Vampire issues

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Lesley & Cheekyface

Lesley & Cheekyface

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I think I'd better hand back my membership of the Vampire Club. :sad:

At the moment Cheeky is having her dinner and I'm nursing a punctured index finger. I hung onto her for 30 seconds too long trying to get the blood drop and she's damn fast, she got me good.

I don't know why the last two mornings were okay--maybe she's too hungry in the evenings to be calm??!!

I may have to give us both a day off tomorrow and try again on Sunday. I don't want to take her to the vet on Monday for her second curve with scabs on her ears from my shoddy efforts at testing, not to mention the slash she gave herself this morning.

She's eaten all of her dinner though so once she's settled I'll do the shot.

I feel like I've gone backward ten steps. I'll have to watch the vids again and maybe try anothe technique--I really need an extra hand.
 
I have to say I'm not very good at getting blood out of Cedric's ears. I don't have much luck on his left, but gets better results on his right. Maybe it's because I am right handed. I just use the lancet, I don't use the machine thing that came with my Relion mirco, but I wonder if the results would be better. I do make sure the needle tip is in the correct direction - that does help.

Good luck this weekend!
 
One thing that sometimes helps with a squirmy kitty is to turn them into a kitty burrito. Take a big towel, wrap them up in that so only their head is showing and then test. That way mom is protected from those swinging claws.

Remember to warm up the ears really good, warm ears are giving ears.

And then a couple of tricks that worked for me with Maxwell. One was to take the cap off the lancet pen and use it semi-free hand. I would aim free-hand and then use the spring action to do the actual poke. Also I found the easiest place to get blood was to aim for right above that little double flap of skin low on the ear. Also with Maxwell at least one ear bleeds better than the other one, so he always gets it in the right ear as it bleeds well the left ear just doesn't bleed regardless of what I do.

But those are a few tricks to try, I'm sure others have other tricks that they will pass along as well. And if it helps in the being, we all go through a lot of frustration trying to get those precious little red beads of blood. But once you find what works for you and your cat it becomes like brushing your teeth it really does get better.

Mel, Maxell & The Fur Gang
 
Glad I'm not alone in the frustration department ;-)

I'm the opposite--I'm right-handed myself and her left ear has been easier for me. But she doesn't seem to like her right ear touched at the best of times, so maybe that's why my first successful shot was the left one. I had to leave her right one alone tonight anyhow because of the slash.

I think I might give up on the lancet pen (SoftClix) tomorrow and just try the lancet--and if that doesn't work, I'll get some of the BD UltraFine lancets that seem to be top of the pops with most people here.

MommaOfMuse said:
One thing that sometimes helps with a squirmy kitty is to turn them into a kitty burrito. Take a big towel, wrap them up in that so only their head is showing and then test. That way mom is protected from those swinging claws.
Remember to warm up the ears really good, warm ears are giving ears.
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I think that may well be my final option, but she panics when she gets wrapped so I want to see if I can get her to trust me. She's been wonderful so far--tonight was just bad and it was my fault. And warming the ears up is a hard one--she ain't too fond of them being touched at all and she don't like her pink sock (yes, it was a spare and it's pink) being there too long either.

I'm determined to do this, but I just hate that I'm hurting her :sad:

PS edit: her claws are bad enough--but she's got a bite like Sabretooth...and that's what punctured my finger.
 
A couple ideas. At first you may need a bigger gauge lancet to get enough blood. 25-26 gauge will make a bigger hole than the finer ones. You can also double poke - just a quick second poke in the same spot.

You can let her eat a few treats while you poke to keep her occupied. Pure bites or another low carb treat won't impact the numbers.

Have something to poke against. We used a small makeup sponge. Others use the rice sack or a folded kleenix.

You can also put a very small thin smear of neosporin with pain relief on the spot you are going to poke. Not only will this hurt less, but it helps the blood bead up.

We spent an entire weekend poking poor Oliver before we got a drop of blood. Warming the ear was vital for us.

We all have things that helped us. Just keep trying and you will have the right combo.
 
Hi Sue,

I'm doing the kleenex thing already but I might try giving her a treat before as well as after (I got some 100% chicken liver bites). We don't get Neosporin of any kind here in Australia, but after a bit of reading I've found something that has a similar action called Betadine except for the pain reief bit--but I also got some Xylocaine, a topical painkilling ointment, so I'll try a mixed smear of those instead of Vaseline.

And I know I really need to get her ears warm...if it was my old boy I doubt there would be any problem, I've had him since he was 8 weeks old and can give him ear, paw and even hip massages plus toss him about like a doll nailbite_smile but Cheeky was a rescue and is still very skittish.

Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement, I'll hang in there.

xo
 
Ditto on what everyone else has said, but I found the kitty burrito worked best along with a basket or container about the size of the cat. It's a lot easier to keep them still if they're enclosed, and I found it calmed Bandit down more than just the blanket itself.

I would not take a few days off...the more frequent you test, the better you'll get, and the more Cheeky will get used to it as routine. Taking time off is only going to prolong Cheeky (and yourself) acclimating to the testing. If you put pressure on the spot for 20 seconds after the poke, and add a tiny dab of antibiotic ointment, there should be no scabs. And don't worry about what the vet thinks...you're doing this to *help* your kitty, so they're not going to scold you. If they do, well, then they aren't a very good or supportive vet and you shouldn't care what they think anyway.

And this is something that happened to me and I've heard from a lot of people here...once I stopped stressing about the tests, Bandit stopped stressing about the tests. I remember one day I went in with no tears, no frustration, just determination that he was going to hold still until I got that drop and that was that. Sure enough, that was the turning point and the biting and struggling stopped.
 
The other thing about not taking a day or two off, is you don't want Cheeky to get the idea that is she bites she can get out of being tested, it is too critical to keeping her safe while she is on insulin. So if she learns she can growl or bite and you give up, then she will try to pull it everytime she doesn't feel like being tested.

I adopted Maxwell as a diabetic and started testing him day one, we had zero history and no trust between us at that point, and he squirmed, he fussed, and he tried to bite me, but I was determined that I was going to test him so he had to put up with it. Now 7 months later, he loves me to death, sleeps on my head at night and his ears are just as pretty as they ever were. So Cheeky isn't going to hate you, in fact she will probably bond tighter with you, because cats are smart, they figure out pretty quickly a little ear poke equals lots of special time with mom, followed by a yummy treat, as well as a shot that makes her feel better. And if treats aren't really her thing, find what is, with Maxwell it was a brush. He will crawl over broken glass to be brushed. So we start with a good brushing, then a quick poke to the ear, and lots of loving and kisses, then a treat at the very end.

With Maxwell, he didn't like his ears messed with much so I started just playing with them when he was relaxing next to me, either on the couch or bed. I would stoke them, kiss on them etc, so that everytime I wanted his ear he didn't automatically think he was going to get a poke. It was just this crazy new mom with an ear obsession..lol. Now all I have to do to test him is call his name and tell him "It's ears time" and he jumps up on his testing spot and assume the position.

Mel, Maxwell & The Fur Gang
 
I usually massage Ricky's ears any time I am near him so he is used to me playing around with his ears. He loves his scritches. dancing_cat

I would start doing that to Cheeky to get him used to it and before you get ready to poke, massage the ears to get the blood flowing. That usually helps. I very rarely have to poke Ricky more than once to get blood.
 
Dear Lesley, and, of course, you too, sweet Cheekyface,

Once a vampire, always a vampire... Trust me.

Giz, who owned me from eight weeks, and who's nicknames were Cujo, Gizzie Blair, and The Spawn of Satan, turned out to be pretty reasonable about testing. Giz also taught me The Law Of Treats...

Nikki, on the other paw, rescued me around eight years of age (hers, not mine...) a little over three years ago. She requires Ferrari-like speed and determination when it comes to testing. She arrived declawed, but still has every single tooth. Sometimes, after being bitten, I just test my own blood while she runs away -- smiling. Think I was 71 last time... It's a vampire thing -- you see blood, you test it...

Do you sew? Even something simple like a hem? I free hand with just a lancet aimed at basically a 45-degree hemming/sewing angle. I'm also left-handed and always go for the right ear. It just works that way... I sometimes have to double poke and have maybe a couple of seconds to knead (do you bake?) Nik's ear a bit before I see that precious bead of blood and sip, having the test strip already fully stuck in the meter ready to receive. It's that time thing with Nikki...



Lesley & Cheekyface said:
I'll hang in there.
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I have faith in you, dearest Lesley. And, sweet Cheekyface will indeed learn sugar math. Tests + treats + shots = feeling better. It's just a different kind of time thing...

Just get your sugar toe shoes steel-tipped, and you're good to dance...

Love and countless encouraging hugs for you both,
Deb and Nikk -- and, Giz, who taught me volumes about dancing with a sugar cat...
 
Oh Deb, you do make me laugh, that cheered me up no end. I've just gotten up for the day, and after getting her up on the table and looking at her ears, am giving her this morning off. I think I went through last night, there's a red mark on the inside of her ear, poor girl, no wonder she bit me.

Deb415andNikki said:
Do you sew?
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Yes I do, I do thread painting and crewel embroidery. So maybe the lancet pen is my problem, I just can't aim the damn thing properly. I'll try the other way with the BD lancets when her ear has had a rest. And the 45% angle may be kinder.

It's getting them warm that seems to be the biggest issue--if I could just dab, stab and sip it would be okay I think. But it's holding the sock to her ear and then putting it down and picking up the pen (I already have the strip in) and getting her into position--it's one step too long and she gets ratty. And her ears seem to be very small...I have little hands but I still seem to be all thumbs when I'm trying to get it smoothed out on the wadded tissue.

Shes just finishing her breakfast so I'd better get set up for the shot--at least that's not a drama :-D

Onward and upward.

Lesley and Cheeks xo
 
Vaseline is fine to use.

How about poking from behind. I found and this may sound odd, that if Maui would face away from me, I would hold her ear and pull it back and poke.

Another idea is to hold the lancet at a 45 degree ish angle and give an upward poke. If you poke straight on (as if you were putting in an earring) that never drew the blood as angling upwards and poking.

Yes, sometimes multiple pokes worked too.
 
Morning Hillary (and meowning to Maui)

Hillary & Maui said:
Vaseline is fine to use.

How about poking from behind. I found and this may sound odd, that if Maui would face away from me, I would hold her ear and pull it back and poke.
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Yes, that's how I do it, up on the table with a light so I can see. Roughly whereabouts do you poke if you pull her ear back? Cheeky's ears fold if I try that.

Another idea is to hold the lancet at a 45 degree ish angle and give an upward poke. If you poke straight on (as if you were putting in an earring) that never drew the blood as angling upwards and poking.[/quote said:
Upwards hey. That makes sense, I guess--I poke myself often enough with earrings to see that might work.

Thanks for the the suggestions :-D
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I don't put the rice sock down, that was one too many steps for Maxwell too...lol I just warm up his ear and then poke against the rice sock, and he has had lots of pierced ears in the beginning, so don't feel bad about going all the way through, it happens and they survive it. With Maxwell I have to be the speed of light to get his tests in especially now that he is OTJ and doesn't think he needs to be poked anymore. There is just too much for a kitty to do and too many other kitties to pounce on for mom to be fumbling around with his ears, he's a busy boy.

I couldn't use the lancet pen either, at least not with the cap on, so I took the cap off, aim free hand and then use the spring action of the pen to do the actual poking, it was quicker than I was. But you will find what works for you both and then it gets easy, it is just those first few days of figuring out what works and what doesn't that can make you pull your hair out.

Mel, Maxwell and The Fur Gang
 
MommaOfMuse said:
I don't put the rice sock down, that was one too many steps for Maxwell too...lol I just warm up his ear and then poke against the rice sock, and he has had lots of pierced ears in the beginning, so don't feel bad about going all the way through, it happens and they survive it.
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That's a relief, I feel so nasty for doing it. Do you mean you hold the sock inside/under his ear? Maybe that's why I can't heat them up. If I could get her ear open right off that might do it. How tightly packed is your sock?

MommaOfMuse said:
I couldn't use the lancet pen either, at least not with the cap on, so I took the cap off, aim free hand and then use the spring action of the pen to do the actual poking, it was quicker than I was.
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.

That sounds like it might be my best plan too--still at 45% though?

This is all very helpful and reassuring and thank you for the feedback--I'm sure Cheeks will appreciate it once her hamfisted mother gets it right :oops:

xox
 
Yep I hold the sock under his ear on the inside, smooth his ear over the rice sock and then put a little vaseline (He's long haired) on his ear. Take the cap off the Lancet pen, aim at a 45 upward angle then trigger the pen to do the pokies.

As far as how full, well lets see about like that of a bean bag ball or hackey sack. Not real firm, but firm enough to poke against, while still being kind of squishy. I stole one of my grandson's toddler socks so it is about 2/3 full of rice with a knot on the top, or at least it was until Lady Jane Grey found it and beat it to death...lol Came home today to find one shredded light purple sock (knot still intact) and a pile of rice. I know it was Lady Jane as she was not only looking guilty but still had bits of rice in her fur. She is still too young to have figured out that if she would have just brushed off the rice and looked innocent, mom would have blamed the dog..lol

And yes, the early days I poked through so many times my husband was threating to buy Maxwell earrings. =) We've gotten better since then.

Mel, Maxwell and The Fur Gang
 
Dearest Lesley, and, of course, you too, we don't know how sweet, Cheekyface,

The first time I poked straight through Giz's wafer-thin ear, I promised her a pearl earring. She indicated she'd prefer a diamond stud...





Okay, I want you to picture how I home test. Please, first understand, that Nikki is a grazer, so there's always food on board... Meaning I test and shoot immediately.

The tissue is beside the testing supply box. The rice sock is nuked and is either in my hand or near the tissue near the testing supply box.. The syringe is capped and loaded in my mouth. All I need is Nikki...

I find her or, ironically, she assumes the position. It may be that taste for my blood thing she's got going...

Whatever or wherever, I just breathe deeply, cop a squat on the floor, and put her between my legs, butt aimed at me. Okay, we always take a moment to make sure her tail is free and in an expressive mode. Nikki has a tail which speaks many languages and, thus, needs freedom...

I alternate between warming her ear with the rice sock and massaging it -- her ear, not the rice sock... When I feel it's properly warmed, I put on the Vaseline... Then I wait while she does her hissing trying to bite me thing... She has a tiny Betty Boop voice, so it's hard to take her seriously... Then again, she does have all her teeth, so I do take her seriously! When I think she's done with all the drama, I grab the lancet, stick the strip all the way into the meter, and poke and knead. Okay, sometimes I have to remind her not to flick her ear after the poke. It's amazing that one can get good readings off their jammies or the wall; but, I do not recommend this approach...

Then again, whatever works!


Lesley & Cheekyface said:
Onward and upward.
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You bet!

It is most interesting and rewarding dancing with a sugar cat, dearest Lesley... Trust me.

Love and continued encouraging hugs,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, who taught me how to dance...











PS: We'll deal with the potential need for a football helmet later...
 
Using a headlight flashlight will free up your hands. I had to ditch the lancet device and just use the lancets. It takes a while to learn but keep at it because it is sooooo important to check BG before testing.
 
We have a special chair Jack likes, we now call it the "diabetes chair." It's from IKEA and is kind of curved and tilted back so it cradles him a bit. We also have a kitty hammock kind of thing that I got at Target. It's put together with PVC pipes and you can hook a bunch together, and on the top is a little hammock seat so he can sit in front of the window. It's a very cozy spot for him to curl up in, so whenever I test I put him in one of those 2 places. I tried testing him when he was just laying on the floor but he doesn't do as well. He likes the more secure spots. He's generally good about his pokes but sometimes flicks his head after I do it. I try to have everything right there and ready but I had found one tip somewhere on here in the beginning that has saved me a few times. It was the suggestion of catching the drop of blood on your fingernail, then getting it onto the test strip from there. Works like a charm when they get squirmy!!

I know you'll get the hang of it...I even trained my 19 yr old and 16 yr old to test. The warming of the ear really does help. Keep up the great work and hang in there. I really do think they forget about the pokes shortly afterwards. :-)
 
Thank you so much everybody for the suggestions and support.

MommaOfMuse: I went out and bought some newborn-size socks that look just about the right size for a puddy ear and have one all ready to go.

Deb: your account of testing Nikki had me in stitches and cheered me up no end :lol:

Darlene: BRILLIANT idea of catching the blood with a fingernail...thankfully I actually have some atm.

Julia: somehow your posts only showed up just now and not this morning. I wasn't going to have days off, I got her up this morning as usual and went through the motions--but when I saw the pierced ear I piked. Tonight, however, we're going for it again because I KNOW I have to do this. So does she, and until last night she'd been okay--it was my fault she bit me.

I may yet end up having to wrap her...wish me luck for tonight.
 
Dearest Lesley, and, of course, who really knows how sweet you are, Cheekyface,

Lesley & Cheekyface said:
wish me luck for tonight.
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Only lucky vampire thoughts...

Much love and countless encouraging hugs,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, who taught me to finally be brave...
 
Hello to all and I wanted to say, after reading this post, I now have some new ideas on the 45 angle, and not so worried that I can NEVER get a drop from Bean's right ear! I do use the device and not free hand when I test but I usually hold it straight down.... I use one with a dial on it and set it on the 8, which seems way to high... I also was unaware that the lacet has a sharp side... I guess I will go to the 99 cent store and purchase some 5.0 so that I can see the tip! Bean dont mind much of the testing but she does not like that tiny bit of tissue folded and held inside that ear!! and then when I put the device to her ear, she will start blinking....she knows it is fixin to happen I assume!
tytytyt for all the information again!
Not so new to the Vampire club...thank gosh - Mommy to sugar Bean, civvie Slappy, and new found heart patient, Gumpy!
 
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