Ozzie-10/8

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Vhens2211

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Hi all.

Ozzie is good.
He had enough pricking last night, plus my kitty Milo was fighting with him and he got some wounds on his ears from that so I decided to give him a break.

AMPS was 277.

Gave 1 unit.

Just checked 10 min ago, so +3.5 was at 228.

Do I need to increase? Not sure when or if I should do that?
 
Are you able to get a curve today? It's really hard to say what to do without more data.

You mentioned his ears had scabs, have you seen any of the videos on how to test? The one thing I found that really helps is after I get the blood on my strip I just lay the meter down & how pressure on Thumper's ear for a minute. That stops the bleeding & I can really see the difference when I test instead of DH who doesn't do that, everytime he test her she has dried blood on her ears. Also, do you know about the rice socks? That really helps Thumper's ears bleed. Her ears are always cold & they don't bleed well like that. When I use the rice sock & warm them up there is a major difference.
 
I could def at least get another test in like an hour or two...

I've been putting neosporin on his ears afterwards. I'll have to get some rice today and try the sock, I've been warming his ears with my hands.

I'm using a 30 gauge lancet, which came free with the meters. I bought another box of 26 gauge.. maybe the larger size would help?
 
Yes, the larger lancet should make his ear bleed easier. If tou still have the 30s, hold onto them. The longer you do this the better you'll get and his ears will also learn to bleed better.
Carl
 
I'm not sure of the size of my lancets. I had a horrible time getting the lancing device to work for me & I tried just poking freehand but just could not do that. I think I really hurt her when I did that. DH had a Microlet 2 lancing device he had gotten free with a meter so I tried that & it was great, only problem is you have to buy these Microlet lancets & it really doesn't say on the box what gauge they are. I have never tried the neosporin but I know a lot of people say it helps. I just used an old thin sock I had around & tied it off with a rubber band. Just get the plain old rice cheap rice, fill the sock just enough to make a little ball to hold on his ear & heat in the microwave, just be careful not to burn him.
 
When you poke his ear, does the lancet go all the way thru? It shouldn't but that might be a cause for the scabbing. I use a cotton ball and squeeze his ear for 10 seconds after the poke to stop the bleeding.
carl
 
Good point Barbara. I hadn't even considered the device because I always free-handed. I felt it gave me better control.
Carl
 
Yes that looks right. He dropped about 100 points on this dose, which is great information. Now we'll see if he cimbs to just about where he was this morning. If so it is a nice curve.
carl
 
Wanted to mention a technique that Judy told us about early on that helped us warm ears. She told us to get a pill/medicine bottle and put warm water in it, and hold it behind the ear when using the lancet.
We use a small one (maybe opening is 3/4 inch around and bottle about 2 inches high) and put water in it and heat it without the lid for 15 seconds in the microwave. Put lid back on and it warms the ear so good for testing. It really helps us in the winter since we heat with wood and it is chilly in here in the mornings.

Also don’t forget to pinch the bleeding area on the ear for a few seconds. I kind of hold it then wipe the blood drop away with my fingers. That way you don’t have dried blood on the ear and any visible signs of the ear being poked seem to disappear faster. He will bleed a little easier as you test more often. I didn’t believe people either, when they told me this would get easier but it does. Asher purrs now when I test him (he knows that treat is coming) and his brother sits with us and purrs too since he gets a treat too :mrgreen:
 
I'll try the pill bottle. Haven't had much time to get to the store. Ozzie Pmps 210. Gave him a unit and left plenty of food out. I have to tend bar all night.

I hope his ears heal up soon! The are a little red around the edges but no scabbing.

So anyways, he sees the vet next sat. Curious how I explain to him that I went against his advice thursday to give 2 1/2 units. Of course I want him to be involved in Ozzies care, but at the end of the day he's my baby.
 
Print out his SS and give it to the vet
He can't argue with good numbers.
Carl
 
I gave my vet Shakes user id and password so she checks on him periodically
which is really great, cause all I have to do is call and tell her to look
at the SS and she does and we discuss!(dont have to pay a vet bill!!)
 
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