Lancet question

[CAB7712]

I am currently working on ear sticking but am not having much luck. I am considering ordering safety lancets from McKesson but they say they are a 1.5 mm depth. I am nervous about poking a hole through Newman's ear (which is why I believe I am struggling so much). I am pretty sure he doesn't have a desire to wear earrings anytime soon, so would like to find the right lancets for testing. Thoughts??

 

[Larry and Kitties]

The depth is controlled either by the lancet pen if you use one or if you user a bare lancet it is limited by how far you poke. For starting you want a lancet w/s diameter of 26 or 28 gauge. 26 gauge is a larger diameter than 28 gauge.
If you are using a safety lancing device (those contain a lancet and lancing device as a disposable unit like this: https://mms.mckesson.com/product/927258/McKesson-Brand-16-PASL30G
you can get those with it seems penetrating depths of 1.5, 1.8 or 2mm with diameters of 21 to 3 gauge. With those I would start out with 26 or 26 gauge and 1.5mm depth.

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

If you’re concerned about going through, you may not be going deep enough to actually make a tiny prick and get blood. Are you using padding behind his ear so you can firmly apply pressure? That always helped me. Also make sure you’re inserting the sharpest edge so it should be bevel up

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I would just use a regular lancet in a lancet pen. I would get a 26 or 28 gauge. The lancets that come with most meters are 30 or even the thinner 31 gauge. That way you can control depth to help avoid going through the ear. But if you go through the ear no big deal. I still go through the ar on my cats after more than 20 years.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

I never used the lancing device, a lot of members just freehand, just hold the lancet and poke. If you look at the lancet under a light you will see one side curves upward, poke with that side
Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. You can fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also.Just keep rubbing the ears with your fingers to warm them up

6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capilares, it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand not the lancing device
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
Look at the lancet under a light and you will see one side is curved upward, that's the side you want to poke with

A video one of our members posted, she is using a pet meter ,strips too expensive plus you have to code it
A human meter is just fine, most of us use human meters ,that's what our numbers are based on
When you get your meter can you add the name of it to your signature and spreadsheet


VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar

Here is another link to read
This is a link to one of our posts on home testing.

 

[CAB7712]

We did it!!!! I ended up just freehanding it because the lancet device blocked too much of my view, but I am so proud of Newman (and myself) for getting our first ear stick! He took it like a champ. Now, hopefully it goes just as smooth from here on out. I am planning on giving myself extra time in the mornings (especially on work days) so I don’t feel rushed. Thank you everybody for the words of wisdom and encouragement!

 

[Linda and Newman]

Hello CAB and Newman! I also have a Newman. Congratulations on getting the ear stick today. Good job.

I will add that I use the lancet and the device but in a slightly different manner. I put the lancet in the device but I don't replace the cap nor do I cock it. I like having a bit more than the small lancet to hold on to. This method may or may not be helpful to you , but I thought I would pass it on so you can decide.

I have poked through my Newman's ear a few times and it has not made a difference. He doesn't notice anything different.

 

[CAB7712]

Hello CAB and Newman! I also have a Newman. Congratulations on getting the ear stick today. Good job.

I will add that I use the lancet and the device but in a slightly different manner. I put the lancet in the device but I don't replace the cap nor do I cock it. I like having a bit more than the small lancet to hold on to. This method may or may not be helpful to you , but I thought I would pass it on so you can decide.

I have poked through my Newman's ear a few times and it has not made a difference. He doesn't notice anything different.

That is great advice! I don't have the most steady of hands and a bit of arthritis, so having a larger instrument to work with would be great! I will try this at the next reading.
My Newman is named after Newman from Seinfeld. My other Burmese is named Puddy.

 

[chuckstables]

Great job today! I go in at a 45 degree angle, it basically reduces the effective length of the lancet by about 30%, I can put the microlet lancet in fully at a 45-50 degree angle and it won't go thru the ear and I get blood almost every time.

If you do go thru the ear it's okay. We've all done it. I just use the microlet lancets (they come in different colors for some weird reason, pretty easy to find em). They're the cheapest. The lancet is also pretty short and seems to work quite well with Sam. The angling is important though for me at least, helps me make sure I can always get some blood out.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Congrats on getting the ear poke today

 

[Larry and Kitties]

We did it!!!! I ended up just freehanding it because the lancet device blocked too much of my view,

Most lancet pen come with a clear end in the packager that humans use for alternate site testing. I use the clear cap so I can better see where I m poking.