Shot Through the Tent

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

I'm not completely sure. I think I shot thru the tent this AM. I remember reading that one member would smell his cat's back for the insulin. I had been also begun doing the "smell test" and did smell the insulin on her fur. I didn't give Curry any more insulin this AM( and not able to home test effectively, yet). I know how to give the shot, I think that I just tried to give it so quickly.....I did catch myself on another occasion w/having the needle go through, but I caught myself before injecting. I just need to slow down.... I do have the longer needle which I like since Curry's coat is so thick.....Just need to slow myself down a notch and be more aware of what I'm doing. Curry seems to be adjusting well to all these changes. She also seems more relaxed which helps me to relax.

I decided to take Curry in to the Vet tomorrow to get some one on one training with ear poking. I'm just a slow learner. He might see what I'm doing incorrectly and make some suggestions. I'm giving Curry's ear a break until tomorrow and then we will start the process again. I notice that many folks will place their kitty's next to them or in their laps but Curry isn't a lap cat. She won't tolerate that of course unless she initiates it herself. We do all procedures on a ottoman which I've trained her to jump on along time ago when initiating the Flovent treatments. She'll do anything for a treat.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

We've all given a fur shot. It happens.

Good instincts re. not shooting again. Never give a second shot. You have no idea how much insulin got where it was supposed to go.

The "smell" test may or may not be valid. If you have a drop of insulin on the syringe, you may smell Lantus on Curry's fur. The only way to be sure if you gave a fur shot is what the numbers tell you. There are any number of times we've all thought we gave a fur shot only to have a really good cycle.

One alternative to going to the vet is to post your location (city/state/province) on Health and see if there's a member close to you. People are usually very willing to lend a hand with teaching testing. Gabby isn't a lap cat either. I test her on the kitchen counter and sometimes where ever she happens to be snoozing.

 

[Deb & Spot]

Ok, so you did a fur shot...hey that happens....I've done that myself quite a few times. No biggie!!! Glad you didn't give a second shot either!!

Sorry to see that you are having such a hard time testing. You said you were going to give his ears a break,
but if you plan on giving Curry insulin tonight, I highly suggest that you test before giving the shot.

Things will get much much easier!!

 

[Roni and Moonie]

I still do fur shots sometimes, just never give any more insulin after that--Just skip--You probably got some in anyway--
Wish I could teach you like I just showed my DH how to do it..Vein runs around edge of ear--
Moonie's back is always turned when I do test from behind her & she is busy eating her treats..
Hope you can get it--Hope a member is near you--Just keep trying.-You are doing so well!

 

[Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)]

Hi Tena, You did the right thing. Even with a "fur shot" some insulin might get in, so we never "re-do" a botched shot. When you do your shot this evening, pull up the "tent" with your thumb and index finger and aim the needle so that it enters just underneath where your thumb is. That way you don't get too "high up" in the tent. Hope this works. I have used the longer needles and occasionally shot through the tent: the under the thumb technique works for me with both the long and the short needles.
Good luck, and good luck with the ear testing. It gets easier!

Ella & Stu

 

[Pat+Raja+Shadow (GA)]

I put Shadow on a table and approach from behind. I then take a folded tissue and place it under his right ear. It works for me this way but now, after a whole year, I can usually sneak up and get his ear no matter where he is at the moment during the day. I put a towel down so he kinda knows that this is where we do the tests and shots. It helps to have certain consistent things in the beginning..
While the meter beeps it's start up, it's like Pavlov's dogs in that he settles down for the test. Then, I press the tissue onto the spot to stop the bleeding while we wait for the countdown. Do you lean over your Ottoman to test her? It does get easier...you are doing great!

The fur shots happen to us all. The important things is to NOT shoot again as Sienne said. Good job with THAT! :mrgreen:

 

[PeterDevonMocha]

I set mocha up on our table and she is always on the right side of me. I place my right arm around her right side and then I take my folded up piece of toilet paper on the inside of her ear (for a long time I couldn't hold the toilet paper and her ear and the pen so I used a bandaid on my finger behind her ear, it was nothing I had to hang onto, but it did provide me with a little extra padding in case the lancet went to my finger) once the t.p. is behind her ear, I rub my fingertip on the outside edge of her ear just for a few seconds to get the blood flowing, then it's a quick click of the lancing device, set that down and pick up the already running meter (relion from wal mart) which takes very little blood and sip it up! I set the meter down and fold the t.p. over her ear with a little pressure to stop the bruising. I admit it was kinda frustrating at first but once we got into a rhythm it takes less then 10 seconds now.

 

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

Yeah, I am leaning over the ottoman. That only becomes difficult if I bend at my waist and don't bend my knees. I was kinda torturing myself while trying to poke her ears since she would wiggle around. I would, my back didn't hurt, but didn't get the right spot. Maybe I need a 27 gauge lancet. I've tried w/a 33 and 30. I'll get a better idea tomorrow when I visit Dr. Moss.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback on doing a fur shot. I feel a bit better about it now.

 

[Barb & Checkers (GA)]

Tena, I also used to think if I smelled or felt wet fur, that it was a fur shot, but realized that it was the droplet on the outside of syrine hub. You'll only know for sure, by the numbers.

My vet taught the finger tent way, but I was always afraid of stabbing my fingers My dd then told me to try pulling Checks hair up, to make the tent. Works better for us that way, 'cause it keeps my fingers safe.
I do him on a table, leaning over him, and love on him a moment. I found it easier to just free stab with the lancet, using folded tissue behind it. Quick jab...it's done!
You'll be expert before you know it, and giving advice to someone else.

 

[Caryl & Sebastian & Alex (GA)]

To agree with what everyone else has said...the only way to be sure is by the numbers. And btw...when my kitty was on Lantus, his fur ALWAYS smelled like it. At least I thought so. I could never tell if I gave a fur shot just by smelling him. I use the 1/2 inch needles too(I like them better), and I try to lift enough skin so that the 'tent' is a fairly good size and the shoot into the bottom part of it (the widest part) at a 30 degree angle downward so that there's PRACTICALLY no chance of the needle coming out the other side.

You'll find a way that's comfortable for you..you have good instincts it seems

 

[Sherry and Harley]

Hi Tena-

Great job hanging in there! It will all come together for you, I promise! I do the same thing that Barb mentioned. I lift a little tuft of her hair on her hind quarters and shoot there. It's been very successful for me.

Good luck!!

s

 

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

One of the best things about this website, other than the wonderful support and feedback, is all the kitty photos. They are all so beautiful. I just love looking at them. Yup, I'm kinda cat crazy.