus]

Don't have any advice on what to put on them, but My Rufus was pretty inflammed for the first couple weeks, and then at some point they get used to it. The inflammation should go down by itself.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Sometimes my guy's ears look a bit like this but it subsides quickly. We've been at this a long time though. If you've tried using Neosporin maybe stop that to see if she's sensitive to it. It might add to the irritation. Maybe try some cool compresses - eg. wet some layers of paper towel in very cold tap water and squeeze out excess?

 

[JanetNJ]

neosporin ointment with pain relief. switch ears or try the other side of the ear (the side by the center of her head as opposed to the outside edge).

 

[JanetNJ]

It also looks like you may have hit the vein with that poke. Try poking closer to the edge... you don't wanna hit the vein.

 

[scienceofcats]

I haven’t been using neosporin or anything. I will definitely try using a cold wet paper towel; maybe that will help.

Regarding the pricking site, are you sure? My vet told me to aim for the vein. I’ve found I usually have a good blood drop that’s not to big if I score just the edge of the vein, rather than the centre, but yes, I did miss and get the centre that time. I find if I try the edge I don’t get enough blood for the meter. What do you advise?

 

[Kris & Teasel]

I haven’t been using neosporin or anything. I will definitely try using a cold wet paper towel; maybe that will help.

Regarding the pricking site, are you sure? My vet told me to aim for the vein. I’ve found I usually have a good blood drop that’s not to big if I score just the edge of the vein, rather than the centre, but yes, I did miss and get the centre that time. I find if I try the edge I don’t get enough blood for the meter. What do you advise?

Best site is between vein and extreme edge. A prick to the vein hurts and can generate A LOT of blood. This photo is useful:

 

[scienceofcats]

Best site is between vein and extreme edge. A prick to the vein hurts and can generate A LOT of blood.

Thanks for the advice! I will do that tonight.

 

[Becky & Baby Girl GA]

Oh no veins! It could make it a lot more unpleasant for them to hit the vein. It also tends to bruise it. If I were you I’d definitely try the neosporin with pain, I use the cream type. After each poke; I dab & rub a little on each side of her ear. She seems to like it! Go a little at first on one ear maybe to make sure Lola isn’t sensitive to it. Cold compress might help too, but I love the ease of the neosporin.

 

[JanetNJ]

I haven’t been using neosporin or anything. I will definitely try using a cold wet paper towel; maybe that will help.

Regarding the pricking site, are you sure? My vet told me to aim for the vein. I’ve found I usually have a good blood drop that’s not to big if I score just the edge of the vein, rather than the centre, but yes, I did miss and get the centre that time. I find if I try the edge I don’t get enough blood for the meter. What do you advise?

My vet told me the vein too. She was wrong. Go to the outside of the vein. the sweet spot. You get enough blood and it doesn't bruise or hurt.

 

[JanetNJ]

 

[scienceofcats]

Alright, thanks for the advice guys. I will try this and report back.

 

[scienceofcats]

Okay, it sort of worked - the first time, the drop wasn’t big enough. The second, it was just big enough after milking. To calm the ears down, I am using Vaseline after a cold compress.

Do you guys have any suggestions, aside from the warm sock that I use already, to get it to bleed better the first time in that ‘sweet spot’?

 

[JanetNJ]

Okay, it sort of worked - the first time, the drop wasn’t big enough. The second, it was just big enough after milking. To calm the ears down, I am using Vaseline after a cold compress.

Do you guys have any suggestions, aside from the warm sock that I use already, to get it to bleed better the first time in that ‘sweet spot’?

What size lancet are you using? 26 or 28 gauge lancets are recommended.

After a few weeks the ears will grow more capillaries there and it will be easier to get a drop.

 

[scienceofcats]

What size lancet are you using? 26 or 28 gauge lancets are recommended.

I’ve been using Accu-Chek Softclix 28-gauge lancets. Would moving to a 26-gauge make a difference? Also, I’m thinking about buying another meter, as I realized that my Accu-Chek Aviva takes 0.6 μL of blood to do a test, whereas the Freestyle takes only 0.3 μL, aka half as much. Thoughts? I’ll post a separate thread for comments on different meters too.

 

[JanetNJ]

I’ve been using Accu-Chek Softclix 28-gauge lancets. Would moving to a 26-gauge make a difference? Also, I’m thinking about buying another meter, as I realized that my Accu-Chek Aviva takes 0.6 μL of blood to do a test, whereas the Freestyle takes only 0.3 μL, aka half as much. Thoughts? I’ll post a separate thread for comments on different meters too.

Ah no wonder. Yeah if you can, switch to a meter that requires a smaller sample. Mine only needs 0.3 and it's really easy to get that little bit.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

I use a Freestyle Lite and like it - fast reading and needs only a very tiny drop of blood.

 

[scienceofcats]

Ah no wonder. Yeah if you can, switch to a meter that requires a smaller sample. Mine only needs 0.3 and it's really easy to get that little bit.

Sounds good, will do. I figure, after the >$10,000 (not an exaggeration, amazingly) I’ve spent on Lola’s care over the past six months from various scares, what’s $100 for a meter and some strips? I’ll drop by the drug store tomorrow.

I use a Freestyle Lite and like it - fast reading and needs only a very tiny drop of blood.

Cool, I will get the Freestyle. Not that it matters, but I’m curious - are the strips more or less expensive than average?

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Sounds good, will do. I figure, after the >$10,000 (not an exaggeration, amazingly) I’ve spent on Lola’s care over the past six months from various scares, what’s $100 for a meter and some strips? I’ll drop by the drug store tomorrow.



Cool, I will get the Freestyle. Not that it matters, but I’m curious - are the strips more or less expensive than average?

I'm in Canada and all glucose meter strips are expensive here. Human insulin is a lot cheaper though. I think US folks on FDMB have said they're relatively pricey there. The Walmart ReliOn brand is popular there and two models, Micro and Confirm, take a very tiny blood drop. I think those strips are $30+ US for 100.