Testing question

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kmz3301

Member Since 2012
Apparently, Max has no blood.... lol. I tried several times, in different spots. I even checked the lancet and its sharp. I got I clean one and tested my own blood, no problem.

I warmed the ear as long as he would let me, but no blood. Tried his paw and a shaved spot on his back... nothing.

Help?
 
is this the spot you are aiming for?



If you have to, poke really close to the vein. It may bleed more readily.

Carl
 

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Thanks Carl. I think I might have been a little low. Is that picture looking at the front or back of the ear?
 
Here's a better picture: http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m267/chupie_2006/testingear/sweetspot.jpg

Most people poke on the furry outside of the ear but you can poke the inside of the ear, especially if you have a dark eared cat and can't easily see where the vein is.

Are you using the lancet device? Have you tried all the depth settings? What gauge are the lancets? Anything over 30 gauge is too thin to get blood with from a cat. Try 28 guage lancets. If you like to use the lancet device, most likely you will need to buy a new one to work with thicker guage lancets. Most lancets aren't compatible between brands. Lancet gauge chart Try freehanding the lancet without the device. Many people find it easier to get blood this way.

The ear needs to be really really really warm, not just warm. Try heating up the rice sock a few seconds longer and wrap it around the edge of the ear and firmly hold it in place for as long as your cat will allow, at least 30 seconds if that is doable. Hold the rice sock on one side of the ear and use it to support the ear and give you a firm surface to poke the lancet device against.

Try the other ear. Some cats only have one ear that will bleed.
 
I have 25 gauge lancets. The lancet device is on 4.... I thought that was the deepest setting, its been a while since I used it.
 
THANK YOU! I got blood from him!

I wet a paper towel and microwaved it for 15 seconds so it was nice and warm. He was not thrilled with me holding on his ear, but I tried on the inside and got a small drop of blood.

He was 289 an 1 1/2 hours past his shot and dinner. I'll keep working at it.
 
Awesome job! The more you do it, the better you will get, and the ears will actually "learn to bleed" better. I always had a lot more luck using the lancet "free hand" rather than using the device. I felt it gave me more control over things. The drawing, though it is hard to tell, would be the back of the right ear if you were behind the kitty.

Carl
 
Hi, I test on the outside edge of the ear, and on the rare occasions now when I don't get blood (been doing this five and a half years..) it's because I'm not putting sufficient pressure on the inside of the ear, so there's not enough resistance to get a good 'poke'. Even after all the tests I've done this still happens sometimes. Usually when I'm sleepy..... So I repeat the test with more pressure on the inside of the ear. It usually does the trick just fine.

If you see a teeny drop of blood but not enough for a test, then massaging the ear above or below that drop will make it bleed more.

Good luck!
 
I am having an easier time with one ear and not the other. I hate to keep testing him on the same ear.
 
Often one ear is better than the other. To minimize bruising, hold the spot you poked for a few seconds afterward. You can also put a tiny smear of neosporin with pain relief on his ear.
 
kmz3301 said:
I am having an easier time with one ear and not the other. I hate to keep testing him on the same ear.
Click to expand...

Hi, I've used the same ear on my cat for five and a half years with no problems, simply because it bleeds easier than the other ear. And we do quite a lot of tests. A teeny weeny bit of scar tissue has developed on the very edge of the ear over time, but that seems a small price to pay! I always aim to minimise bruising by pressing cotton wool on the test spot immediately after testing, and holding that firmly in place for a few seconds.

I'm pretty sure you're going to be expert at this in no time at all and will soon be giving others the benefit of your own experience!
 
I tried testing from his rear paw today. He tolerated that much better than his ear. Ever since I got him, he hates his ears touched. But at least I know I have a few options.
 
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