Louie avoiding testing. Any ideas?

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horselo285

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Hey guys,

So Louie is getting very wary of getting his bg levels tested. He is still tentatively coming to me for his "yum-yums" but as soon as I go near his ear, he tries to get away. He will let me lay him on his side (this way he cant run) but as soon as I touch his ear, he begins swatting and shoving (like literally shoving my hand with his paws) my hand away. It is making it very hard to get an ear prick.

If I manage to get an ear prick, he tries to get away and makes it hard to get the blood on the strip. We are managing..(although I ended up skipping a bg reading as I did not want to stress him out any further) but it is getting harder, not easier.

I am planning to go up soon and test him...any ideas to keep make it less stressful and get Louie to be a bit more cooperative?

Thanks,

Laura and Louie
 
Depending on how he is about restraints, you could try the kitty burrito. Put down a towel and plop him on it. Wrap him up until only his head is showing. You can have him between your legs or on the side of the couch. Any place you can keep him from moving away.

After, lots of praise and treats.
 
I put Neosporin with Pain Relief on my cat's ears every once in a while.

I'd also advise lots of praise before testing, once he comes to you, and then lots of praise and treats after.
Good luck. You're doing such a good job. It takes just 30 to 60 seconds more, to tell him what a good boy he is with lots of loving pets. My cats seem to respond to praise. I hope Louie does too.
 
Dyana- I will pick up some neosporin asap and see if that helps!! Praise as of now isnt doing much. He is tolerating me...but is just making testing time very tough. :-( He gets treats and praise but it's frustrating.

Lyresa,

I am not sure what size they are? How do you tell? I use whatever I got from the newbie kit and from my dad. I have been doing it freehand. Louie didn't want the pen anywhere near his ear. I am also having trouble that one I get his ear pricked, he doesnt want me massaging a bead of blood out and he doesn't want me putting the meter to his ear to get the blood. We are pushing through, but it is just frustrating.
 
Are you sure heating his ear? It was the only way I could get blood from Oliver. One way to do it is to use a pill bottle filled with hot water. It makes a good surface to poke against.
 
horselo285 said:
I am not sure what size they are? How do you tell? I use whatever I got from the newbie kit and from my dad.
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There's a lancet comparision chart here that tells what gauge for most big name brands: http://www.walgreens.com/marketing/library/centers/diabetes/lancets.jsp

If the lancet is too thin you won't be able to get enough blood from your cat's ear. 28 gauge is a good size to use.

I am also having trouble that one I get his ear pricked, he doesnt want me massaging a bead of blood out and he doesn't want me putting the meter to his ear to get the blood. We are pushing through, but it is just frustrating.
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Are you warming the ear before you prick? Warm ears bleed more easily because of the increased blood flow. Many people use a "rice sock". It's kind of like a floppy cat nip square toy but with uncooked rice (or dried beans) inside instead. You can use an old cotton sock instead of sewing up a square of fabric. Use 1/4 cup or so of rice or beans. Knot the sock close and toss into the microwave. Heat until very very warm but not hot. Try 15 seconds to start and adjust the time as needed. Apply the warm rice sock to the cat's ear for at least 30 seconds. I fold the sock over the edge of the ear to get the er really warmed up. Then hold the sock under ear for support as you prick.

Once you get blood, grab the meter and get the blood onto the test strip. It helps if you partially stick the test strip into the meter before you start warming up the ear. When you get blood, all you do is push the test strip in all the way to turn on the meter and then get the blood onto the end of the test strip.
 
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