Drawing blood from ear - quick jab? or slow firm press?

Hi, my cat is unfazed by his ear being poked with a lancet, but he doesn't bleed easily (even in the "sweet spot") and gets real restless really fast when he's being held for testing when he knows it's time to eat. We feel like we only get one real shot at drawing enough blood for a pre-meal test because of how restless/eager to eat he is (and if we take too long to get an adequate drop of blood, his stubbornness kicks in and he doesn't subsequently eat as well as he should).

So, my question is this: what do most of you find the most effective way of poking? Using the Alphatrak device (and with or without the cap?)? A quick freehand jab? Or a freehand slow firm press (I've seen some old posts even suggesting a slight twist/turn while pressing)? Thanks.

 

What size/diameter lancets are you using? Best seem to be the larger diameter (~26g) used by humans for alternate site (other than finger tips) testing. Common size for humans fingertips are 30/31g.
I use a lancet pen and started with the deepest setting. Not all lancet pens are equal. Some are better than others.

 

I started with the AlphaTrak lancing device on the highest setting with 28 gauge lancets. It can be more difficult to get a good sized drop of blood until the ears grow new capillaries and “learn” to bleed, and I found that worked best for me. Now I use 30 gauge lancets on 3 or 3.5. Also warm ears help a lot too! Lots of people poke freehand, but I could never do it that way

 

Using a 26 - 28 gauge lancet will help at least until his ear forms vascularities and he starts bleeding more easily then you can use an smaller gauge.

I found it was easier to poke free hand because one of the things that made Babu ( and my civies which I also used for practice at the begining) more restless and uncooperative was the clicking of the lancing device, it really bothered them

If he's very nervous for eating maybe you could give him a small treat ( low carb) at the sametime or just a moment before poking that could help relax him and as long as it is low carb, just a bite and at the same time of the test it won't affect his results

 

I tried poking freehand, and I was terrible at it! (Notched Billy's ear and that tiny notch bled like a crime scene.) So I got a lancing device. By chance, I ended up with the CVS brand device, that has adjustable depth settings for alternate sites. It turned out to be a good choice because it's pretty quiet. Not the loud click on the one I used to use for myself. (I had type II diabetes, kicked it to the curb.)

Things that helped me and Billy: Using the rice in a sock, warmed in the microwave, to warm his ear. Doing a second prick close to the first if the first didn't get a good drop. Using a thin layer of Vaseline on the ear so the drop beads better. Holding the ear firmly, so my fidgety boy can't yank it out of my fingers, ( He still does sometimes, lol.) "Milking the ear"-- Rubbing the ear towards the blood drop to get it bigger. Rubbing Billy under the chin while waiting on the drop to bead, and also right before I bring the meter in. For some reason, Bill is great with the poke, but wants to duck his head away from the meter. Lot's of pets and chin scratching at test time. And just time. The ears "learn to bleed" as you test more.

Mostly, it just takes some time and practice to find out what works best for you and your cat. Try all the things! You'll find out what works best for you and Sullivan. Sullivan will get more used to the testing itself and you will find which ways help you the most.

 

Something firm to back up the ear. Because ears are wiggly things, and move when you poke.

Did you know that if you are free-handing, there is a particular way to hold the lancet in your fingers? Bevel side up. Angle the lancet.

Lancet device? Straight against the ear. Clear cap to see where you are poking.

I've done both, freehanding and lancet. Arthritis in hands can limit ability to get a good grip on the lancet to free-hand the lancet. Larger fingers can make it more difficult to hold the lancet and also see the ear and where you are poking kitties ear.

 

Also try massaging the ear towards the tip before testing. That also helps to get the blood flowing.

 

If you have had enough suggestions @SullivansDad you need to let us know somehow. If you have read the suggestions,you can indicate that by clicking on Like in the lower right of the posts.

So enough suggestions yet?

p.s. He made a comment over in a Think Tank post about getting too much information. I told him he needs to let us know somehow.

 

This is all very good and has been very helpful. Thanks everyone, and feel free to keep the suggestions/tips coming!

 

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From the Health Links/FAQS forum, look in the Index.

 

I free-hand the lancet and place 1/2 of a cotton round underneath the spot I'm poking to protect my fingers and to immediately squeeze over the site after I've gotten my blood drop to stop the blood flow. Quick jab is the way to go. I frequently poke all the way through the ear and have poked myself once or twice. It gets easier with practice.