poke straight or at an angle?

[julie & punkin (ga)]

as i'm reading here, and still having trouble getting enough blood for the glucose tester, i'm wondering if i'm supposed to be angling the lancet? i'm using a freestyle lancet mechanism-thingy set at 4.

do you go straight against the ear or at an angle?

btw, i'm already doing the warm ear, massage thing and am going to try the "damming" up the vein technique too.

 

[Hope + (((Baby)))GA]

Using a lancing device, put support underneath the ear, cosmetic pad works well, then press the device flat on top of the ear. You don't have to press hard, just make sure it is flat on the ear. After you test, roll the cosmetic pad over the ear and apply a little pressure to stop the bleeding and help minimize the bruising.

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

It sounds like you are almost there, Julie. I would poke at a little bit of an angle and even double poke - just quickly poke again in the same spot. A small smear of Vaseline will also help the blood bead up. We liked using a small make up sponge behind the ear to poke against; others use a folded kleenix. And it helped us to take the clear cap off the lancet so we could see exactly where we were poking.

Don't forget- a treat whether successful or not.

 

[Hope + (((Baby)))GA]

Lancing devices need to be flat on the ear. If you are just jusing a lancet, then you probably could poke at an angle.

 

[JenElliot]

I had a really hard time getting blood with those lancet pens when I first started testing, once I fired it 12 times and still got nothing! Now I just poke freehand and get a good bead of blood every single time. If poking freehand, you should go at an angle. Sometimes it is helpful to do 2 pokes right next to each other at first. In time cats ears will "learn" to bleed and testing will be easier. But it sounds like you're almost there! And don't forget the 'reward treat and praise' afterward.

 

[Venita]

Lancet device with cap on = straight.

Freehand (even if using lancet in a device with the cap off) = angle.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

When using the lancet pen make sure that you backup the ear firmly (I use a cotton cosmetic pad) other wise the lancet tip will deflect the ear vice penetrate the ear.

 

[tuckers mom]

When first starting with a new FD I use a lancet pen with the support at the back of the ear but I start at the bottom of the ear just above the triangle flap. For some reason I always do better there. Over time I work my way up and down the ear, but I always start at the bottom. The pressure behind the ear is important, the lancet needs something to strike against.