Lancet Information

[ladysmom06]

Hi all!

I home test Lady from her ear. I use the onetouch ultra 2 meter. I don't use the pen that came with it. I could never get the setting right and Lady doesn't like the clicking sound. I was using a thin lancet 26 gauge. Sometimes I have to prick her ear a few times to get a good bead of blood - I was wondering if there is a better lancet I could use. I really don't like testing from the ear but I have no choice. She won't let me anywhere near her mouth - as it is I have to use a muzzle when I test her. I hate using it. I tried the tail but I could never get enough blood there. Any help would be appreciated. TIA

Luv,
Lynne and Lady

Lady 9 1/2 yrs old JRT 11 lbs. - Diabetes and Cushing's - Humulin N 5 units 2 x's a day - Homecooked diet.

[acushdogsmom]

Re: Lancets

Hi Lynne and Lady!

You'll probably hardly ever see me posting here, because as you know, I don't know very much at all about managing a diabetic dog, but I just happened to see your post and was wondering if you ever tried getting blood from the dew claw toe pad? That's a little toe pad that's really not on the actual foot, it's a little ways up on the inside of the front leg, where most dogs have had their dew claws removed as a young puppy, but the dew claw toe pad is still there.

There's a video on Natalie's website, here:

http://www.k9diabetes.com/bgtestvideos.html

Click on the video that says "Kramer a mini-schnauzer" to see how it can be done on that dew claw toe pad.

I'm sure you'll get better input from others here, who have lots of experience in getting blood for home testing, but I thought I'd just chime in with this possibilty.

[johanna]

Re: Lancets

Hi Lynne...
does Lady have any callouses??????
That would be a dream if she did....
Its so easy that way....

[We Hope]

Re: Lancets

Hi Lynne!

Many people say that they have problems with the lancet pen's clicking, so they opt for using the lancet without the pen.

http://www.caninediabetes.org/pdorg/dog_ear_stick.htm

You might want to take a look at the link above--someone who was kind enough to do photos and an explanation for using the ear method with dogs. This is very much like how those with diabetic cats test.

http://www.felinediabetes.com/bg-earprk.htm

Ear testing method for cats.

"I make sure the ear is very warm. It is difficult to get a drop of blood from a cold ear. Petting or massaging the ear usually gets it warm enough for the blood to be flowing well. If the ear is really cold you may need to massage for 5 minutes. I have even used a small warm water bottle (a warm washcloth folded up inside a plastic zip-lock bag). I hold the warm bag against the ear I am going to prick. The wash cloth is not too hot; I am be able to comfortably hold the wash cloth in my bare hand."

There's also a heated rice sock method I've seen for using the ear for testing in cats--don't see why that wouldn't also work for dogs too. Warming the ear area makes it easier to draw the blood. You might find that warming the ear would let you work well with the lancets you're now using, as the warmth makes the blood flow easier.

HTH!

[We Hope]

Re: Lancets

Tried adding this to previous post and blew it--adding a link from an Intervet UK site re: testing earflaps in dogs--they also stress that warming the ear makes is easier to draw blood from it.

http://www.cat-dog-diabetes.com/dogs-blood-testing.asp

"Make sure that your dog?s ear is warm. If not, hold it between your hands for about one minute. Warming the earflap makes collecting a drop of blood easier."

[Lindsay]

Re: Lancets

Hi Lynn! Does Lady have "warts" on her body? These are small, hairless, raised bumps - like moles in people. Many dogs get them as they get older and my Angel Jenny had quite a few from which I drew blood. She had a perfect "wart" on her front paw. I also used her elbow calouses but these are often found only on larger dogs.

Also, are you putting the lancet directly into the vein that runs around the edge of the earflap? I tried the earflap on my dog in the beginning but rarely got enough blood. My vet told me to hold a flashlight behind the flap to see the vein. That's where you'll get blood. I didn't use the earflap in the end, though, because the "warts and calouses" did the job for me.
Jac

[ladysmom06]

Re: Lancets

Hi all,

Thanks for all the great advise. I'll have to watch all the videos - and read all the links - and see if I can learn something there. To answer your questions - No, Lady doesn't have any callouses or warts. Wish she did - it would make testing so much easier. Jac - I try to go directly into the vein but sometimes Lady moves her head so much and I miss it. What lancets do you all use and is there a diffirence in them? TIA - Hugs to all.

Luv,
Lynne and Lady

[johanna]

Re: Lancets

Wow Jac....
Never knew that you could test on the warts.... Didn't think of that....
I was also wondering...
Can you shave the fur from any fatty area to get blood???? Just wondering.
I have it so easy with Killian with the callous... but it dont work for everyone...

[ladysmom06]

Re: Lancets

I use the cvs brand of lancets - thin 26 gauge. Was wondering if there was a better one to use? I test from the ear. TIA. Hugs to all.

[Ricksma]

Re: Lancets

I wish I could help with advice about alternate sites for testing, but I tried the base of the tail and the dewclaw pad...both with no results. I will just stick with the lip (no pun intended, LOL). Ricky doesn't like it, but he tolerates it, and it works quickly. He puts up with a lot of indignities these days...he is my hero...

Love and hugs, Teresa and Ricky

[eyelostit]

Re: Lancets

Best lancets i found were called EZ-lets, my uncle is a diabetic and he preferred the click thing, so he have me some of these and they worked well, I was lucky to get the last box of 200 at walmart on sale for 4.00, I have looked for these on ebay but never see them, they are about 1 inch long, have a round top that you twist off. I use ones that are blue, they are not a thin gauge, thin ones just don't give me any blood, the ones my uncle gave me were green, now i don't know if they were thinner or thicker gauge.

Anyone see these anywhere let me know.

[Carolyn]

Re: Lancets

Hi there,
Here is a site that has the EZ-lets.
http://http://www.palcolabs.com/
Hope this is some help.
Carolyn

[We Hope]

Re: Lancets

More on lancets in general--they're like needles in that the bigger the gauge number, the finer the lancet:

http://www.themedsupplyguide.com/lancets/faq1.html

"What does gauge mean for a diabetic lancet?

Answer:

"Diabetic lancets which are used for blood sampling are available in different gauges. The gauge of the lancet refers width of the metal point. The higher the gauge, the smaller the perforation (cut) the lancet makes. Usually a higher-gauge lancet is less painful to use, but it may be harder to get an adequate amount of blood with a higher-gauge lancet."

http://web.archive.org/web/200710282...x?cat=2&id=613

http://www.themedsupplyguide.com/lancets/

"Lancets and automatic lancing devices are frequently provided as part of blood glucose monitoring kits. Most lancet devices come with short and long lancet covers to provide different degrees of penetration, and many have adjustable covers or caps. Generally, people who are first-time users, children, or people with delicate skin prefer a longer cover for more shallow penetration of the lancet. People who have tougher skin or poor circulation choose a shorter cover for deeper penetration by the lancet."

http://www.walgreens.com/library/cen...es/lancets.jsp

Lancet Comparison Chart--tells you which devices use what gauge and what lancets fit what lancing devices.

The drawing here is for illustration purposes only--not the actual size of the lancet.

[We Hope]

Lancets

http://www.themedsupplyguide.com/lancets/

"Lancets are used for diabetic testing. It's the device that punctures the finger (or alternative site for most new meters) to extract blood for testing. Diabetic lancets are available in different gauges. The gauge of the lancet refers width of the metal point. The higher the gauge, the smaller the perforation the lancet makes. Usually a higher-gauge lancet is less painful to use, but it may be harder to get an adequate amount of blood with a higher-gauge lancet.

"Some individuals use lancets alone to get a blood sample. This method can sometime be painful so most people prefer to use some type of diabetic lancing device. A lancing device uses a spring mechanism to insert the lancet into the skin. It also allows the user to adjust the depth depending on the thickness of the skin and sensitivity of the fingertip. In this way, enough blood can be obtained without causing unnecessary pain. In most cases, when you buy a blood glucose monitor a lancing device is included.

"Most lancet devices come with short and long lancet covers to provide different degrees of penetration, and many have adjustable covers or caps. Generally, people who are first-time users, children, or people with delicate skin prefer a longer cover for more shallow penetration of the lancet. People who have tougher skin or poor circulation choose a shorter cover for deeper penetration by the lancet."

Lancet gauges are like needle gauges in that the higher the number you see on them, the finer the lancet or the needle. You may want something a little bigger so that you don't need to have as much penetration to easily get enough blood for a test.

I think you might be going through a callus there (they call the elbow stick the callus stick too), so it is going to be harder to make a stick there because the skin's tougher.

http://www.themedsupplyguide.com/lancets/faq3.html

What diabetic lancet gauge size is best?

"Many people have callused skin, therefore a thicker needle is required."

http://www.catinfo.org/felinediabetes.htm

"Lancets range in size from a large 25 gauge to a very small 33 gauge. However, most companies do not state the gauge size on their lancet boxes so it can be confusing when trying to figure out which lancets to buy. Generally speaking, when you see lancets labeled "ultra-fine" or "ultra thin", that denotes a very fine lancet size (31,32,33 gauge). Exception to the word "ultra" is the LifeScan One Touch UltraSoft lancets. They are 28 gauge and many people have good luck with those."

http://www.walgreens.com/library/cen...es/lancets.jsp

Walgreens' has a chart with information about various brands of lancets, the gauges of those brands and the lancing devices they'll fit into.

HTH!

Kathy