Trouble using the lancing device

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Michelle Anderson

Michelle Anderson

Member Since 2019
Hello everyone.
I need some help testing Mugens blood sugar. I just can not get a drop of blood using the lancing device. I have to use just the lancet and poke him and he really doesn't like it so I can't test him as much as I want to. I feel like he's really bothered by the testing because I'm always poking him a few times. I can always see the little vein in his ear and I put the device right over the spot with the warm rice sock on the other side of his ear but no blood. Is there some kind of trick or has anyone else had this problem? If I could get blood on the first try I think Mugen would let me test him more often throughout the day. Thank you in advance for your feedback! Lots of love and prayers for everyone.
Michelle & Mugen
 
I don't use the device because I feel I can be gentler with the lancets on my own. Using the device may not help you get the blood if you can't find the right spot.

What are the gauge of your lancets? Higher gauge is thinner which will hurt less, but also may be harder to get a big enough drop of blood, so it's a bit of a trade off.

You're trying to get not exactly on the vein but between the vein and the edge of the ear. It takes a little bit to know the right spot, and if you miss it the needle can go right through with no blood. Some others I know have videos and also you can search on youtube and there are lots of videos to try to find the right spot.

You can try to get him used to touching his ears if you just spend time playing with them or massaging them without trying to get his blood. It can be stressful, but the better you get at it, and the more confident you are, the more that Mugen will trust you to do it.
 
Hi. First, you don't want to aim for the vein. You want to get between the vein and the edge of the ear. Heating up the ear before poking makes a big difference. So, rather than putting the warm rice sick under his ear while you poke the top of his ear, maybe try holding the rice sock to the ear a few seconds first. I do not use the lancing device at all. I hold the lancet between my fingers. I can see exactly where I am poking, and I don't have the bulk of the device or any concerns about it startling Mia. 28g lancets usually work best.

It is hard to get blood at first, but over time, they bleed easier. Don't underestimate the value of always giving a special treat when you test. That makes the experience a lot more pleasant for the cat.
 
Michelle Anderson said:
Thank you guys so much for the wonderful advice. I will try all of those things and see if it helps.
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