Testing

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Carol and Rosie (Beaka)

Carol and Rosie (Beaka)

Member Since 2016
I really want to be able to test my cats blood but having problems getting any. She's a feisty cat but is being really good about letting me try, I can prick her ears but nothing comes out! I am using a torch so I can see the vein (she's black) and sometimes there is a little blood blister after but no blood. I massage her ears before I start but she doesn't like having them touched and certainly won't let me put anything warm on them.

Any advice or tips would be appreciated. Thank you xx
 
What gauge lancet are you using? For a kitty whose ears are just learning how to bleed you want nothing higher than a 28 - the higher the gauge the thinner the needle.
 
It's always so hard to see properly when working with those little black ears! You might want to try applying a very thin layer of Vaseline or Neosporin to the ear first, it helps the blood to bead up instead of dispersing through the fur. I use Neosporin with Pain Relief on Squallie, don't know if the pain relief part really works or not, but it makes me feel better about it, anyway!
 
Are you firmly backing up the ear when you poke? If not the lancet can deflect the ear vice penetrating the ear.
If you use a lancet pen set it at its deepest setting. YOu should be able to reduce the setting as time goes on.
 
It looks like the Fastclix uses 30-gauge lancets, so they might be a bit small.

I'm using the Bayer Microlet lances with Squeak and have had great success. I believe they're 28-gauge.

Edited to add: I am also using the lancet device, but just to make the lancet easier to hold. I freehand the poke and don't use the mechanism.
 
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Beaka said:
Hi
Thank you for the advice. I'm using an accu-check fastclix pen so not sure on sizes? X
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I attempted to use the accu-chek fastclix and that thing was impossible to use! I couldn't eyeball the poke spot well with it and the lancets are way too small to get a good drop of blood.

I would pick up the Relion device at Walmart--it's so much easier to use. You just load a single lancet (I would use 26-28g), and you can eyeball where to place it to get the poke spot really easily (you just line the dead center up with your spot). And the lancets for it are super cheap.
 
It might be easier to just use a lancet and 'freehand' the poke because you'll be able to see exactly where the lancet tip is pointed.

Here's a good deal on the lancets I use:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Abbott-Fr...713590?hash=item33b340fff6:g:sr0AAOSwzgRWvfjb

If you're using a lancet freehand make sure that the bevelled edge is face up. Smear a thin film of Vaseline over the test site to help the blood to bead up instead of wicking into the fur.

Is there a warm spot your kitty likes to sit in that could be used as a testing station? The heat might dilate the blood vessels a little.

If you tried with a rice sock some people here rub it on the kitty's head first. If your kitty likes this she might gradually accept having her ear warmed with it.


Mogs
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Here's something I wrote up for others that needed help with testing...maybe it'll help you too! (substitute "her" for "him"...lol)

It can be really helpful to establish a routine with testing. Pick one spot that you want your "testing spot" to be (I like the kitchen counter because it's got good light and it's at a good height....it also already blocked 2 escape routes due to the wall and the backsplash) It can be anywhere though...a rug on the floor, a table, a particular spot on the couch...wherever is good for you. Take him there as many times a day as you can and just give his ears a quick rub and then he gets a yummy (low carb) treat. Most cats aren't objecting so much with the poking..it's the fooling with their ears they don't like, but once they're desensitized to it and learn to associate a certain place with the treats, they usually start to come when they're called! Or even when they hear us opening the test kit!

You also have to remember...you're not poking him to hurt him...you're testing him to keep him safe and understand what's going on inside his body. There's just nothing better than truly understanding what's going on inside your kitty's body and with this disease, the more knowledge you have, the more power you have against it. The edges of the ears have very few pain receptors, so it really doesn't hurt them. Also, if you're nervous and tense, it's going to make your kitty nervous and tense too. As silly as it might seem, try singing! It forces you to use a different part of your brain!

It's also important to make sure his ear is warm. A small sock filled with a little rice and microwaved or a small pill bottle filled with warm water (check temp against your wrist like you would a baby bottle) works well

Finding the right "treat" will be a great help too! Freeze dried chicken, bonito flakes, little pieces of baked chicken...whatever low carb treat you can find that he really enjoys will help him to associate the testing with the treat! China's Achilles heel was baked chicken, so I'd bake a piece, chop it into bite sized pieces, put some in the refrigerator and freeze the rest to use as needed. It didn't take long for her to come any time I picked up the meter!
 
Thank you all for your help, lots of things to try. I'm so glad it's not just me having problems with the fastclix, it is not great for ears. I have ordered some single use lancets which I hope will be better they are called unistik 3 comfort safety lancets, unfortunately relion things are difficult to get hold of here in the uk.
Anyway, I'll let you know if I have succes and thanks again for responding xx
 
Beaka said:
... unfortunately relion things are difficult to get hold of here in the uk ...
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FYI, there are a number of members here from the UK, myself included. If you need help with supplies, foods, etc., just post your questions in Feline Health and we'll do our best to point you in the right direction. :)


Mogs
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I have taken a baby sock and filled it with rice, then tied it off. I heat this in the microwave for a few seconds. Then I apply it to her ear intermittently. The application of heat helps dilate the little blood vessels...then, they bleed more freely. Afterwards I apply pressure to the site and then lubricate with a little dab of Vaseline. It keeps her ear soft, supple and non-tender. Good luck from Jane and Stewey
 
I just freehand without the lancet device. I could never get anywhere with it and the noise always made him jump. Hang in there you will get it:)
 
Update!
Could anything be more frustrating than this!!!
I took your advice and changed to a 28 gauge lancet using unistik 3. I warmed her ear with a rice sock first (she liked that!) then pricked and rubbed and a tiny drop of blood came out at last....but it wasn't quite enough to get a reading and Rosie wasn't going to let me have another go. I did try but she'd had enough and scratched me. So near yet so far away aarrgghh!!!
I'm not giving up though I will try again. Xx
 
I will add my two cents. Beau had problems with the ears, and maybe because I was using my own meter, and it required TOO much blood. I switched to the ReliOn micro, but my advice is to find a meter that requires the smallest amount of blood possible. This Relion only needed a tiny bit, so small you could barely see it.

Also, I found myself not wanting to prick and hurt him, and ONE TIME, I tried his little paw and it worked for me on the first try. Unfortunately, he got very ill from so many other things, and he got his wings yesterday, but had he lived, I would have tried the paw.

I firmly believe though, that they need testing before insulin. I had techs coming here twice a day to test him. If they could not come to me, I went to the Vet. I'm diabetic also, and in these last few days tryign to save my beloved kitty, my sugars have dropped from 450 or so (very bad diabetic here) to in the 100s. Not sure it was stress; forgetting to eat; what. Not an expert, but I would guess the same can happen in our fur babies. We don't really know what's going on inside, and to guess and dose and then find out their sugars were already low is not good. BTW, Beau had sugars close to 500 when we discovered it. His last few testings were around 130 or so. Not sure whether it was what he was/wasn't eating of all the other things, but just please test.
 
Don't give up! I was in tears my first week of testing Bandit because he was so difficult, but he came around over time. Treats, treats, and more diabetic safe treats are key! Here's a few more tips for difficult cats:

Secure her in a basket or container about her size that is enclosed on the sides but open on top. This will help with her squirming, biting, or scratching. Line the basket or container with some fuzzy fleece blankets, and wrap her up like a burrito so only her head is poking out. This will help keep her secure during the wrestling portion if she's being difficult. You won't have to keep doing this once she finally accepts the testing. Test in the same location for every test (keep the basket/container with the blankets in the same spot--cats LOVE routines).

Take charge with your attitude. Cats can sense if you're nervous or upset and will act accordingly. If you're focused and confident, they will sense that too. Try more, "You're getting this test, cat, because we need it to save your life!" and less "Oh, poor baby, I'm so sorry for hurting you!"

You may need to "milk" the spot after poking to get a big enough drop of blood. Press gently around the the outside of the poke spot to do this.

And make sure you're giving a diabetic safe treat after every test, even if you're not successful. This is key in getting them to accept the testing over time.

Good luck!
 
Julia & Bandit said:
Take charge with your attitude. Cats can sense if you're nervous or upset and will act accordingly. If you're focused and confident, they will sense that too. Try more, "You're getting this test, cat, because we need it to save your life!" and less "Oh, poor baby, I'm so sorry for hurting you!"
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^This.^

Warming the ear enough is huge, but the above is even huge-er. ;)


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