Message Number: FHL6154 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "vegzoo"
Date: 2008-09-27 18:45:09 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Simple no-fail, painless blood draw method
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

hi heather,

I learned a easy method of getting blood from a squirmy or very sick
ferret (with no veins large enough for blood draw). I worked as a tech
for an exotic vet back in 2000 and she learned at the annual exotic
vet 'symposium/convention' to take blood from the great vein at the
sternal notch (a sunken-in spot at the manubrium and the 1st rib). If
you have a vet who is willing to take input from a client, ask he or
she to try this method. If they do not know of other vets to ask, they
can search the web for it. In 8 years of using this method, it has
never failed and you can do it alone, scruffing upward with one hand
and using the smallest tuberculin (insulin) syringe/needle possible.
The thing to be careful of is not moving the needle side to side.

michelle

[Moderator, well, this is new search for me and I don't have time
review the sites or check what they say, so you and your vet will
need to, and for our ferrets a different location and method is used:
http://www.michvma.org/documents/MVC%20Proceedings/Labonde4.pdf
includes
BEGIN QUOTE
Venipuncture is easily done from the cranial vena cava with minimal stress and
complications. I like to scruff the ferret with my thumb pointing towards the tail. I then
rotate the ferret onto its back and have my technician restrain the front feet and body. The
needle is directed at 45* angle into the sternal notch and directed towards the opposite
rear leg. Often times the vein is superficial. In very sick ferrets, this procedure can be
done by one person holding the ferret scruffed in an upright position.
END QUOTE]

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