Canine and Feline Blood Sample Collection Objective: To understand the patient’s preparation, positioning, and procedures for blood collection using venipuncture and arterial sampling techniques. CTVT: Pages

Vocabulary Words Venipuncture Indicated vs. Contraindicated Peripheral vs. Central Occlude Aspirate Complication Hematoma Phlebitis Vasodilation Hemolysis

Restraint Three types: Positioning Canine peripheral: Feline peripheral: Canine central: Feline central: Occluding the vessel

Indications for Venipuncture

Supplies Needed 1. Needle 2. Syringe 3. 70% isopropyl alcohol Optional: Tourniquet Vacutainer Butterfly catheter Clippers Sterile gloves

How do you choose APPROPRIATE supplies? 1.Needle Gauge: Length: 2. Syringe Size

General Principles Reduce stress Collection site should be free of disease and debris Bevel up! Distal to proximal Holding the syringe:

Technician Efficiency *Blood samples should be obtained BEFORE any treatment* Gather your supplies! Find a restrainer Retrieve patient Poke the animal! This is the painful part Aspirate Blood?  Great, now don’t move anything except the plunger! No blood? (see “redirecting”)

Technician Efficiency Remove needle- as you do that begin to occlude Apply digital pressure This must be done until bleeding has stopped Store the sample with a sense of urgency Dispose of needle in sharps container

Redirecting Your Needle Why? You have entered the patient, but not the vein (SQ) Negative pressure is felt when aspirating How? Retract the needle ¾ of the way out of the animal Straight back the way you went in Reposition your angle towards the vein and try again *TECH TIP: Gently keep aspirating the entire time you are retracting/advancing the needle*

Sample Storage 1. Blood tubes Lavender top Tiger top Red top Yellow top microtainer Green top Light blue top Rubber top vs. plastic top SNAP test Glucometer

Transferring Blood into Tubes If using a 20 gauge needle or bigger: o You may puncture the vacuum tube stopper with needle If using smaller than a 20 gauge needle: o Detach needle from syringe o Remove stopper from collection tube o Gently transfer blood into tube along the side Serum tubes: allow to clot before centrifugation Anticoagulant tubes: 1. You must have proper anticoagulant:blood 2. Tube must be inverted multiple times

Canine Cephalic Venipuncture When and Why? How? Position: Who occludes? Which direction do you roll?

Canine Lateral Saphenous When and Why? How? Position? Up or down the mountain? Thumb to stabilize Who occludes?

Canine Jugular When and why? How? It’s all about the restraint/positioning Jugular furrow Do not stop occluding! When should you stop occluding…? Thicker vessel wall than peripheral veins

Feline Medial Saphenous When and why? How? Do not let go of the leg Use thumb to stabilize Vessel is EXTREMELY superficial Be ready to occlude the site!!

Feline Jugular When and Why? How?

Arterial Blood Sampling Used to assess pulmonary function by testing blood gases Must have a blood gas analyzer Ex. iSTAT

Complications 1.To the patient Hematoma Tissue trauma Sepsis 2. To the sample Hemolysis Sample dilution Clot formation

Venipuncture Videos Canine cephalic eature=related Feline jugular Femoral artery