paw testing

Status
Not open for further replies.
Patricia & Noodle

Patricia & Noodle

Member Since 2015
Good morning all! I just wanted to get some opinions about paw pad testing. It's working very well for Noodle & me, but I worry about potential pain having to test her rather frequently right now. (For what it's worth, the only pain she shows other then general fussiness with testing is a little flinch when the lancet pen clicks.)

I'm wary of using Neosporin with Pain Relief because she does groom her feet and I worry about it being safe to injest. Any other paw testers have tips for making kitty more comfortable?
 
I paw pad test Rosa too (sometimes anyway, other times I test her ears). It doesn't seem to bother her much either apart from that one little flinch when the pen clicks, but I don't know if that's the noise or the needle that makes her jump!

I've been using neosporin wherever I test, but only a tiny bit. I did find this article that recommends wiping most of it off a few minutes after application. http://www.vetinfo.com/is-neosporin-safe-for-cats.html#b
But if you only use a tiny bit, I'd have thought most of it gets wiped off on the floor pretty much as soon as they start walking away after the test.
 
I paw pad test Bailey and he doesn't have any problems. We're only able to do curves on the weekend because of my work schedule, so for one day he might favor that one paw a little bit but it doesn't prevent him from getting around, running and playing and such. Otherwise he usually only gets tested twice a day at shot times. I use neosporin as well and just a dab doesn't seem to bother his grooming process (though he rarely gets right down to grooming after a test and, like April mentioned, I'm sure a lot of it gets wiped off on the floor before then anyway).

Bailey also knows he's going to get a treat (I use freeze dried chicken) immediately after testing, so that works as a nice distraction/reward system too!
 
I paw test with Moby 1-2 times a day. I do notice a teeny flinch when I prick his paw; I usually do two close together then squeeze so I can guarantee a large enough drop. I find myself getting nervous when I sit down and pull him into my lap, but I usually sing to him and rub on his tummy and under his chin and by the time I'm done he's purring and limp in my arms. And I always offer him a nice treat after. :)
 
I had such a horrible time trying to test using the ear, even poked a hole right thru it once! After a 10 minute meltdown, I called my vet, he said to try using the paw pads as they don't have a lot of nerve endings, worked wonderfully! I use a different pad each time and Goof doesn't even flinch. I give the pad a little rub afterwards and that's it. it took a few months, but he's regulated now and I only have to test once every 3 days, just to keep an eye on things.
 
I paw test Gobbles much more than ear testing--he loves his feet to be touched, so in that I'm lucky, however, he abhors his ears being touched, so I will only go to the ear after a few days of paw testing. I sing a little song to him as I rub his pawpad for about 15 seconds prior to sticking him (I think it helps to get the blood flowing....idk). And I use no smaller than a 30 gauge lancet (either a 28 or a 30--anything smaller, and sometimes I don't get enough blood). I do use a generic neosporin-type product (with pain relief): cream formula of Rite Aid maximum strength (neomycin, polymyxin B sulfate, pramoxine HCI) each and every time I poke, even if I don't draw blood. I worry about him getting an infection from the litter box. I wouldn't think that it taste good enough to lick off. I did buy 33 gauge lancets for his ear, but they're worthless--just too tiny to get a big enough drop of blood...therefore, I use the 30s on his ear.
 
Last edited:
Mogmom said:
... but he's regulated now and I only have to test once every 3 days, just to keep an eye on things.
Click to expand...
Congrats that he's in remission....keep on testing him....Gobbles was in remission for about 20 months (went OTJ in May 2013 and relapsed February 2015), but I never stopped testing. At first, it was every day, then every other day, then once a week, then once every 10-14 days.
 
There is an older protocol using many of the Secondary Monitoring Tools in my signature link, plus some testing at the vet.
 
TheBowHuntress said:
Congrats that he's in remission....keep on testing him....Gobbles was in remission for about 20 months (went OTJ in May 2013 and relapsed February 2015), but I never stopped testing. At first, it was every day, then every other day, then once a week, then once every 10-14 days.
Click to expand...
Goof isn't in remission yet (tho we're hopeful) but the dose of insulin we give him once a day is keeping his numbers perfect.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top