Lancing Location Troubles

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scienceofcats

scienceofcats

Member Since 2018
Alright, so I’ve gotten very good at pricking Lola’s ear to do her blood glucose, but I seem to only be able to do it in her left ear. Any time I’ve tried the right ear, it won’t bleed. I think it might have to do with ergonomics for me - I’m right-handed and can only succeed if she’s facing right so that I can sort of wrap my arms around her while I do it.

Now I have a problem; her left ear is becoming a little irritated. If I keep using only that ear, it’s going to get worse, and eventually I won’t be able to use it. Any tips for doing her right ear or another location, like maybe her paw pads? Not quite sure what to do.

Edit: Her paw pads are black - not sure if that matters, but I’m guessing it would be harder to see blood. Also, if I did the paw pads, could I use a lancing device?
 
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You can use a dab of the neosporin with pain relief gel, not cream. Have you tried just warming the other ear first? I 90% of the time use Phoebes left ear. I just put the ointment on every few sticks. It will provide some relief and helps the blood bead.
 
I use one ear more than the other too with neosprin on days I test a lot. If you do use pat pads just be sure to use a non weight bearing pad.
 

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scienceofcats said:
Also, if I did the paw pads, could I use a lancing device?
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I only ever tried using a paw pad once, and it was a disaster, lol (apparently I should have made a kitty burrito out of him before I stuck his paw :rolleyes:) , but I would imagine you might have to adjust the device to penetrate the thicker skin of the pad.
 
I sometimes use the pads when testing my cat because he tolerates it better than the ear. I think it depends on the cat's personality. Some cats do not like their paws touched at all and will fight against it. My cat is pretty mellow and doesn't mind it. He has dark brown pads and it is sometimes a little difficult to see, but not too bad. I use a lancet device set on the highest setting. I also make sure to warm up his pad with a heated sock rice ball and massage the area before pricking to make it bleed better.

I will admit that I use his hind weight bearing (large) pads to test. I tried the little pad shown in the picture above and wasn't successful. It might depend on the lancet device - mine was too big to accurately poke the little pad unfortunately. He has never shown any tenderness or limped afterwards, but I do alternate between his ears and two hind paw pads.
 
I have a difficult time getting Baby’s left ear to bleed. I hold the warmed rice sock on it forever & massage. I massage so much it’s a wonder she has any hair left on it. I always use the neosporin on her, it’s habit now. I persevere though; with the left ear. Maybe one day it will be easier. I wonder if you ever get to a place where I just poke & see blood? No massage or sock? Wondering;..... anyone?
The minute I try to grab a foot my Baby goes bat ___ crazy! Lol. No can do
 
Somebody just said the other day it almost like they look at the ear and it starts bleeding! Can’t remember who that was but I giggled because I totally understand! The ears grow more capillaries after being poked so many times so they do literally ‘learn’ to bleed as time goes by. I’m actually considering changing to smaller lancets because I get more than I need and I’ve only been poking about a month.
 
In the beginning I could only get blood from Colin’s right ear. After awhile that ear was looking pretty beat up, so I decided to concentrate more on the left. It took extra warming, massaging, milking and pokes, but now it bleeds as well as the right and I can alternate. I’ve never tried the paw pad, so I have no advice.
 
Sharon14 said:
In the beginning I could only get blood from Colin’s right ear. After awhile that ear was looking pretty beat up, so I decided to concentrate more on the left. It took extra warming, massaging, milking and pokes, but now it bleeds as well as the right and I can alternate. I’ve never tried the paw pad, so I have no advice.
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Do you still warm the ears up Sharon or at some point can I pitch the sock?
 
Phoebes said:
You can use a dab of the neosporin with pain relief gel, not cream. Have you tried just warming the other ear first? I 90% of the time use Phoebes left ear. I just put the ointment on every few sticks. It will provide some relief and helps the blood bead.
Click to expand...

I tried neosporin on my cat's ears and found out two days later she was allergic/sensitive when her ears were bloody and looked like they were melting. So, watch out for that. :). We've got it all figured out now.

My first sugar cat I could only rub his ears to try to warm them because that's all he would allow. Now that his sister got recently diagnosed she works really well with warm water in a pill bottle to warm her ear.
 
Hey guys. Thank you for all the advice! Amazingly, this morning I figured out a position/angle that works for her other ear. I will try neosporin though to help with irritation. Is it safe for cats, considering they’ll inevitably lick it off?
 
scienceofcats said:
Hey guys. Thank you for all the advice! Amazingly, this morning I figured out a position/angle that works for her other ear. I will try neosporin though to help with irritation. Is it safe for cats, considering they’ll inevitably lick it off?
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Put just a very thin smear of it on. Many people use it with no ill effects but there are some who choose not to because they're concerned about its constituents.
 
Tacking this onto your most recent thread here.
Leo is my sugar cat. He is also on pred. I give him 4.5-5.0 units each AM, because of the AM pred dose. I reduce his PM dose. So it looks like this.
A.M. - 280-350 BG, prednisolone tab + 4.5-5.0 units
PM - 180-250 BG, 2.0-2.5units

He does vary with his BG because of the acromegaly. But the pred typically drives up his day time BG values.

Be VERY diligent with the prednisolone. I ensure I mark off a sheet, or the online sheet for each dose. If you miss a dose, make sure you reduce the insulin provided. Leo had a hypo in mid 2017. We missed the pred dose. He hypo'ed the next day. There is a buildup of pred.
 
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