Blood samping

RE: Blood samping

Robyn — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 12:39:34 GMT

[quote user="Holly anon"]

We are already strict on quiet, calm and a good technique but if I could make even a little less uncomfortable then I would prefer to. :)

[/quote]

Agreed! I'm not needle phobic at all, but it would be lovely to have some ethycalm when I'm getting jabs/giving blood!

RE: Blood samping

Holly anon — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 09:40:00 GMT

We are already strict on quiet, calm and a good technique but if I could make even a little less uncomfortable then I would prefer to. :)

RE: Blood samping

Teri-Ann Baldwin — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 09:22:50 GMT

If a patient is staying in with us we routinely clip and emla and allow to settle for 20 minutes, sometimes i find the most stressful bit is the clippers for them!
Then prep and go :-)

We are also very conscientious practice in terms of stress-free handling and a stress-free environment which helps a lot

I love the 'freeze' spray for patients who are just in for a sample in an appointment.

I agree with it being painful, sprayed it on myself on accident once and it made me flinch back in shock!

RE: Blood samping

Ben Ogden — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 14:30:49 GMT

[quote user="James Colver Cert. Ed, RVN"]

I don't use anything as a matter of course. Focussing heavily on the environmental considerations / keeping stress to a minimum. If an animal does react to the needle itself I like to use EMLA cream but a decent-sized blob and given ~20minutes in a calm place to take effect :)

[/quote]

I'll second that, i'd also add a good needle technique would usually be enough in most cases. If you're having to repeatedly re-adjust your needle under the skin or repeatedly attempt to sample, something is incorrect and it warrants correction.

If I have a patient that is already needle shy, sensitive to stimuli etc, then stress reduction and emla for 20 minutes should suffice.

RE: Blood samping

James Colver Cert. Ed, RVN — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 22:12:13 GMT

RE: Blood samping

VetNurse Anon a/c — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 19:08:50 GMT

Either EMLA or Ethycalm!

Ethycalm works pretty much straight away, but is a spray so have to be careful when spraying near a fractious/sensitive animal!

RE: Blood samping

Robyn — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 15:12:05 GMT

Ethycalm is fantastic if you don\t have 20min to wait for emla to work (and tbh we never do!). Definitely spray onto cotton wool then swab though - I second the advice to test it on yourself! Gives a great idea of how quickly it numbs, and that initial sting can be worse than you expect. Absolutely great stuff though, we have cats we could never sample conscious before that we can now manage. It's also great for conscious staple placement and draining cysts\aural haematomas\etc.

RE: Blood samping

Courtney Scales — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 22:10:25 GMT

EMLA is great! Shave, apply, cover with dressing if you can, 20 mins, alchohol prep, sample.

If using the cooling spray (Ethycalm), it really should be sprayed onto a cotton ball first then held over the vessel, otherwise the animals hate it! Give it a go on yourself to see how painful the initial freeze can be if sprayed directly onto you.

RE: Blood samping

PJ Zurawel — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 16:37:21 GMT

We use the Ethycalm spray, it sprays onto the area and numbs almost immediately. If a cat or patient does not like the hissing sound it emits then you are able to spray it onto a swab first and then rub it onto the area. Find it works really well.

RE: Blood samping

molladog — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 14:21:57 GMT

we use emla cream , leave on for 20 mins after clipping, works very well.