Cats: Monitoring and controlling diabetes mellitus
Ear sampling
Blood sampling in diabetic cats
A glucometer and glucose test strip are needed for this procedure. Blood can be collected easily from the earflap of the cat by performing the following steps:
- Make sure the cat's ear is warm. If not, hold it between your hands or apply a warm compress for about a minute in order to make the blood collection easier.
- Quickly prick a clean, hairless part of the ear at the site of the marginal ear vein with a sterile hypodermic needle or lancet.
- A small drop of blood will appear. Collect the drop on the glucose test strip and insert the test strip into the glucometer. Compare the read-out to the normal levels of glucose in cats.
- Gently but firmly apply pressure to the cat’s ear using a clean cotton ball or piece of gauze until it stops the bleeding.