My cat's ear does not bleed every time I prick it

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Sammy's G-ma

Sammy's G-ma

Member Since 2017
Hello. I feel bad pricking my cats ear all the time.

My cats ear only bleeds about half of the times I prick it. Is there a trick to this? My poor cat hates ear testing!! Even when I pet him and give him attention.

Thanks for your help!
 
That just happens many times. I have been doing that for over 15 year with many cats (now I have three insulin-dependent diabetic cats) and many times I still have to poke more than once.
 
Ok. Good info! Glad to know this is normal. I will also try to warm his ears if needed. I am sure Sammy and I will get use to this.
 
I notice your signature mentions you use the Relion Priime meter which requires a bigger blood drop than the Relion Confirm or Micro. Switching to a meter that uses a 0.3 drop size might help you. I use a Freestyle Lite(0.3 drop) for BG tests and a Freestyle Precision Neo(0.6 drop) for ketone blood tests. I would think that 95% or more of the blood drops I'm getting from the ear pricks I use for BG tests would be far too small for the Neo's 0.6 drop requirement.
 
Jeanine said:
Hello. I feel bad pricking my cats ear all the time.

My cats ear only bleeds about half of the times I prick it. Is there a trick to this? My poor cat hates ear testing!! Even when I pet him and give him attention.

Thanks for your help!
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I experienced the same problem initially when testing Sketch. What I would do is prick his ear and kind of wait for the blood droplet which often didn't occur. So after consulting the group I combined a few suggestions that seem to have brought about consistent results...plus I am using a Contour meter which requires a fair amount of blood.(0.5). So I get him next to me and start rubbing his ear for a minute or two as I get the meter ready. I then pick the sweet spot area and give a quick stick...then I take both hands and kind of milk the area by squeezing and rubbing lightly on the ear with my thumb and index finger. Usually within 10 to 20 seconds enough blood appears for a valid test with no problem. Hang in there!
 
It sounds like it might be worth it to get a meter that requires less blood! BabyBoo

Jeff, any tips at getting a sweet spot?

Thanks guys!
 
Jeanine said:
It sounds like it might be worth it to get a meter that requires less blood! BabyBoo

Jeff, any tips at getting a sweet spot?

Thanks guys!
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Jeanine said:
It sounds like it might be worth it to get a meter that requires less blood! BabyBoo

Jeff, any tips at getting a sweet spot?

Thanks guys!
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I used a small flash light shined on the inside portion of the ear. On most cats you can see the vein network through the ear. Once I saw the main vein that runs just inside the edge I just made a mental note of the location. Once you are close you can usually gain a sample by using the method I mentioned. There are also some posts and videos on the site here to follow.
 
Oh! I have been moving all along the outside edge.... Looks like I need to move around in that sweet spot zone! Thanks I bet that helps.
 
Jeanine said:
Oh! I have been moving all along the outside edge.... Looks like I need to move around in that sweet spot zone! Thanks I bet that helps.
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The outside edge is correct...I should have said the sweet spot is roughly the top third of the outside edge of the ear...the vein location is just in about a 1 mm in from the outside edge of the year...chk out the diagram Janet posted. Sorry if I confused you!
 
No confusion! Thanks! I had watched videos on how to do it before I found this forum. They all said the outside edge only. But here you guys are doing the outside edge in the sweet spot. That makes it easier. I was doing the outside edge ALL along the whole ear. I am glad you knew how to narrow it down to the best part. Thanks
 
Jeanine said:
No confusion! Thanks! I had watched videos on how to do it before I found this forum. They all said the outside edge only. But here you guys are doing the outside edge in the sweet spot. That makes it easier. I was doing the outside edge ALL along the whole ear. I am glad you knew how to narrow it down to the best part. Thanks
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Good deal...Hope testing goes more smoothly for Sammy and you. It would be so much easier if they would just realize that we are trying to help them not torture them!:)
 
Jeanine said:
Oh! I have been moving all along the outside edge.... Looks like I need to move around in that sweet spot zone! Thanks I bet that helps.
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It's ok to move along the outside edge, the sweet spot can help if you're having issues. Are you warming his ear? That helps many a kitty while their ears are "learning to bleed". As you keep testing more capillaries will develop :). Be sure to firmly hold the poke spot after you get the sample for as long as you can up to like 10-15 seconds. Helps promote healing and reduce bruising. If you accidentally hit the vein, we all probably have done it at lest once, hold it for a bit longer. Always give a treat or do something positive after test :cat:
 
This is good new information. I will pinch it more afterwards to help. Glad to know about this. Also warming it is a good idea I have read but not tried yet. I am sure I eventually will warm, poke, test, pinch like a pro... Right now it is a lot to shuffle... All before my cat flicks his head around a looses the droplet I am trying to test :S. Oh the JOYS!
 
Jeanine said:
This is good new information. I will pinch it more afterwards to help. Glad to know about this. Also warming it is a good idea I have read but not tried yet. I am sure I eventually will warm, poke, test, pinch like a pro... Right now it is a lot to shuffle... All before my cat flicks his head around a looses the droplet I am trying to test :S. Oh the JOYS!
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If he's ahead flicker you can get the drop to the back of your fingernail and test it from there.
 
Jeanine said:
This is good new information. I will pinch it more afterwards to help. Glad to know about this. Also warming it is a good idea I have read but not tried yet. I am sure I eventually will warm, poke, test, pinch like a pro... Right now it is a lot to shuffle... All before my cat flicks his head around a looses the droplet I am trying to test :S. Oh the JOYS!
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I just keep gentle hold of Sketch's ear with one hand to keep him from flicking his ear or shaking his head and use the other to touch the meter / strip to the forming drop. Learned that from experience!
 
Thank you for the nail suggestion. I am getting a little more skill in shuffling all the parts involved with testing. That nail idea is a good one I will use in the future if I forget to set up my tester. As I am sure you guys know it can be awkward to hold the kitty while getting the tester ready. I put the strip in part the way before I start, then set it correctly once I see blood. This awkward shuffle is where I would loose control of kitties head and end up with a head/blood flick.

Sammy and I have settled in a bit more to the testing, we both are less stressed. Sammy sat calmly in his most recent test. So things are going better.
 
Jeanine said:
Thank you for the nail suggestion. I am getting a little more skill in shuffling all the parts involved with testing. That nail idea is a good one I will use in the future if I forget to set up my tester. As I am sure you guys know it can be awkward to hold the kitty while getting the tester ready. I put the strip in part the way before I start, then set it correctly once I see blood. This awkward shuffle is where I would loose control of kitties head and end up with a head/blood flick.

Sammy and I have settled in a bit more to the testing, we both are less stressed. Sammy sat calmly in his most recent test. So things are going better.
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Hold kitty with one arm, and push the test strip in with your other hand.
 
I insert the strip all the way into the meter before doing the ear prick. The meter keeps running for a minute or two, which is usually enough time to get the blood drop. And if it's not, I just pull the strip out and reinsert it to restart the meter. I admire all you folks who are able to handle all the meter stuff with one hand!
 
Squeakycats said:
I insert the strip all the way into the meter before doing the ear prick. The meter keeps running for a minute or two, which is usually enough time to get the blood drop. And if it's not, I just pull the strip out and reinsert it to restart the meter. I admire all you folks who are able to handle all the meter stuff with one hand!
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Same thing I do. Have the lancet uncapped and ready to go. Insert the strip (I think mine has a three minute time out) and set the tester next to me. Then hope I get a good blood droplet. Pinch lightly after with a gauze pad...give praise and treats.
 
I am getting blood almost every time now. I use to rub side to side in parallel with the edge of the ear. After looking at the patterns in the veins I decided to start rubbing from the center back of the ear forward to the front edge of the ear. This increases my likelihood of getting blood on a poke. I looks like the blood comes into the ear from the center back of the ear. This is why I think rubbing in the direction of the source of the blood helps increase the blood coming out.

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I have now gotten quicker at poking etc. So now I can set up my strip before I poke.
 
Jeanine said:
I am getting blood almost every time now. I use to rub side to side in parallel with the edge of the ear. After looking at the patterns in the veins I decided to start rubbing from the center back of the ear forward to the front edge of the ear. This increases my likelihood of getting blood on a poke. I looks like the blood comes into the ear from the center back of the ear. This is why I think rubbing in the direction of the source of the blood helps increase the blood coming out.

img_3612-jpg.28630


I have now gotten quicker at poking etc. So now I can set up my strip before I poke.
Click to expand...

So happy to hear that the testing process is going more smoothly for you and Sammy!
 
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