Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Alternative sampling site for blood glucose testing in cats: giving the ears a rest.
- Journal:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 2010
- Authors:
- Zeugswetter, Florian K et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department for Small Animals and Horses
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
This study looked at whether it's possible to test blood sugar levels in cats using their paw pads instead of just their ears, which is the usual method. Researchers tested this on 75 cats and found that taking blood from the pads was generally well-tolerated. They didn't see any major differences in the success of getting a blood sample or the glucose levels between the two sites. While some cats couldn't provide enough blood for testing, the results suggest that using the paw pads could be a good alternative if ear sampling doesn't work. More research is needed to see how well this method works at home, but it shows promise.
Abstract
UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND AND STUDY RATIONALE: Home monitoring is an important part of the long-term management of diabetic cats. Despite the extensive use of glucometers in this species, up until now only the pinna of the ear has been validated as a testing site. This cross-sectional study investigated the feasibility and validity of sampling from the metacarpal/metatarsal pads in hospitalised cats with various diseases. INVESTIGATIONS: The large pads were compared with the ear as a sampling site in 75 cats. Lancing the pads was tolerated very well. If the initial drop of blood was too small, an adequate volume of blood was almost always achieved by squeezing the pads. No significant differences were observed in first-attempt success rate or glucose values between the two sites. Due to the inability to obtain an adequate volume of blood or struggling, no measurement was possible in four cats. PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: While further work is necessary to assess the utility of this technique, especially in the home environment, the results indicate that the metacarpal pads, in particular, may offer a viable alternative testing site for the measurement of blood glucose concentrations, especially if ear sampling fails.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20800211/