Any tips for doing glucose curve

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Gill & Mac (UK)

Gill & Mac (UK)

Member Since 2020
Hi
Mac is doing really well and has gained nearly 0.5lb back in the 8 days on his insulin and is much better generally.
The vet has asked me to do a glucose curve either tomorrow or Wednesday - at 2 hour intervals through from his morning jab to his evening one. I jave only tried one blood draw on him before and that was with the vet when he gave me demo of that and injections.
I've read & watched all I can since and seen tips re warming the ear etc. But what has me confused is where on the ear to draw the blood from - the vet used the middle of the ear flap on the inside, something else said use the very outside edge the ear, something else said pierce the marginal vein and then one article said avoid that vein
Help please ? Where should I use - the last thing I want is to stress Mac out by having to try 2 or 3 jabs each time !
Also I've read that it doesn't hurt them usually but surely his poor ears will get sore with 7 blood spots taken in 12 hours even if I alternate ears. I really don't want to hurt him....
 
Hi Gill, you can use the inside or the outside of the ear. (I've always used the outside because that seems simpler to me - but you do whichever works best for you...).
We're 'aiming' for between the vein (that runs round the outer edge of the ear) and the very edge of the ear. If you hit the vein you may get more blood than you need...
You may well find that one ear bleeds more easily than the other.

You may also find that you need to experiment a wee bit to find the spot that bleeds easiest. It can vary from cat to cat... With my first diabetic that was about half way up the outer edge of the ear. With my current girl it is close to the very tip of her ear.

Since you have a kitty with black ears you may find it helpful to put the teensiest smear of Vaseline on the outer edge of the ear. That enables that precious blood droplet to 'bead up' above the fur and not disappear into it... And it makes the blood more visible on black ears, which is helpful when you're learning to test. (After a little while you'll be fine without that...)

If you can't do a whole curve then don't worry... The most important tests to get with Caninsulin are the ones in the first half of the cycle, up to the point where you're sure the blood glucose is rising again. So, if you've had enough at that point (or Mac has had enough) then give yourselves a break... :bighug:

You 'could' try a couple of practice tests tomorrow, and then do the curve on Weds if that seems easier...?
 
A picture paints a thousand words:

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Tip: Gently wipe off any excess Vaseline with some kitchen paper or a cotton pad. The residual amount will be enough to create a film that encourages the blood to bead up.


Forum Testing Resources:

Testing and Injection Tips

Home Testing Links and Tips


Mogs
.
 
Hi Gill,

I can't stress strongly enough how much - and for how long - you really, really, really, really need to warm the ear, especially in the early days. I think it is the single best thing you can do to improve your testing success.

Here is the method I used to test. Might give you some additional ideas to try:

  1. Fold a sheet of kitchen paper in four lengthwise and cut it up into 1" strips.

  2. Put a thin film of Vaseline or Neosporin ointment (not the cream!) onto the edge of the ear to help the blood sample bead up instead of wicking into the fur. (Wipe off any excess.)

  3. To get a blood sample you need to increase the blood flow to the ear, so make sure the ear is really, really, really warm (but not hot) - especially in the early days of testing. (Note: With repeated 'poking', more capillaries form in the test area, so it becomes easier to get samples reliably.)

  4. Once you have the ear well warmed, wrap a strip of folded kitchen paper round your index finger then place finger under the ear you're testing.

  5. Use your thumb and middle finger to lightly but firmly grip the ear and paper strip in place so that the edge of the ear is taut but not overstretched; the little bit of tension will make it easier for the lancet to break the skin surface (and it helps to keep kitty's head from moving around too much).

  6. Hold the lancet with the bevelled edge of the point facing upwards. Try using the lancet freehand, at a slight angle to the ear, not perpendicular (easier to see where you're aiming and also makes skin prick easier).

  7. When it comes to the actual poke, prick the sweet spot on the edge of the ear in a similar way to how you might quickly prick a balloon with the tip of a needle to make it pop.

  8. When using the glucometer, bring the test strip to where it j-u-s-t comes into contact with the blood droplet and hold it there. The strip should then 'sip up' the amount it needs to run a valid test. Most meters beep to let you know that enough blood has been collected on the strip.

  9. After the test, fold the paper strip over the edge of the ear and apply gentle pressure for about 15-20 seconds to minimise bruising.
With a bit of time and practice you'll be able to work out a technique and a routine that best suits Mac and yourself.

And definitely don't deliberately poke the marginal ear vein (unless it's a dire emergency and you're having trouble getting a blood sample from elsewhere on the ear).


Mogs
.
 
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Thank you Elizabeth & Mogs both of your replies are really helpful.
One other question if I may please - I assume I feed Mac just the same as usual on his "curve day" ? ( he is on smaller amounts 4 x a day as he's a grazef) - the vet didn't say about doing anything different but I wasn't able to hold on to see the nurse as she was tied up with an emergency and Mac was getting stressed out.
Do I need to make a note for the curve of what time he eats, what & how much ?
Thanks folks
 
I did a trial blood test last night and managed to get a reading though I had to stab poor Mac twice ( much easier to get blood on my rest run on hubby).
What I found difficult was holding that tiny area of the test strip still against the tiny drop of blood whilst the cat was trying to escape as he had had enough of being held still even with cuddles.
I read a tip somewhere that said you could use a (clean) plastic credit card to scoop up the blood drop off which is then easier to hold the strip against.
Does that work or would it contaminate the reading ?
Thanks
 
Gill & Mac (UK) said:
I read a tip somewhere that said you could use a (clean) plastic credit card to scoop up the blood drop off which is then easier to hold the strip against.
Does that work or would it contaminate the reading ?
Click to expand...
Haven't heard of using the credit card (sounds good though...), but some folks do just scrape the blood droplet onto a clean fingernail and test from there. ...This was actually a game-changer for us when I started testing my second diabetic... Just make sure your hands are clean....especially after eating ripe bananas or raiding the biscuit tin... :rolleyes:
 
Gill & Mac (UK) said:
...the cat was trying to escape as he had had enough of being held still even with cuddles...
Click to expand...
It can all be a bit strange at first, for human and kitty... But it honestly does get easier with practice...
Some cats won't tolerate being restrained at all. This has been the case with both my diabetics. But what is needed is just a way of keeping the cat 'relatively still' for the time it takes to do the test. And testing does get a lot quicker once we've had a bit of practice. For many kitties 'distraction' works better than restraint...

My first boy was 6 kilos of 'attitude' at diagnosis, and was a very strong cat with big claws... If he didn't want to do something then it just wasn't going to happen.... But he was strongly food-motivated, so I found I could crumble some cat treats for him and test him while he was hoovering up the crumbs.
My current adopted girl isn't particularly food motivated, and she absolutely hated having her ears touched at first. :confused: She was a bit of a challenge... ...But I found that she loves to be brushed, and so I sneak a test into the middle of a little brushing session, and she barely notices the test...

You don't necessarily need to hold onto their ear for the entire duration of the test. That wasn't a problem with Bertie (as long as there was food in front of him he'd pretty much just focus on that) but with my current girl, Bonbon, I break the test up into a few segments.
So, I put the test strip just part way into the meter. Then I'll brush Bonbon, and warm her ear, and then brush some more... And when the ear feels warm I quickly prick the edge of it, then brush her some more or scratch her under the chin while keeping an eye on her ear to see if the blood is beading up... Then if I see a nice blood droplet forming I push the test strip all the way into the meter to switch it on, then briefly but firmly hold Bonbon's ear while touching the blood droplet to the test strip. Then I press on the test site between clean finger and thumb for a couple of seconds, and then she gets more brushing and lots of praise... So, the beginning and end of the test are things that she loves, but there just happens to be a test in the middle somewhere... Initially though, when she truly hated any touching of her ears, I'd scrape the blood onto one of my fingernails and test from there. You do need a decent sized drop of blood to do this, because a tiny amount is lost in the transfer of the droplet. But the Alphatrak takes the smallest sample size of any meter, so this should be far easier with the Alphatrak than with other meters.
 
The first test today went quite well. The one just now 2 hours later was not good. Although his ear was warm the blood was just not coming out well. Had to stop to fuss him and start again but he was getting stressed - if I release his ear at any stage after I make the jab he folds it flat so the tiny drop is lost so I have to hold of it whilst trying to coax blood out. He nipped hubby who was holding him at one point not enough to hurt much but just to show his displeasure. In the end it took 3 separate attempts to get a sample and reading and he cried that time as he was hating it. A few tiny crumbs of cheese and loads of loves and he was lots happier but it was heartbreaking. Dread to think what the next one in 2 hours will be like now he knows what's coming.
If that one goes badly too I'm going to give up and the vet will have to take him in forca day to do a curve if thats what he wants
Thanks for all your helpful suggestions everyone
Yours stressed & distressed
Gill & Mac
:(
 
Update - after my stressed post after test 2 test 3 actually went better - I tried using the outside of the ear flap this time (rather than inside as the vet demo'd) as a couple of replies said the outside is a good alternative idea and i got tiny but enough blood first time. Was still a little tricky to get it onto the strip before Mac bolted but did it.
First time I've seen readings over a day and am amazed at the way the BG is dropping ever since his insulin.
So apologies for my despair earlier and hoping the next 4 tests go smoothy.
Thanks for all the support on this journey - it really helped just being able to express my earlier depair somewhere.
Yours more optimistically
Gill & Mac
:)
 
Gill & Mac (UK) said:
Update - after my stressed post after test 2 test 3 actually went better
Click to expand...
Yay! :woot:
Gill & Mac (UK) said:
I tried using the outside of the ear flap this time (rather than inside as the vet demo'd)
Click to expand...
I've always used the outside, seems less complicated, and easier to hang onto the ear...
Gill & Mac (UK) said:
Was still a little tricky to get it onto the strip before Mac bolted but did it.
Click to expand...
Brilliant! ...Are you rewarding with yummy treats...?
Gill & Mac (UK) said:
So apologies for my despair earlier and hoping the next 4 tests go smoothy.
Click to expand...
Don't apologise... (I'll just tear up the pep talk that I was writing... :smuggrin::p)


Keeping everything crossed here that the next tests go smoothly. But you've probably already done the most important ones...
What numbers have you got?
 
Morning Gill! :)

Gill & Mac (UK) said:
Although his ear was warm the blood was just not coming out well.
Click to expand...
Warm it even more next time.

When I first started testing I was really worried that I might put something too hot on Saoirse's ear. 'Warming' didn't really cut the mustard. A better description of what's required would be 'heat the ear' - but obviously not too much! ;)

Another thing that can make a huge difference at testing time is giving the appearance of being confident. If you don't actually feel confident, pretend. As we all know, cats are divils for picking up on our own emotional state; not a great thing when one is stressed but this capacity for emotional attunement can be harnessed to our advantage at testing time. If we look safe and secure and happy then our kitties will feel more safe and secure too. If we work to develop a positive, matter-of-fact attitude to testing, framing it as an opportunity to bond rather than an activity filled with worry, then that can help a cat to settle better. Singing a song to your cat or chatting to them in a really sing-songy, cheerful voice at testing time might sound like a daft thing to do but it can really help!

Echoing Eliz's comment above, I can't stress how incredibly valuable heaping mountains of praise on your cat is at testing time. It engenders trusting feelings and helps them to relax.

If you're not already doing so, try taking Mac to his testing station several times a day just to give him praise and fusses and treats. All going well, it should help him to relax better at testing time because he would then associate the test station with nice things happening. Also, it may help if you choose a testing station where a 'possible exit' can be seen. Cats that can see a potential escape route tend to be more relaxed and compliant than those who may feel cornered.

The Alphatrak lancing device is quite good in that you can see fairly well where you're aiming the point of the lancet but freehanding the poke using just the lancet can give you greater control and accuracy when aiming for the target area of the ear. Initially I used the Alphatrak lancet device because I couldn't bring myself to do the actual pricking of Saoirse's skin. Pushing the button on the lancing device in some way absolved me of that particular 'sin'. :oops: Eventually I started freehanding and how I wish I had done so sooner because it was way easier on Saoirse's little ears. The manual poke was more like a little pinprick compared to the hole punched by the lancing device, and because I could better hit the area nearest the very edge of the ear Saoirse barely noticed the poke. Whichever method you try, make sure the bevelled edge of the lancet is facing upwards and try to go in at a slight angle to the ear.

The other thing that can be a tremendous help in overcoming one's own distress at a kitty's temporary upset is to spend a short time thinking about a cat having a symptomatic hypo. Fear of testing versus fear of hypo? No contest. Focuses the mind a lot and helps one to regard testing as an act of love, not a source of distress. Keep reminding yourself that it is the very best thing you can do to keep Mac safe on his insulin, and also to help him be happy and healthy by aiding you in keeping his sugar regulation as optimal as possible. You are doing a really good thing for Mac when you test, so keep reminding yourself of that. :)

The matter-of-fact, positive, praising, 'no biggie' approach can take a little while to master but it can be very effective. This type of approach also helps enormously when pilling a cat.

Sending a 'there, there' to DH, your new pincushion. ;) :D


Mogs
.
 
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Below is the method I used to test. Saoirse would sit happily at her test station and I would stroke and praise her, maybe throw in a little shoulder massage! There were some initial wriggles until I developed a technique that avoided anything even slightly bulky going into her ear. I didn't need to restrain her at all. The light grip I had on her ear was sufficient to keep her head still enough during the couple of minutes it took to do the actual test. She loved getting her freeze-dried protein treats afterwards. (((Saoirse)))

This might give you some ideas to try:

  1. Fold a sheet of kitchen paper in four lengthwise and cut it up into 1" strips.

  2. Put a thin film of Vaseline or Neosporin ointment (not the cream!) onto the edge of the ear to help the blood sample bead up instead of wicking into the fur. (Wipe off any excess.)

  3. To get a blood sample you need to increase the blood flow to the ear, so make sure the ear is really, really, really warm (but not hot) - especially in the early days of testing. (Note: With repeated 'poking', more capillaries form in the test area, so it becomes easier to get samples reliably.)

  4. Once you have the ear well warmed, wrap a strip of folded kitchen paper round your index finger then place finger under the ear you're testing.

  5. Use your thumb and middle finger to lightly but firmly grip the ear and paper strip in place so that the edge of the ear is taut but not overstretched; the little bit of tension will make it easier for the lancet to break the skin surface (and it helps to keep kitty's head from moving around too much).

  6. Hold the lancet with the bevelled edge of the point facing upwards. Try using the lancet freehand, at a slight angle to the ear, not perpendicular (easier to see where you're aiming and also makes skin prick easier).

  7. When it comes to the actual poke, prick the sweet spot on the edge of the ear in a similar way to how you might quickly prick a balloon with the tip of a needle to make it pop.

  8. When using the glucometer, bring the test strip to where it j-u-s-t comes into contact with the blood droplet and hold it there. The strip should then 'sip up' the amount it needs to run a valid test. Most meters beep or give a visual cue to let you know that enough blood has been collected on the strip.

    If your cat is a wriggler, try collecting the blood sample on the back of your (clean) fingernail and test it from there.

  9. After the test, fold the paper strip over the edge of the ear and apply gentle pressure for about 15-20 seconds to minimise bruising.
Keep praising your cat throughout the process and reward with a favourite diabetic-friendly treat. With a bit of time and practice you'll be able to work out a technique and a routine that works best for you and your cat.


Mogs
.
 
Critter Mom said:
As we all know, cats are divils for picking up on our own emotional state; not a great thing when one is stressed but this capacity for emotional attunement can be harnessed to our advantage at testing time. If we look safe and secure and happy then our kitties will feel more safe and secure too. If we work to develop a positive, matter of fact attitude to testing, framing it as an opportunity to bond rather than an activity filled with worry, then that can help a cat to settle better. Singing a song to your cat or chatting to them in a really sing-songy, cheerful voice at testing time might sound like a daft thing to do but it can really help!
Click to expand...
ABSOLUTELY Mogs!
 
Thanks everyone - 4 down 3 to go. Number 4 was a struggle again he did not want to play nice & he is so strong & even with treats or fusses we are getting a side look of " I know what you're up to!!!" Think I'll be OK in future getting one or two a day from him but he is getting a bit grumpy now after 4. He's just had some food so hopefully he'll but a bit more placid this time lol.!. I'll post the numbers later but I am still shocked just his much they drop!
 
Gill & Mac (UK) said:
Thanks everyone - 4 down 3 to go. Number 4 was a struggle again he did not want to play nice & he is so strong & even with treats or fusses we are getting a side look of " I know what you're up to!!!" Think I'll be OK in future getting one or two a day from him but he is getting a bit grumpy now after 4. He's just had some food so hopefully he'll but a bit more placid this time lol.!. I'll post the numbers later but I am still shocked just his much they drop!
Click to expand...
I would be grumpy too if someone was poking my ear...Good thing grumpy only lasts till the next snuggle or treat. ;)
 
Gill & Mac (UK) said:
we are getting a side look of " I know what you're up to!!!"
Click to expand...
Laugh, look straight back and tell him, "I know you know!" Maybe throw in one of these > :p < for good measure. ;)

Gill & Mac (UK) said:
I'll post the numbers later but I am still shocked just his much they drop!
Click to expand...
With Caninsulin, indeed they do. Trouble is they typically head right back up again later in the cycle.

You're going great guns, Gill. :cool:


Mogs
.
 
I totally agree with Mogs. Sometimes I feel bad that I may be scorching her ear but she lets me know when it’s too hot. I make sure that sock is nuked for a good 30 seconds and super hot to the touch then I apply and move away and do that a few times.

also singing! It calms me and her down. The singing is a way to make her feel at easy and not want to bolt. Singing was a game changer for us!
 
I'd heat the water for use in Saoirse's little plastic pipette gizmo to the point where it was just too hot to leave your finger in it. It would cool slightly as it was sipped up into the pipette, and the insulating property of the plastic meant the surface temperature ended very, very warm to the touch but not hot. It's very easy to control the temperature of the heat source applied to the ear using this method.

I think some people do similar with water in a pill bottle.


Mogs
.
 
Readings as mentioned
On the 15th Aug at the vets using our monitor before his first ever jab we got 31.7 & 35.5
Today morning - instantly after 1iu jab 38.0
Jab +2hrs. 23.1
Jab +4hrs 13.3
Jab +6hrs 11.2
Jab + 8hrs. 12.6
Jab +10 hrs 21.1
Calling that it now as another 2 hours is his next jab time and he has had enough now (I did the sing song voice last time after he scratched heck out of hubby and it did seem to help a little on the second attempt - either that or he was better to stop me from actually singing)
Just need to type that up now & email to the vet tomorrow.
Never seen a sequence before and was interesting to see that his level at 2 hrs before and 2 hrs before his jabs are almost the same.
Hope we don't need to a full curve again - think we could cope with 3 times in a day occasionally if the vet wanted that but that's all to be fair to Mac and us.
Thanks for all your help today & always
 
Just wondering, any reason you dont have a spread sheet? Not trying to be a wise ass just wondering :confused:

First thing I do is look at the spread sheet to get a better picture. Since I cant give dosing advice I haven't kept up. Please excuse if this has already been answered.
j
 
Fairly textbook response to Caninsulin, Gill, although at +6 Mac hit nadir quite late for this insulin.

Couple of questions:

1. When did you feed relative to the reading of 38.0 you got this morning at injection time?

2. You have in your signature "SLGS (at vet's levels)". I'd be grateful if you could explain 'vet's levels' so I can get an idea of the treatment plan you're following.


Mogs
.
 
No problem - I haven't set one up yet as we haven't done any BG readings ourselves until today's curve. Vet asked not to for the first group of time until he saw us again - as Mac is on a tiny dose and he finds people better to concentrate on getting jabs done OK to start with (he said would be different if a bigger dose) but of course to test if we're ever concerned about him. Mentioned a once a day check when I saw him this week and we are to discuss again after curve reviewed. He is happier at the moment saying watch his behaviour instead as it is possible to get number obsessed and ignore the other signs. I did say once a day may give me a bit more comfort and he is happy for us to discuss again. At the moment I am happy to go along with him as I won't be adjusting the dose myself & he has been very good and willing listen.
Sorry that was a long answer when I could have just said I will set one up once we are doing regular tests!
 
Couple of questions:

1. When did you feed relative to the reading of 38.0 you got this morning at injection time?
He gets jab at the same time as he starts eating ( as I know he is never going to leave any!)

2. You have in your signature "SLGS (at vet's levels)". I'd be grateful if you could explain 'vet's levels' so I can get an idea of the treatment plan you're following

Sorry for any confusion what I mean is I'm following whatever level the vet tells me and not adjusting it myself. Currently 1iu. Put SLGS as the vet said he starts with a low dose and increase it slowly ( if needed).

Gill
 
Gill & Mac (UK) said:
No problem - I haven't set one up yet as we haven't done any BG readings ourselves until today's curve. Vet asked not to for the first group of time until he saw us again - as Mac is on a tiny dose and he finds people better to concentrate on getting jabs done OK to start with (he said would be different if a bigger dose) but of course to test if we're ever concerned about him. Mentioned a once a day check when I saw him this week and we are to discuss again after curve reviewed. He is happier at the moment saying watch his behaviour instead as it is possible to get number obsessed and ignore the other signs. I did say once a day may give me a bit more comfort and he is happy for us to discuss again. At the moment I am happy to go along with him as I won't be adjusting the dose myself & he has been very good and willing listen.
Sorry that was a long answer when I could have just said I will set one up once we are doing regular tests!
Click to expand...
understood! ;)
 
The vet was really pleased with Mac's glucose curve and says it was one if the most curve-like one he has seen.
After seeing it he has increased Mac's dose a bit as there is room to shift the curve down a bit so more if it is in the lower range for longer. That's not an issue.
My problem is that he has asked if we can do another glucose curve next Saturday (so after 8 days on the new dose).
As any of you who went through the pain of the last curve with me (the thread above) will know - it did not go well at all. Getting worse each time as Mac's stress increased as did the bloody scratches on hubby who was keeping him in range of me.
We said then to each other that we would not do it again and would only attempt 1 reading in the middle between doses if the vet wanted a figure or they will have to take him in to do it
The vet (bless him) does listen and when ibsauf how tough it had been said we can do every 3 hrs instead of 2hrs or even 4 if we need to. Or if we want they will take for a day.
I don't know if a day in a vets cage would stress him more ? So I think we are going to have a go at 3hrly next Sat.
I've already tried most of the tips during that long day but have read a few more since about ignoring the lancing tool and going freehand and I wanted to ask is that really a good way ? How do I know how hard to prick him? I am worried about doing it too hard and hurting him or going through his ear or not doing it hard enough and having to prick him twice?
Also I read a tip somewhere else of wrapping them up tightly in towel whilst I do it to hold him still better and also avoid all those claw injuries - has anyone ever tried that?
I really don't want to stress out again him by us trying and failing but feel like we should try again before conceding defeat and going for the vet route.
All those smiling kitties on the demo vids who stay perfectly still & smiling whilst they are tested make me feel so inadequate - I reckon they are robots in disguise ! Only kidding but seriously any help on the above points would be gratefully received.
Thanks
Gill (not & Mac - he doesn't want any tips for us thanks apart from let him alone!)
 
Gill & Mac (UK) said:
How do I know how hard to prick him? I am worried about doing it too hard and hurting him or going through his ear or not doing it hard enough and having to prick him twice?
Click to expand...
Mostly practice... you are not hurting him. Cats nerve endings dont reach the tips of their ears. If they act hurt its probably more due to annoyance. I fought with the lancing pen every test. Someone here suggested freehand and "thats all she wrote." Made all the difference for me AND Trouble.
Also Trouble absolutely HATED testing it took two of us for years. I was just lucky enough that hubby
s work was all of 5 mins from the house. Otherwise he may have never gone off insulin.
 
Also Trouble absolutely HATED testing it took two of us for years. I was just lucky enough that hubby
s work was all of 5 mins from the house. Otherwise he may have never gone off insulin.[/QUOTE]

Hi. Thanks for your reply jt. Can I ask when doing freehand is it best to keep the lancet at right angles to the ear like the lancing pen does or to "stab" at an angle?
Ps - did you ever try the towel trick and if so, did it help? even if only to keep you hubby scratch free.....
Thanks
Gill
Thanks
 
Gill & Mac (UK) said:
Also Trouble absolutely HATED testing it took two of us for years. I was just lucky enough that hubby
s work was all of 5 mins from the house. Otherwise he may have never gone off insulin.
Click to expand...

Hi. Thanks for your reply jt. Can I ask when doing freehand is it best to keep the lancet at right angles to the ear like the lancing pen does or to "stab" at an angle?
Ps - did you ever try the towel trick and if so, did it help? even if only to keep you hubby scratch free.....
Thanks
Gill
Thanks[/QUOTE]
I never worried about "angles" Just got in there fast and did it. Never had to "burrito" him. Hubby just held on. We got quite good at doing it so fast that when he "released" Trouble, Trouble just sat there like..."Whats all the hubbub about"? Then he would rub up against both of us. :rolleyes: Hubby never got a scratch. It was all about us ANNOYING him. :oops: LOL Trouble had this low guttural growl. (like the bark being bigger than the bite)
Trouble was a crack up. A totally laid back cat. He had come from a home of 3 small boys and little girl and two LARGE dogs. There he was just in the way, here he was treated like a king...But even some kings need insulin.:p

I know this isnt much help for you but it does give you insight on just how different struggles go but when you stick to the program good things will follow (He did go OTJ). My favorite saying use to be "Trouble was anything but. :bighug: I miss him. :rb_icon:

Best of luck with Mac's journey,
jeanne
 
Have never tried the towel trick with Teal'c, he is the type that the minute you restrain him he knows something he isn't going to like is about to happen so he is going to fight to be free. Others have had great success using it.

I can answer about going through the ear, it happens especially in the beginning. It still happens once in awhile. I joked with Bobby that we should get him some earrings.

I've also found his left ear bleeds better then his right ear. So you may want to see if one ear works better than the other.

I tried the Lancet device first with no success,so now free hand with only the Lancet. I talk calmly to him always telling him what a good boy he is. Being calm and not stressing is the key. If I'm not stressed he doesn't stress either. I pet him rubbing the ear, sometimes I brush him and rub the ear. I tell him to hunker down and he lays on his belly with front paws over edge of chair. I tell him ok quick poke. He pushes his left paw out in front of him I poke grab meter pushing strip in with one hand suck up blood and give treat. He quickly caught on to the fact this lead to a treat. Now he hears me open the test strip container and comes to his chair to be tested.
 
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Freehanding:

- Position the lancet so the length of the lancet aligns with the side of the ear flap.

- Wrap something to cushion the ear round your index finger and curl the top of the ear flap around the finger and the support.

- With the sweet spot of the ear supported by your index finger and the edge of the ear flap held slightly under tension between your thumb and middle finger, hold the lancet bevelled side up at an angle of c.45-60 degrees to the sweet spot, a bit like the angle at which you might hold a pen when writing. (You can better see where you're aiming and the lancet tip will 'slide' into the skin).

- Prick the sweet spot, don't 'stab' it.


Mogs
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