Trouble testing

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Laura13

Laura13

Member Since 2014
Hating on diabetes right now. We have been lucky testing Rupert morning and night since Sunday. He has been really good and staying still and I've managed to get blood quickly. Tonight he was having none of it. I couldn't get any blood and he wouldn't stay still so I just gave up because I didn't want to get him worked up and get an incorrect reading.

We did everything the same, warmed up his ear, had treats for him, lots of pats.

What is the best thing to do in this situation? Please tell me I'm not the only one with a difficult cat. I'm feeling really discouraged right now and just want to punch diabetes in the face (if it had a face) :-x
 
We understand how you feel. Most of us have had days where our sugar babies do not want to cooperate. Just give him lots of love & hugs to let him know you are not upset with him. Hopefully today will be a better day.

Are you using the lancet device to poke or using the lancet freehand? If you are using the device, sometimes cats do not like it because of the clicking noise.
 
Using the lancet free hand. Tried using the pen when we originally started testing and just found it really hard.

Tried him again just before and managed to get blood but a high reading.

I definitely just hate the illness and not him! We're having cuddles now :)
 
I think the advice I read was to try three times max and after that walk away and do something else for twenty minutes as both you and your cat will be too stressed. Then try again. Have you tried various points on the ear? Inside and out? I try to do it on the inside of the ear but if having problems switch to the top/outside of the ear and aim for the larger vein :oops:
 
I too test free hand. What I do that seems to be different from most is I use a needle instead of a lancet. My vet prefers to test that way. I get the terumo ultra thin wall 25 gauge needles from calvet.com. I get blood with one stick almost all the time that way. Another thing to try that is far less expensive is the lancets labeled for alternative sites. They are a bigger gauge and work well too. I just sometimes need to stick more than once. It will get easier and yes after 3 sticks give up and try again later. Always reward after whether or not you succeed. I use freeze dried turkey or chicken as rewards.
 
Yep we all have just THOSE days where nothing we do works with our sugar cats. Even those of us that have been at it for years. Couple of things that definitely make it easier when Autumn is in a mood. (she's a tortie moods are common lol). Try going low on the ear, just right above that little double flap of skin. If you absolutely must get that test, and the edge isn't working aim for the vein, not where you want to poke on a daily basis, but if you absolutely need to get blood that is a sure fire spot to hit, you'll get blood, lots of it, so be ready to test and put pressure on the site quickly. Also you can poke twice close together to give a little bigger hole. And since your free handing, try sliding the lancet in instead of jabbing. It helps to imagine that you are picking out a splinter, go in at 45 degree angle.

Mel and The Fur Gang
 
I know how you feel..I just had the same experience myself. Decided to test his blood this evening to see if him being low was due to sugar or meds. He was not happy to even begin with but I tried to calm and tried to get the blood. Tried about 3 times but he was growling and actually becoming a bit agressive. Not like him at all! I decided to stop and am also trying not to feel too defeated. I am just in the process through the wonderful support of these people here, of deciding to do the insulin injections, but now after this. If he reacts like this how will it be testing his ear more than once during the day? He doesn't even want me near him now. My poor baby. I can't help but feel that maybe I can't help him... :cry:
 
So frustrating corteza. You can help your boy, and I'm sure he will get used to it all. Rupert is now used to getting insulin so I'm sure he will eventually get used to us testing his levels as well. I know what you mean about a sore ear though. Rupert's ear looks so red and I'm sure it must hurt a lot to get the same spot poked at twice a day :( I don't blame him for being difficult, poor thing has no idea what's going on!

I really appreciate the support given here! I'm glad I'm not the only one who has trouble sometimes.
 
Yes, the support has been amazing. I have been glued to this forum for a few days now and find that really this is a place really helping each other out! So, you weren't checking his levels regularly when you began insulin?
 
No, originally we would take him to the vet to get checked weekly I think. Our vet said we could check him once a fortnight because of how hard he was to check. We were really slack with it. Now I've changed his food I can see how different his levels are morning and night and how important it is to check. I could have been giving him 5 units of insulin while his glucose levels were low :/
 
Pick up some Neosporin ointment with pain relief (or generic).
Apply a dab a few minutes before testing.
Wipe off well; any residue will help the blood bead up.
Test.
Apply direct pressure for about a minute after you test to reduce bruising and scabbing.
 
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