Alice 8/11 AMPS 101 +3 119 +6 86, fighting to get pokes in now :( / PMPS 204 +4 219

yesterday

Okay getting +6 just now was seriously hard. She must be hurting a lot I feel like, because she never used to protest so much. I had to fight with her to get blood and it ended up making it a much worse experience, and a longer one, for both of us. Sigh. I don’t mind if it is hard, but I feel like I am causing her such horrible discomfort from her responses lately.

 

I'm sorry Alice is fighting you so much. I always try to make sure I don't hit the exact same spot on Furball's ear when I test. I can only test one ear so it's not easy to move around, but I try. Make sure you give Alice loving after each test. That always helps with Furball.

 

I switch between the outer and inner ear now, that gives me more room to poke.

 

I was not under the impression the that the inner portion of the ear was very good for pokies, then again I’ve seen my vet go straight for a vein on the inner part with a needle......... Hmmm.

I try to more around too but how much can one move when you have this small space and test a minimum of 4-6 times a day, sometimes it was as much as 18 in a day, I think. I have been meaning for a long time to take a good picture of her torn ear with a lot of light because her veins should be very apparent, and perhaps I could post a photo and get some suggestions on where else I could try to test sometimes, to give the regular ear a break at least!!!!

But she is also still a little needle phobic with the shot too, lately. You’re right, maybe she needs more loving and snuggles and treats and so on. More positive reinforcement!

 

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that someone was taking BGs from their cat's paws because it was not possible for them to prick the ear. I can't imagine poking the paw but maybe someone can talk about that in case Alice's ears get really sore and painful that could be your last resort.

 

I read more than once that paw pads were an alternate site one could test from, and that is was either somewhat antiquated or considered more painful or thought of as a last resort, something like that.... I want to cause her less pain though, ideally. I wonder if I could encourage a few extra capillary sites to develop on her chipped ear if I went back to a larger gauge and started over sort of there..... if that even makes sense. I’m tired.

Fortunately her +4 is up slightly from PS, flat yellow night, bedtime it is! I just mushed up a nice bowl of friskies and pumpkin and water for Little Miss (Alice). Feed the Ginger Boys and the outside girl and it’s........ Zzzzzzzz

 

I tried because of Ti-Mousse's ears problems (frozen and parts missing) but once only .. he's such an easy kitty but not for that....! Test at your own risk!

 

No idea if this could help at all but... I don't use neosporin, it bothered Figaro. I found a product called vetericyn, they sell a spray solution that I put on a q-tip and then apply to the whole edge of the ear, after our last test of the day, and sometimes mid-day if there are more pokes than usual. He doesn't mind it and I imagine it must be cooling, at least. I got it on amazon.

Also... I have started using one ear per day. Today was the right ear, tomorrow will be the left ear. I can remember better where I poked and i figure it might allow the ear to heal quicker to not get handled for a full 24 hours.

I say all this, but treats and loving are totally what keep Fig coming back to his test table

 

With Ti-Mousse his ear has to be very warm, which allows blood to circulate easily and massaging the ear will take blood toward poking ! I switch sides and use Neosporin pain relief; for him it did well! Not easy....!

 

I would love to see what you have to work with on his ear situation, one of these days! I can completely tell the difference between how easily Alice bleeds when ears are warm versus cool, but I can coax blood regardless, and she also doesn’t seem to appreciate me doing anything to warm them up extra in the first place. This means I end up not taking as much time to warm her ears, and I can go back to working on that. It seems like perhaps some more preferable habits were shed as I became more comfortable and capable. I could go back to the little warming sock and more rubbing of the ears if she will tolerate it!
I don’t always see a difference but this evening I noticed the neosporin actually did seem to offer a bit of pain relief at +4.

I thought I told myself I would sleep.