May help with testing, 100% improvement for us!

[Judy & Fritz]

This may not be the place to post this, but I have been sticking Fritz’s ears free style, just holding the lancet and doing my best to get a sufficient blood drop without hurting him. My lancets were 26 gauge, some 28 gauge arrived late yesterday. He still was objecting to being tested so often, it seemed like it began to hurt him, which hurt me too. I had some safety lancets that I hadn’t tried, decided to use them today. They are 26 gauge, so I didn’t have a lot of hope that they wouldn’t hurt him too, but decided to give them a try. The difference was like night and day! You twist off the top, the needle is hidden inside. When you find the spot on the ear you want to stick, you put the safety lancet on the spot and apply a little pressure. There is a soft click, and you get the perfect drop of blood. And he acts like nothing happened, doesn’t react at all! Hallelujah! They are one-use lancets, and I am stocking up, they are certainly worth a try. I am so elated, I had to share. They also come in 28 gauge and 30 gauge, with a fixed depth of 1.5mm, rather than the 1.8mm depth of these. Here they are:

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

They look interesting. Where did you get them?

BTW.. lancets should only be used once anyway.

 

[Judy & Fritz]

I only use my hand held lancets once and toss, but I read reviews complaining because human diabetics wanted to get 3 or so uses out of each one. (!!!). I love the fact that the needle is inside until you push down a bit, makes the stick and then retracts back into the holder, so it’s never exposed. I ordered these from Amazon, they take about a week to arrive in the US. Bron, I sat here stupified. He acted like he didn’t feel a thing, stayed there next to me as I cleaned up, rather than dashing madly away. I used them three times today, he never budged. I just ordered more. The reviews rave about how much less pain these cause. About $15 for a box of 100.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

@Lauren & Red you might like to look at these lancets

 

[Mocha's_mom]

Thank you! I just found these on Amazon. It's worth a try given your success story! Mocha is doing ok with me free handing it but I don't always get blood on the first try. So I'm willing to try anything to save us both anxiety (mostly me lol)

 

[Judy & Fritz]

Thank you! I just found these on Amazon. It's worth a try given your success story! Mocha is doing ok with me free handing it but I don't always get blood on the first try. So I'm willing to try anything to save us both anxiety (mostly me lol)

I was a wreck trying to get the blood drop without going through the ear. These make it a painless process for both of us. I hope it works for you as well as it has for us. It is NOT a typical lancet pin with the lancet sticking out and a loud click, it's the most gentle thing you can imagine. You twist off the blue part sticking out the top, the needle is recessed down in the holder. You just get your cotton ball (I already have some colloidal silver sprayed on mine), hold against the ear, and then put this little item where you want to stick and apply gentle pressure. It clicks and that’s it. I have had only one fail to function in the last ten tests. Fritz doesn’t squirm or dash away anymore! I ordered more yesterday.

 

[Daddy Jack's Mommy (GA)]

These could be a game changer for so many people!

 

[Judy & Fritz]

They truly could, especially cats and parents who are new to testing. They have made such a difference I’m thinking of doing Fritz’s glucose curve myself. He has a vet dropoff on the 17th for the curve, but he will be so stressed and he’s been through enough. Before I used these, I wouldn’t have remotely considered it. Do we have a graph of some kind on the forum for doing curves? How are Marley and you?

 

[Daddy Jack's Mommy (GA)]

They truly could, especially cats and parents who are new to testing. They have made such a difference I’m thinking of doing Fritz’s glucose curve myself. He has a vet dropoff on the 17th for the curve, but he will be so stressed and he’s been through enough. Before I used these, I wouldn’t have remotely considered it. Do we have a graph of some kind on the forum for doing curves? How are Marley and you?

You can absolutely do the curve yourself now! And Fritz will be so much happier staying with you and his BG numbers will be so much more accurate. About the curve graph - I really don't know. I just sent you a PM about Marley. He's not well.
~ Carolyn

 

[Judy & Fritz]

You can absolutely do the curve yourself now! And Fritz will be so much happier staying with you and his BG numbers will be so much more accurate. About the curve graph - I really don't know. I just sent you a PM about Marley. He's not well.
~ Carolyn

Rena goes for a wellness check tomorrow. They are checking to see if my AlphaTrak came in yet. I’m hoping I can pick it up tomorrow during Rena’s appointment and do his curve on Tuesday (two weeks after starting insulin). He would be SO much happier! Marley is so lucky to have such a loving family. He so deserves all that love.

 

[Lauren & Red]

They truly could, especially cats and parents who are new to testing. They have made such a difference I’m thinking of doing Fritz’s glucose curve myself. He has a vet dropoff on the 17th for the curve, but he will be so stressed and he’s been through enough. Before I used these, I wouldn’t have remotely considered it. Do we have a graph of some kind on the forum for doing curves? How are Marley and you?

Are you able to see exactly where you are poking with these? I can’t tell from the photo how big the part that goes against the ear is. All of the lancet devices I’ve tried work on the same idea. You don’t see the needle unless the cap is off. They poke with a click and then retract. Minus the pressure activation part.

I never hit the spot I’m aiming for though. They are so hard to see. You basically have to eye where you think the center of the device is and line it up that way. But my vision isn’t that great to begin with so the guessing game is adding to the problem. Especially when my cat won’t sit still.
I can’t freehand. But wish I had something that would allow for that kind of precision.

 

[Judy & Fritz]

@Lauren & Red Here is a photo of one with the protective blue cover removed, ready to go, sitting on the meter so you can see the size. They’re quite small. You don’t see the needle EVER with these. It is inside the device, sticks, and immediately retracts. All I have done until now is freehand. Frankly, this allows me more precision, not less. When you freehand, you not only have to determine where you stick, but how deep. These eliminate guesswork on the depth. They never poke all the way through the ear. I do have to estimate where the needle will poke, so I put the outer curve of the device a bit over the outer edge of the ear, and I haven’t missed yet. The diameter of the top is about a quarter inch, if that. I always wear reading glasses when doing a stick, that bit of magnification works beautifully. These are unlike all other lancet devices according to the rave reviews on Amazon. Most users say they are pain-free and since I can’t ask a cat, lol, I’ll take the word of human diabetics, as well as Fritz’s reaction, or lack thereof, to them.

 

[Jessica A]

This may not be the place to post this, but I have been sticking Fritz’s ears free style, just holding the lancet and doing my best to get a sufficient blood drop without hurting him. My lancets were 26 gauge, some 28 gauge arrived late yesterday. He still was objecting to being tested so often, it seemed like it began to hurt him, which hurt me too. I had some safety lancets that I hadn’t tried, decided to use them today. They are 26 gauge, so I didn’t have a lot of hope that they wouldn’t hurt him too, but decided to give them a try. The difference was like night and day! You twist off the top, the needle is hidden inside. When you find the spot on the ear you want to stick, you put the safety lancet on the spot and apply a little pressure. There is a soft click, and you get the perfect drop of blood. And he acts like nothing happened, doesn’t react at all! Hallelujah! They are one-use lancets, and I am stocking up, they are certainly worth a try. I am so elated, I had to share. They also come in 28 gauge and 30 gauge, with a fixed depth of 1.5mm, rather than the 1.8mm depth of these. Here they are:
View attachment 62126

I am so glad that you found something that works for you and Fritz, Judy. And thanks so much for posting to let us all know! We have been having a hard time with testing today (Callie was wearing a libre sensor that just expired so we had only done a handful of "manual" tests before today. Turns out, Callie is much less a fan and much less of a bleeder than we thought/ hoped when we moved to doing it every hour/ couple of hours earlier.) I saw your post and immediately ordered these. Fingers crossed.

 

[Judy & Fritz]

I am so glad that you found something that works for you and Fritz, Judy. And thanks so much for posting to let us all know! We have been having a hard time with testing today (Callie was wearing a libre sensor that just expired so we had only done a handful of "manual" tests before today. Turns out, Callie is much less a fan and much less of a bleeder than we thought/ hoped when we moved to doing it every hour/ couple of hours earlier.) I saw your post and immediately ordered these. Fingers crossed.

Hi, Jessica! What a gorgeous calico she is! Callie will become more of a bleeder soon. Their ears, after getting pricked several times a day, grow extra capillaries, so it becomes much easier to get a decent sized blood drop. I have had to sometimes “milk” the capillary if I see a tiny dot of blood, just push gently against the ear on either side (this is where the cotton ball or pad really comes in handy for me and if you are freehand sticking, it protects your fingers) toward the blood drop until it is large enough for the strip to take up. I love the fact that the little safety lancet doesn’t go all the way through the ear, because I sometimes did that when freehanding and would freak out every time. These come at fixed depths and various needle gauges so there is a gauge size and depth for every kitty ear. I so hope these work for you as well as they do for us. If I had to use one word to describe them, it would be “gentle.” Btw, my two nieces are Jessica and Callie.

 

[Jessica A]

Hi, Jessica! What a gorgeous calico she is! Callie will become more of a bleeder soon. Their ears, after getting pricked several times a day, grow extra capillaries, so it becomes much easier to get a decent sized blood drop. I have had to sometimes “milk” the capillary if I see a tiny dot of blood, just push gently against the ear on either side (this is where the cotton ball or pad really comes in handy for me and if you are freehand sticking, it protects your fingers) toward the blood drop until it is large enough for the strip to take up. I love the fact that the little safety lancet doesn’t go all the way through the ear, because I sometimes did that when freehanding and would freak out every time. These come at fixed depths and various needle gauges so there is a gauge size and depth for every kitty ear. I so hope these work for you as well as they do for us. If I had to use one word to describe them, it would be “gentle.” Btw, my two nieces are Jessica and Callie.

Thank you! Gentle is exactly what we are looking for. I can't wait for those extra capillaries! I know how necessary testing is, but to be completely honest, the idea that we are causing Callie "pain" does really really hurt my heart. Love that your nieces are named Jessica and Callie

 

[Mocha's_mom]

My husband told me he poked all the way through this morning (free handing it) and Mocha's got a crusty scab to remind us! I think Mocha's ok with my gentle hands but I'm hoping the lancing device will help us both so we can be consistent. I'm still using the right ear (because I'm right handed and sitting behind him) but I'm wondering if I should be switching sides? I want the capillaries to form but I also don't want him to be sore every time. Are you using both ears?

 

[Judy & Fritz]

Christina, I’m right-handed too. I put Fritz beside me and a little to the front of me, on the sofa, I have my kit open against the back of the sofa as I sit on the edge and Fritz is in between. I lean across him and get a cotton ball already dampened with colloidal silver solution (it’s soothing and protective) in my hand, have the strip in the meter ready to be pushed in, and the safety lancet already open, ready to use. I push the strip all the way into the meter, quickly put the cotton ball at the front of his ear, position the safety lancet a little bit over the edge of his ear, apply a little pressure, hear the little audible click, look for a blood drop beginning, grab the meter and let the strip draw the blood. Once I see the meter reading the strip, I position the cotton ball so that it’s on each side of his ear and apply pressure for about 15-20 seconds. Then he’s free to hop down. I immediately jot down his BG # in my Blood Sugar Log Book and enter it into my spreadsheet. I keep a draft in my email Drafts folder, ongoing throughout the day. FRITZI’S DIARY Thursday, Aug, 12, 2021 for today. I begin with the time of his AMPS, which ear was tested, then what he was fed, whether he finished his meal, the time and location of his insulin injection (left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, right hip) so I can rotate shots without forgetting where he was shot last. When I do tests during the day, they too go in three places - log book, spreadsheet and diary. When he gets treats, other meds, anything unusual, I put the info in his diary. At the end of the day, I do his final test and send the draft diary to myself, and begin the draft for the next day. Those incoming emails re Fritz go in my Diabetes folder. I can’t tell you how many times I have to check in the draft diary or a previous day throughout the day. I highly recommend keeping a diary. I know what flavors of food he has when, anything relevant is quickly typed in.

I think your husband can’t help but be gentle with this little safety device. It doesn’t take much pressure. Right now, until Mocha’s ear heals up, you don’t have to switch ears, but eventually it will probably keep him more comfortable and cooperating without being sore. Fritz’s ears were getting sore using freehand lancets, which made me anxious, which of course he picked up on, etc. Now I am super calm and so is he. Hope this helps! P.S. with Mocha’s dark ears, you can put a small flashlight on the skin on the front of his ears, switch it on, and even with dark fur, that should show you the vein running up the ear, which you want to avoid. I don’t have to warm his ears first, but each cat is different,

 

[Pattylynne and Tigger]

I was testing Tigger using rice packet for a back up behind his ear. My grandson saw me while we were on vacation. He asked why didn't I use a cork like someone did when he had his ears pierced. It actually worked quite well, his ear wraps around the cork.

 

[Judy & Fritz]

I was testing Tigger using rice packet for a back up behind his ear. My grandson saw me while we were on vacation. He asked why didn't I use a cork like someone did when he had his ears pierced. It actually worked quite well, his ear wraps around the cork.

What a great idea! Out of the mouths of babes….lol. It makes sense. I had a Tigger myself, my first cat. Boy, did he teach me a lot about cats! Your Tigger is s very handsome guy.

 

[Lauren & Red]

I am so glad that you found something that works for you and Fritz, Judy. And thanks so much for posting to let us all know! We have been having a hard time with testing today (Callie was wearing a libre sensor that just expired so we had only done a handful of "manual" tests before today. Turns out, Callie is much less a fan and much less of a bleeder than we thought/ hoped when we moved to doing it every hour/ couple of hours earlier.) I saw your post and immediately ordered these. Fingers crossed.

The blue part seems large like other lancet devices. I think it would be hard to know where the needle is coming out with this one too but I still can’t tell from the photo. It’s worth a try. I will purchase it and see if it makes a difference. Thank you!

 

[Judy & Fritz]

The blue part seems large like other lancet devices. I think it would be hard to know where the needle is coming out with this one too but I still can’t tell from the photo. It’s worth a try. I will purchase it and see if it makes a difference. Thank you!

Crossing my fingers that this works for you and Red. It has completely changed our testing dynamic. I make sure it’s quiet so I can hear the little click. I am also wondering if there is a location other than the ears that could be pricked. The toes wouldn’t work for Fritz.

 

[Judy & Fritz]

The blue part seems large like other lancet devices. I think it would be hard to know where the needle is coming out with this one too but I still can’t tell from the photo. It’s worth a try. I will purchase it and see if it makes a difference. Thank you!

It gets VERY narrow where the needle is coming out, you’ll see.

 

[DANI NICOLE]

This may not be the place to post this, but I have been sticking Fritz’s ears free style, just holding the lancet and doing my best to get a sufficient blood drop without hurting him. My lancets were 26 gauge, some 28 gauge arrived late yesterday. He still was objecting to being tested so often, it seemed like it began to hurt him, which hurt me too. I had some safety lancets that I hadn’t tried, decided to use them today. They are 26 gauge, so I didn’t have a lot of hope that they wouldn’t hurt him too, but decided to give them a try. The difference was like night and day! You twist off the top, the needle is hidden inside. When you find the spot on the ear you want to stick, you put the safety lancet on the spot and apply a little pressure. There is a soft click, and you get the perfect drop of blood. And he acts like nothing happened, doesn’t react at all! Hallelujah! They are one-use lancets, and I am stocking up, they are certainly worth a try. I am so elated, I had to share. They also come in 28 gauge and 30 gauge, with a fixed depth of 1.5mm, rather than the 1.8mm depth of these. Here they are:
View attachment 62126

These seem great and we're new to this so the easier it can be for both us and the cat, the better. I can't seem to find 26G needles but only 28. Is there a big difference between the two as far as them feeling the needle?

 

[Mocha's_mom]

These seem great and we're new to this so the easier it can be for both us and the cat, the better. I can't seem to find 26G needles but only 28. Is there a big difference between the two as far as them feeling the needle?

I don't think they feel anything different (in my opinion). I think the 26g is more to help us. If you can't get blood (or see blood) w 28g then maybe switch to 26.
After one week (which is where we're at) I feel better with 26. Only because sometimes with the 28 I have to poke a couple times. Not to say 26 is perfect, but it's much easier (on both of us!)

 

[DANI NICOLE]

I don't think they feel anything different (in my opinion). I think the 26g is more to help us. If you can't get blood (or see blood) w 28g then maybe switch to 26.
After one week (which is where we're at) I feel better with 26. Only because sometimes with the 28 I have to poke a couple times. Not to say 26 is perfect, but it's much easier (on both of us!)

I'll try whatever is easier! I'll keep hunting for the 26 then. The Canadian Amazon site only seems to have 28.

 

[Judy & Fritz]

Hi, Dani! If it’s the McKesson safety lancets I started the thread about, I have not used the 28 gauge. The 28 gauge has a preset depth of 1.5 mm, rather than the 1.8 mm depth of the 26 gauge I use. That is really an almost infinitesimal difference. At first, warming his ear will help you draw the blood more easily (rice sock slightly warmed in microwave, prescription bottle with warm water in it held against the ear, or just rubbing the ears gently, which is what I do). As his ears adapt to being tested, they will grow new capillaries, which also makes getting a blood drop easier. If all that Amazon Canada has in the McKesson Safety Lancets is the 28 gauge, I would read the reviews to see what you think, and go from there. They will probably be just as good as the 26.

 

[DANI NICOLE]

Thanks Judy!

 

[Pattylynne and Tigger]

Judy, just tried them today. They hurt like hell on my finger. Tigger didn't seem to mind as much as my freehand style the first time. Second he flinched, so mixed results. Will continue with the experiment. Thanks for passing on good info.
Patty

 

[Judy & Fritz]

Judy, just tried them today. They hurt like hell on my finger. Tigger didn't seem to mind as much as my freehand style the first time. Second he flinched, so mixed results. Will continue with the experiment. Thanks for passing on good info.
Patty

You pricked your own finger and it hurt? Wow, I did not do that, lol, but great idea. But he didn’t mind the stick as much? Will be interested in seeing how they work out.

 

[Mocha's_mom]

Judy, just tried them today. They hurt like hell on my finger. Tigger didn't seem to mind as much as my freehand style the first time. Second he flinched, so mixed results. Will continue with the experiment. Thanks for passing on good info.
Patty

Yikes, did you have something to put behind the ear when you lanced it? Someone on here said to use a cork because it gives somewhat of a solid surface to click against. (And there are plenty of corks around my house lol!). My husband seems to do better with the cork/lancet method while I'm still free handing. But I'm finding more and more that both of us go all the way through the ear. Mocha doesn't mind though. I think he's finally getting used to it. He just doesn't like when I have to poke several times and it takes too long. So I'd rather go all the way through one time, then multiple tiny pricks. Both ears are starting to bleed more which is making my life so much easier!

 

[Pattylynne and Tigger]

That seems to be my solution, 1 deeper stick=less time and agitation=sufficient blood= happier(relatively) kitty= happier human. When you free hand do you put something behind the ear. I have been using the cork vs rice for both freehand and auto lancet, definitely need something to back the poke. Tigger usually allows me to get blood with only moderate fights, flicking of ear and pulling away. I guess they are worth the trouble???????

 

[Judy & Fritz]

I hope anyone using safety lancets or regular lancets is using something for the ear to rest against, whether it be a cork, rice sock, or in my case, a cotton ball or cotton pad against my finger. I rarely go through his ear. I do the stick, draw the blood drop up the meter, make sure the meter is calculating the number, then fold the cotton pad over the edge of the ear to apply pressure for about 20 seconds. That’s long enough to stop the bleeding. If you are getting blood flicked off the ears pretty often, you probably need to apply pressure, while scratching under his chin and doing baby talk, , it stops the ears from bruising. If I get too big a blood drop, I know I’ve gone deeper or closer to the vein than I meant to, and when that happens, I also cleanse the edge of the ear with colloidal silver solution, the last thing I could handle would be an infected ear. One thing that I have learned is that what I thought was a sufficient blood drop was actually far larger than what my meter needs, so nice surprise there.

@Mocha's_mom I think @Pattylynne and Tigger deliberately tried the safety lancet on her own finger, not went through Tigger’s ear into her finger, at least I hope so! Yikes is right!

 

[Mocha's_mom]

I think you’re right. Wondered if she was practicing on her own finger too. But Yikes to that too! I don’t have the guts to practice on myself.
I use a cotton ball & sometimes I’ll see blood on it after my poke. I think that’s when I go through. I’ve noticed if I come at it at an angle (like 45 degrees towards the edge of the ear almost) then I just get a small poke. If I go straight in (like a lancet device does) then it goes through. He doesn’t care either way. I’d rather one *good* poke than several bad ones! I’m rotating ears too because some of my husbands pokes are deeper & I’m sure Mocha’s right ear is sore. Plus if I get him while he’s sleeping I can sometimes come at him from the front and get his left ear. I do it quickly enough so he doesn’t have time to flinch. It’s working so far. I’ll take every little win I can get!

 

[Pattylynne and Tigger]

I have checked my own sugars off and on for years, borderline diabetic. For myself use a pen lancet with 33 gauge lancet, really barely feel it, wish it would work on Tigger. I just tried the auto pressure lancet to see how it felt, same as the type they use at Dr., hurts like hell, I keep meaning to bring my own when they want to get a sample there. The one being recommended here is still hard, slight bruise on my finger. Yes I use a cork on Tigger, it was my grandson that suggested that a couple weeks ago, works well but can't warm it but Tigger's bleeding pretty well these days. I didn't have rice when I first started so made a sock of lentils, worked fine for awhile but dried to the point it burst into flames in microwave. Since then have heard this can/does happen with rice too. Christina aren't you a Pharmacist? You are probably giving vaccinations. Get brave and poke your own finger, lol. Tigger only has 1 1/2 functional ears, him and his dog played too rough one day in the canines took out a small chunk on each side of his left ear, just where the medial vein goes around. As for switching ears, I check with him on the counter top, left arm from rear around his body and holding his ear, spin him around for the other ear, not quite as easy but I can pin him loosely, scratch his chin lots and he stays pretty docile most of the time.
Good luck to all you and all the kitties. Have a great weekend. Just think of me and Tigger sharing our wine and cork.....Patty

 

[Mocha's_mom]

@

I have checked my own sugars off and on for years, borderline diabetic. For myself use a pen lancet with 33 gauge lancet, really barely feel it, wish it would work on Tigger. I just tried the auto pressure lancet to see how it felt, same as the type they use at Dr., hurts like hell, I keep meaning to bring my own when they want to get a sample there. The one being recommended here is still hard, slight bruise on my finger. Yes I use a cork on Tigger, it was my grandson that suggested that a couple weeks ago, works well but can't warm it but Tigger's bleeding pretty well these days. I didn't have rice when I first started so made a sock of lentils, worked fine for awhile but dried to the point it burst into flames in microwave. Since then have heard this can/does happen with rice too. Christina aren't you a Pharmacist? You are probably giving vaccinations. Get brave and poke your own finger, lol. Tigger only has 1 1/2 functional ears, him and his dog played too rough one day in the canines took out a small chunk on each side of his left ear, just where the medial vein goes around. As for switching ears, I check with him on the counter top, left arm from rear around his body and holding his ear, spin him around for the other ear, not quite as easy but I can pin him loosely, scratch his chin lots and he stays pretty docile most of the time.
Good luck to all you and all the kitties. Have a great weekend. Just think of me and Tigger sharing our wine and cork.....Patty

Yes, Mocha and I share lots of corks and wine lol!
Yes I’m a pharmacist, but it doesn’t hurt me at all to give vaccine injections! (BTW please please get your covid vaccine - I want to say that to everyone here!)
I’ve never needed to warm Mocha’s ear. He’s pretty warm most of the time but I think a lot of people here may have outside cats and that can probably influence temperature. My house is a comfy 75 in the summer (95 outside today). So he’s mostly warm especially when he sleeps in the sun rays!
I’m so sorry Tigger has to go thru that with the dog! I can’t imagine. But it definitely limits your “sweet spots”.
My secret is putting the ham or Turkey deli slices in front of Mocha before his poke. He tries to squirm if I spend more than 0.008 seconds trying to get blood. And he’s not too thrilled about my ear tugging. He’s pretty chill (ragdolls are like that) so I’m lucky.
So as a borderline diabetic yourself you understand. I was shocked when my vet said I didn’t need to monitor at home! Huh?!

 

[Pattylynne and Tigger]

Had my first vaccine Jan 2, lucky I was able to get in that early. Started giving vaccines at a drive thru site after I had my second dose. We were doing 700-900 a day. Just sent county health dept email volunteering if they
open up sites again for booster/3rd round.
I don't think the dog hurt Tigger as much as he hurts the dog, it's nice they are playing more again lately since Tigger's sugars are down.

 

[Judy & Fritz]

I think you’re right. Wondered if she was practicing on her own finger too. But Yikes to that too! I don’t have the guts to practice on myself.
I use a cotton ball & sometimes I’ll see blood on it after my poke. I think that’s when I go through. I’ve noticed if I come at it at an angle (like 45 degrees towards the edge of the ear almost) then I just get a small poke. If I go straight in (like a lancet device does) then it goes through. He doesn’t care either way. I’d rather one *good* poke than several bad ones! I’m rotating ears too because some of my husbands pokes are deeper & I’m sure Mocha’s right ear is sore. Plus if I get him while he’s sleeping I can sometimes come at him from the front and get his left ear. I do it quickly enough so he doesn’t have time to flinch. It’s working so far. I’ll take every little win I can get!

Just want to clarify that if I don’t for whatever reason get blood with the safety lancet the first try, I quickly grab a 28 gauge lancet, twist the top off, and freehand it. With the little arrow imprint on the orange part of the safety lancet I can usually aim well and get it the first try, but I don’t do two. Fritz is resigned to the tests and pretty docile about it, and I don’t want that little click to be associated with anything bad. Going to try the 45 degree angle trick. And amen to taking every little win we can get!

 

[Mocha's_mom]

Yep, even though the safety lancet device doesn't make a huge clicking noise I still think he hears it. But it's WAAAYYYY less noisy than a regular lancing device. I'm sure Mocha would bolt out of the room if he heard one of those!

I've got extra lancets laying everywhere too lol. Just in case the first poke doesn't work I've got another fresh one within arms reach.

 

[Mocha's_mom]

Had my first vaccine Jan 2, lucky I was able to get in that early. Started giving vaccines at a drive thru site after I had my second dose. We were doing 700-900 a day. Just sent county health dept email volunteering if they
open up sites again for booster/3rd round.
I don't think the dog hurt Tigger as much as he hurts the dog, it's nice they are playing more again lately since Tigger's sugars are down.

Haha, Mocha is playing more with his little sister too since his sugars have come down. So nice to see!

So you're a pharmacist too? I've gotten countless emails about temp jobs where I could just give vaccines. Where are you located? I'm in Tampa and I feel like I've seen a lot for the Sarasota area.
I got my vaccine end of January so I'm ready for my booster too.
My husband's hospital is totally full of unvaccinated COVID patients. Over 100 people! All ICU beds are full and ventilators are all taken. I'm just shocked at how many people didn't get the vaccine. I'm starting to tell people---remember chicken pox? Basically if you were anywhere in the vicinity of someone with it you would get it. COVID is just as virulent! You're GONNA get it if you aren't vaccinated. It's pretty much a given at this point. It's also going to keep mutating (as all viruses do) so it's never going away completely. Please get vaccinated! *end rant*

 

[Pattylynne and Tigger]

No actual RN in Lee Co. small area out of Cape Coral, Pine Island. Volunteered at Charlotte County Health Dept sites in Punta Gorda. Lee Health has around 600 in system, record every day. Where is your hubby's hospital? Am seeing more and more people mask up again. Why this had to become a personal rights issue IDK. New Zeeland and parts of AZ on lockdown. Why we don't get here I don't understand. I know I would have a hard time working in a hospital treating unvac., you want me to kill myself taking care of you now when we begged for a year to wear a mask and get a shot?, as you say *end rant* Guess we better keep this off here, PM anytime to talk on or off FD or these topics.

 

[Heather38]

I searched for this post again because I had to say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! I just tried these for the first time and it was the first stress free (for my cat) test I've been been able to do. My cat never minds being stuck, but he can't deal with me holding his ear and he gets so upset with me. With this lancet, I didn't have to hold his head or hang on to his ear at all. I just quickly sandwiched his ear between the gauze and lancet and it went off with a little pressure and made a bead of blood big enough that I didn't have touch him with my hands at all to get the reading. He was totally fine with it. Thank you!

 

[Mocha's_mom]

I searched for this post again because I had to say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

I’m so happy to hear that! I haven’t reread this post in a week or 2 but I don’t know if we mentioned the wine cork idea. Lord knows most of us have a few laying around (especially now lol).
I still freehand a plain lancet with a cotton ball. But my husband uses these lancet devices but using a cork as a backer. Gives a little bit more of a solid steady surface to punch. Works like magic every time for him.
We try to rotate ears so we don’t bruise him too much. But this has been a lifesaver for my husband. I’m happy to hear it’s working for you!! Thank @Judy & Fritz for this. Brilliant!

@Judy & Fritz now that Mocha is bleeding better I think my next box will be the 28g ones. But the 26 is still perfect! Thank you!

 

[Judy & Fritz]

I searched for this post again because I had to say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! I just tried these for the first time and it was the first stress free (for my cat) test I've been been able to do. My cat never minds being stuck, but he can't deal with me holding his ear and he gets so upset with me. With this lancet, I didn't have to hold his head or hang on to his ear at all. I just quickly sandwiched his ear between the gauze and lancet and it went off with a little pressure and made a bead of blood big enough that I didn't have touch him with my hands at all to get the reading. He was totally fine with it. Thank you!

I am so glad these have helped someone! Anything that makes this testing process easier is awesome. Fritz still is good as gold when I use these. When I try to freehand with a smaller gauge lancet, he winces, so these are the gold standard for us. I am thrilled that they work for you! Yay!

 

[Judy & Fritz]

I’m so happy to hear that! I haven’t reread this post in a week or 2 but I don’t know if we mentioned the wine cork idea. Lord knows most of us have a few laying around (especially now lol).
I still freehand a plain lancet with a cotton ball. But my husband uses these lancet devices but using a cork as a backer. Gives a little bit more of a solid steady surface to punch. Works like magic every time for him.
We try to rotate ears so we don’t bruise him too much. But this has been a lifesaver for my husband. I’m happy to hear it’s working for you!! Thank @Judy & Fritz for this. Brilliant!

@Judy & Fritz now that Mocha is bleeding better I think my next box will be the 28g ones. But the 26 is still perfect! Thank you!

Hi, Christina! I love that they have helped your husband. I am thinking about the smaller gauge when I run out, but I have four boxes to use first. If you order the McKesson 28 gauge needle, please let me know how that works for you. They don’t penetrate as deeply and it would be great if they still get adequate blood.