Recommended lancet size

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Judith Gates

Judith Gates

Member Since 2016
I am new to feline diabetes and also BG testing. I have attempted BG testing but just can't seem to get it under my belt. I am getting beyond frustrated. After several attempts I was able to gather on two different occasions a BG level. I am using 30g lancets. After researching I was wondering if I should try a 29g lancet, thoughts? Silver is is a dark coat 16 year old kitty and compared to my other cats has paper thin ears. I have drawn blood several times but unable to draw enough for a test. Yesterday once again I checked his ears with a flashlight shining through and I saw a lot of red areas which I'm assuming were the spots I pricked and the blood pooled under the skin. Right now I am giving his ears a time to heal before I try again. He was Diagnosed on May 4, 2016 so our journey is just beginning. I have watched many videos and read many suggestions, I don't know what I could be missing besides trying a lower gage lancet. Silver is a very cooperative cat so I feel especially awful when the multiple attempts don't get what I need. I welcome any suggestions. I do use a rice heat pack to heat the ear, I rub his ears to stimulate the blood flow and I have been using just the lancet alone. Are there any suggestions of a very good lancet holder to use instead of just the lancet, maybe that would be helpful?
 
Hello, Judith... and welcome to the wonderful land of sugar kitties. Sorry to hear you are having issues with getting a nice drop of blood to test Silver. You are on the right track by using a heated rice pack to warm Silver's ear. An empty pill bottle, half filled with warm water, also works quite well. When you attempt testing, do you also put something like a folded tissue, makeup-remover pad, or gauze pad behind Silver's ear to cushion the prick? I find that helps a lot. Also, the 30 gauge lancets are a good choice for ear testing. I prefer to use a lancing device... this one from Walmart works great. When I first started testing Hannah, I had no luck with just using the lancet and found the device to be very helpful. It's worth a try and the lancing device isn't expensive. There will be a slight click when using it, but Silver should adjust to the sound quite quickly. Some cats are bothered by the click, but many are not. The click never has concerned my Hannah. Let us know how it goes... and best of luck.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that the device should come with two tips... one solid color and one clear. I have the best luck with the clear tip, as it's easier to see where the lancet will prick.

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i'm pretty new to testing and think I'm finally starting to get it right (no jinxies!). we got off to a rocky start. what really helps me is the lancet device which came with my alphatrak. I had been freehanding with a lancet but had poor luck. my kitty has those red spots too on his ears - I understand they are bruises and will go away. applying gentle pressure after lancing should help prevent bruising.

are you testing in 'the sweet spot'? pic here http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m267/chupie_2006/testingear/sweetspot.jpg

everything else you described sounds great. i have seen suggestions that for newbies you might want to consider 28 gauge. the 30 is smaller and might be contributing to having a harder time producing enough blood. I use 28 gauge.

I understand your frustration and that awful feeling from repeatedly lancing a furbaby's ears.

edit: I meant to add there are people here who test pawpads. I haven't tried it but I hope they chime in. might be an option for you.
 
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Misterbeesmom said:
edit: I meant to add there are people here who test pawpads. I haven't tried it but I hope they chime in. might be an option for you.
Click to expand...

I sucked at testing at the ears so I test the paw pad...the big middle pad on the front feet. From what I've seen, it seems most people use the hind feet...(maybe because it is less calloused?)

I roll my cat on to his back, rub his belly and do a quick jab. After I get my sample, I press my thumb on the hole to help stem the blood. The paw stops bleeding pretty quickly. Applying polysporin/neosporin to the hole would help prevent any infection.
 
after you feel comfortable and feel confidant you may want to use a 33 gauge... they hardly even feel it.
Here is a good picture of the sweet spot--it makes ALL the difference. When I started testing I aimed for the vein:eek: not good--
between the edge of the ear and the vein os what you want to gently prick-:bighug::bighug:
laur_danny_famoussweetspot.jpg
 
jayla-n-Drevon said:
When I started testing I aimed for the vein:eek: not good--
between the edge of the ear and the vein os what you want to gently prick-:bighug::bighug:
View attachment 20558
Click to expand...

omg when I started, I would aim for the vein too! everywhere I looked for instructions said "look for the median vein" with no other information, so I thought that was where we were supposed to aim! thankfully I came across this board, or that 'sweet spot' pic somewhere online. phew!
 
Until Silver's ears 'learn' to bleed, the best lancet to use is an alternate site one - they're around 26-28 gauge and make it much easier to get a decent drop of blood initially. With a cat with dark fur (as you can see from my pic, I have the same problem) it definitely helps to use a flashlight or a strong overhead light initially to help you locate the right spot to poke. I find I can't freehand the lancet - it's much easier for me to use the device and Rosa doesn't seem to mind the click. I test from her paw pad sometimes as well as from her ear - she has preferences depending on the day. I use the back paws and go just slightly off-center on the largest paw pad. Going a little off-center avoids the most callused part of the pad. My vet told me to use the back paws, not the front, but I don't actually remember why any more! To successfully test the paw pad, I've found it doesn't need to be warmed. What does work is using an alternate site lancet and the device with the alternate site cap on it (this gives more depth than the regular cap). You do need to put pressure on the top of the cat's paw to make sure the lancet goes deep enough. With Rosa, I lay her on her back in my lap and hold the paw I'm going to use then use the lancet device with the other hand so I can push her paw against the device. After you poke, keep the device in place and the pressure on for a few seconds to allow the blood drop to well up around the lancet.

Oh, and for people worried about aiming for the vein - if you do get the vein either accidentally or deliberately, it's really not that big of a deal. It does bleed a lot more and you'll need to apply pressure for a few seconds longer, but you won't harm the cat that way. Once or twice when Rosa was low and I couldn't get a clean test quickly enough, I went for the vein on purpose to make sure I'd get a good test.
 
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