Dogs: Monitoring and controlling diabetes mellitus
Ear sampling
Blood sampling in diabetic dogs
A glucometer and glucose test strip are needed for this procedure. Blood can be collected easily from the ear-flap of the dog by performing the following steps:
- Make sure the dog's ear is warm. If not, hold it between your hands for about a minute in order to make the blood collection easier.
- Quickly prick a clean, hairless part of the ear 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 dogs. Normals for dogs: 80-120 mg/dL.
- Gently but firmly press some cotton-wool onto the dog's ear until it stops the bleeding.