Newbie having testing problems

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ladylei

Member Since 2012
I think I have all the required testing supplies. I have ketone urine testing strips, a Relion Confirm glucometer, 26 gauge and 30 gauge lancets, Relion Confirm testing strips, cotton balls, and sharps container (I have a 11yo and almost 4yo kids so it's a must).

It's been a few days but I have yet to get a usable reading from Moonshine. First it was because I couldn't get the blood to a large enough bead before going into his fur. Then it was because I wasn't getting the blood on the test strips right. Now I keep getting error codes saying I didn't get enough blood on the test strips but the test strip would suck up enough to fill it and leave some blood leftover. I have tried to get the test strip to suck up more of the bead of blood but it won't, yet the glucometer keeps saying I didn't get enough blood. So I don't know what I'm doing wrong, and I really don't want to make Moonshine get stuck repeatedly for something that is probably my error.

Especially when the whole process is a huge production currently. Moon's always hated having his ears or paws touched, my kids keep crowding around to see what I'm doing, my son is very upset and nervous about his cat needing regular testing and possibly insulin, my daughter crowding close makes Moon nervous, our other kitty Tootsie crowding in to check on her buddy, and me trying to calmly and competently doing the testing without sticking Moon too much. I know my daughter will stop crowding when the novelty wears off, but my son will take much much longer to calm about sticking Moonshine and the diabetes. It's easy to keep my son distracted while I test Moon, but my daughter is frequently at my side throughout the day and nights.

So I'm wondering if anyone has tips for calming kids about doing the medical care for a pet, along with help figuring out what I'm doing wrong that I can't get my Relion Confirm to give test results or the strips to suck up enough of the blood to do a reading. Thanks in advance!
 
Phew!

ok - I have 2 little kids (8 & 5) and 2 other cats so I know what you're going through there.
Initially, I tested in the family room but it was too noisy, distracting, kids were fussing etc.. so now I test in the bedroom.

I get all of the supplies out - also using Relion Confirm.
Treat ready, warm sock etc.. pretty easy now to get the blood.

I do have the occassional problem with the test strip not sucking up the blood. I can't decide whether this is due to putting too much vaseline on her ear or me just not holding the strip right (needs to be moved up or down sometimes to change angle) or bad strips.
If it doesn't register and there's still a drop of blood on the end of the strip. I switch out strips and use that same blood drop on the new strip so I don't have to poke Honey again. That ALWAYS works.
(Some people scoop the blood drop onto their finger nail first, rather than the test strip as it gives them longer to sort it out)

However, its possible that there's a problem with the meter - you may need to return for a new one.
 
Just want to be sure you're warming the ear before the poke. That helps a ton! You said you have 26 gauge lancets so I'm assuming you're starting with those - the finer gauges just don't do the trick and you often end up going right through the ear. Hang in there & keep trying! It WILL get easier! :thumbup
 
I'm still in the process of learning how to test, but I wanted to reiterate the importance of heating the ear before pricking. It really helps me with the blood flow and getting the ear to actually bleed. I tried just rubbing the ear last night and it didn't work - I actually had to get the heating pad (a sock with about a cup of rice in it and then knotted) out and warm up the ear.

Also, while I don't have kids I do have a new cat who is about as inquisitive and disruptive as a kid. I go into the bedroom and close the door and give her some quiet cuddle time and then take the test. Could you do that, or would your kids just open the door and come in?
 
I am using a heated rice sock to warm his ears before pricking with the 26 gauge, and I'm trying to do the testing in my bedroom rather than the family room. I just suddenly have everyone demanding attention and needing to see the new thing Mom is doing. I hope it isn't the glucometer but I guess practice makes perfect.

ETA: I've tested myself a few times just to see if the glucometer just isn't reading at all or it is something else. I've learned that I can improve my technique for pricks since it felt like a bit rougher than I would want for my kitty, my sock needs to be a bit warmer, and my own glucose spikes over 140 when I have a migraine starting up thus making me drowsy. The glucometer had no trouble sucking up and reading my blood, but I think a slightly warmer sock and some grease to help the beading is required for cats. IIRC, cats have quicker clotting, which makes me think a warmer sock and grease to keep the blood from soaking into his fur would help.

Can I use Crisco or does it need to be Vaseline? Or would animal lard be better? Or would that mess up the readings?
 
I don't know about crisco or animal lard--I've never heard of anyone using that. Vaseline and Neosporin + Pain Relief ointment are the two things mostly used, and for both you're using just the tiniest little bit. Also, have you tried testing from the inside of his ear instead of the outside, if there's a lot of fur? I always had trouble getting a drop from the back of Bandit's ear because of all the fur, so I test from the front.

Cats have less nerve endings in their ears than people do in their fingers, so it's not the pain you have to worry about. It's being restrained, having something new done to him, and sensing that his human is nervous that usually get's the cat upset. So try and keep things as calm as possible (easier said than done with young kids, I'm sure!)
 
Logically I understand the cat isn't likely to feel any pain from the ear pricks, but emotionally I still worry that it hurts him. Yet I have to trust the science because evidence based facts aren't emotional. It is what it is and I'm doing the best with the knowledge available for my cuddly Moonshine.
 
We are going through the same struggles with Oscar the first test worked great but yesterday and today have been such a struggle to get blood. Tried heating his ear this morning no luck still 3 pokes :sad: It will come the ears will learn to bleed I know this from experience. I had forgotten how hard this was in the beginning after testing Boomer for over two years it was as easy as could be. It's hard not to get frustrated right now but keep telling yourself you are doing this because you love him and it will get easier :smile:
 
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