How to measure blood glucose in a cat - Diabetic cat

Testing your diabetic cat's blood glucose is more accurate and cheaper than doing it at a veterinary hospital, and it does not have to be difficult! Here's a quick guide to easy at-home blood glucose checks for your diabetic cat.
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[@pomfret_and_pommes_frites_6493]

Lance a lot lol best diabetic nickname ever

[@WhosAGoodDogue]

Hmmm. Even with the vicious bugger wrapped in a bath towel, and me using welders gloves whilst exectuting the "squish" method, the cat _still_ found it easier getting blood out of me, than I did getting blood out of the cat. He wasn't called _Hannibal_ for nothing you know!

[@mark98115]

Digger Dawg ROTFLMAO.... My cat was an absolute sweetheart and I doubt I would have been able to get blood from him. He probably would not scratch me but he was a powerful 15 lbs of muscle that would simply squirm enough to avoid getting poked. Thankfully he was no diabetic so I did not have to try this.

[@mathmurdock]

Will I get false results if my cat is too sweet?

[@phosgene2]

diabetic cat named "lance-a-lot" LOL.....

[@Jane-ot6og]

The names of all the cats in these videos are a riot. I love these videos

[@coffeenciggy]

Such a good boy Lancelot!

[@junbh2]

'Kindly volunteered', um yeah... I think most of us are familiar with that definition of 'volunteering' at some point in our lives...

[@crystalm3633]

Thank you! This video has been very helpful. I just recently adopted a diabetic cat from a shelter and will be monitoring her blood glucose at home.

[@pamelah4125]

Crystal McCaughey Thank you so much for that. We had a sugar cat who lived to be an active 14 year old. Everyone thought we should put him down when he was diagnosed at age 6. (I'm a diabetic, too - ha!). He would get up on the counter when it was time to test, because he knew it meant food. It takes dedication, but it's not hard. Thank you for taking a chance on a little diabeeto!

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

I have a client who is treating her diabetic hamster with insulin injections; a cat by comparison is easy!

[@junbh2]

+Helpful Vancouver Vet Wow, now that's dedication!

[@chillout20]

First off, I LOVE THESE VIDS. I will say that despite Lancelot not doing anything , he did look like he was about to slash open a vein in that poor vet’s arm. Also, gonna have to google Dr Uri to see if he has webinars on general good cat pet ownership. His vids are so good. His cats are so chill. Love it!

[@arynnsprague9494]

Haha I was going to say Lancelot's look at the end was an "I'm gonna poop in your shoes" look if I ever saw one!

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

So funny story... Lancelot did poop in a staff member's shoes last week. Luckily not mine. He is an immensely patient and sweet cat though and I appreciate his forbearance when we use him as a demo cat!

[@irhonda31]

Lancelot’s tail was saying that he did not volunteer! LOL! One time doing that procedure, and my cat would be under the bed for good. I am finally able to give her two insulin shots per day, but it took 3 months to figure out how to trick her into the morning one, and she still evades me on occasion. Needless to say, I don’t check her at home, the vet does it every 6 months. I do appreciate the video, though. :-)

[@SMY1975]

I had a diabetic cat and tested her blood sugar twice a day before giving insulin. She was tightly regulated because of this. I highly recommend testing your pet's blood sugars at home if you can.

[@tabithamarie6481]

i have type 1 diabetes and i’ve always wondered how to check the blood sugar of a cat! (i have 2 non diabetic cats) thank you for this video!

[@capitanmelanito]

I hve a crush with this doc

[@Spills51]

I hated doing the curb on my cat. It was hit and miss but the worst part was my cat obviously didn't enjoy it. By the end he would literally cower if I touched his ear. Once we got the right dose though I really only BS him if he is showing symptoms or it has been a few weeks. Just glad I don't have to check him often cause I felt terrible doing that to him :( On the plus side his health has dramatically turned for the better.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

I'm sorry to hear that! It can be rough if your cat doesn't enjoy it. Fortunately most don't mind it. Perhaps talk to your vet about relying a bit more on fructosamine measurements, and using curves only after a dose adjustment.

[@lindsaysimplyliving803]

I love your series of videos. You can tell home much you care about animals. Thank you!

[@pasquarielloanthony]

Thank you very much. My fiance and I love your videos. We call you our "Vancouver Vet". Greetings from Boston!

[@dianafridabtmfrid923]

i like this guy. please upload more

[@itsparker64]

All of your videos have such a calming and serene feeling to them, as well as giving really great information! Thanks so much for the joy and education you are putting into the world.

[@gibsonst]

You've got great videos. They really have helped learn some skills to care for Carlton and Katy. Keep it up. 🐈😻

[@evilsexykitty88]

Thank you for your time lancealot

[@kaitlyn7465]

i love your videos so much, they're so useful!!!

[@druidofthefang]

So what was his sugar level? Oh man the 1 thing I wanted to see he didnt show

[@WhosAGoodDogue]

BG level test for the cat: Sorted! Nutritional "TR" replacement on the wall: pending.... Lol: Dawg.

[@Jenny420ky]

love the name, Lancelot.. BIG Merlin fan here.. Beautiful cat

[@denisej4813]

Yes, this cat is almost as handsome as Santiago Cabrera!

[@ninjaahjumma]

MORE CAT VIDEOS PLEASE

[@ferarry13]

большое спасибо за полезные видео тёзка :)

[@andreadigney6247]

that cat is 300 percent done lol.

[@deborraholiveri6202]

my boy cay Benny is black and I cannot find the vein in his ear and he doesn't like his ears touched so I use his paw pad after cleaning it with an alcohol swab. I find the ear very difficult.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Thank you for sharing Deborrah! That is a great tip. Paw pads are a good alternative source of blood for BG measurements, and can be easier in some cats. Maybe I should make a video on those as well :-).

[@janhendrikfranke]

Now I know, how a Lanzelot looks!

[@asolepascual]

Is the lancet to prick the cat's ear special for them or is a lancet for humans suitable? Thank you!

[@gabrielcotton6125]

Great series!! Investing in some video lighting would increase the quality of your videos. Your explanations and content couldn't be better ! Best wishes.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Thanks for the comments. The videos are just meant to be a little bit of fun and information directed at pet lovers, not serious instructional material but I'll work the lighting for the next batch.

[@eleanorberryman5003]

This is very helpful! Thanks! Our cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes and we have to take him to the vet to test his blood sugar. We live in Quebec and I haven't been able to find where to buy the Alpha Trak monitor (when I google it, all the websites only ship in the US). Do you have a website you can recommend where it is available for shipping in Canada?

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Hi Eleanor, we usually order alpha tracks for our clients and tbh I do not do it myself. My suggestion: ask your vet to figure it out. Solving problems is what we do.

[@janthill1940]

Dr B, will the ears become sensitive or calloused from constantly testing blood sugars?

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Great question. Since we don’t check a diabetic cat’s blood sugar as often as a human’s and alternate sites, it doesn’t seem to be a problem.

[@JanineDavidge]

Numbers and when you are taking them would be helpful. ie...what is normal high and normal low, what to look for.

[@allieren]

Janine Davidge If you know your cat is diabetic, surely your own vet has told you these things or can be a helpful resource? That isn’t something for which you should be relying on the Internet! Hopefully, you wouldn’t look to KZbin to find that out for a human you cared for.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

HI Janine, Allie made a good point. I don't provide that kind of info because anyone doing this will (I hope) have qualified veterinary support and are just looking to the video for practical/technical tips.

[@JanineDavidge]

Helpful Vancouver Vet I see. Thanks.

[@Kat_Nguyen]

The first time I tested my cat I poked on the vessel and a lot of blood came out. I thought it was the wrong spot because it was too much blood. But now I have been struggling to get blood poking between the vessel and the edge of the ear. So I'm suppose to aim for the vessel?

[@adiero]

So what is normal or safe BG for cats? Humans it is about 5.5 mmol (4-7)

[@aaiiof]

Sir, applying Vaseline won't give an erroneous result?

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

No

[@line-mariefortier2629]

Please nice doctor, I am diabetic me too...

[@silkenpaw]

What is the purpose of the Vaseline? I love these videos. You really have a great relationship with the animals.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

It makes the vessel easier to see by slicking down fur and also makes the blood form a nice bead so even a tiny amount is enough to be read.

[@calicorex8014]

Since cats can't taste sweet and are not huge carb eaters, I'm curious what other types of food can cause diabetes in cats? Can a non-obese cat get diabetes?

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Yes, obesity is a risk factor but there are other causes for diabetes besides carb overload: congenital fibrosis and viral infection also happen.

[@irhonda31]

My cat is not overweight, but she developed diabetes at 12 years of age.

[@IngridRollema]

To add to Dr. Burstyn's comment -- my diabetic cat became so after she had two acute episodes of pancreatitis. She was officially diagnosed with diabetes in early 2012, and is now chugging along at the ripe old age of 17. She hates the ear prick but tolerates the once-daily insulin injections.

[@VickiBee]

What's the normal limits of blood glucose in a cat? In a human WNL is 100. I was a paramedic but EMT-B's take the reading.That's how easy it is or, as one doctor phrased it, "They make those things so that any idiot can use them." 😄