Most blood samples are taken from the jugular vein in the neck. This vein is large enough to provide a good sample and allows us to collect the blood as quickly as possible. This is important as blood will start to clot if it is not collected swiftly and this can affect the results.
Ideally, blood should be collected from the jugular, as this generally allows for better sampling. However, if a patient is known to have a coagulopathy (clotting dysfunction), blood samples should then be taken from the saphenous (either lateral or medial) vein or the cephalic vein.
Sampling sites are alternated between the two jugular veins, starting distally at the base of the neck and moving towards the head along the jugular groove. The vein is raised by compressing it just dorsal to the thoracic inlet, ventral to the venepuncture site. A 21 gauge needle is used to collect blood.
Common blood draw locations for cats are their jugular veins, which run on either side of the windpipe. For jugular restraint, seat your cat on a non-slip bed on the counter and stand behind them.
Blood samples can be collected from the cephalic vein which is superficial and easily accessible. The technique is quick and appropriate for taking small blood samples. Blood is collected from the forelimb, starting distally (near the paw) and working proximally (away from paw).
The most frequently used sites for canine blood collection are the cephalic, jugular, and lateral saphenous veins.
Veterinarians have traditionally been taught to hold a prone cat's scruff in order to control them for examinations and procedures. The theory was that since kittens go limp when their mothers carry them by the scruff, a tight grip on the loose skin over a cat's shoulders would trigger the same response.
In some cats it is necessary to shave areas of fur for the placement of drips and some of the anaesthetic monitoring equipment. The areas that are often shaved are on the front legs, the wrist and under the tail. If blood tests need to be taken there may also be a shaved area under the neck.
If your pet is having surgery, the affected area will have to be shaved and cleaned to maintain the sterility of the site.
The real reason behind it is sterility!
We don't shave pets to give them bad haircuts (we apologize, we are not groomers, but we do our best). We need to shave past the surgical field for sterility reasons. We do not want fur or bacteria getting into any surgical site we need to work on.
And the leg shaving is NOT necessary at all unless it is for a surgery – its a blood draw and a shot. There is no need to do any significant shaving, if any at all. Just sterilize the surface of the skin and insert your needle. Hair is not a problem for this level of procedure and should not need to be shaved at all.
All dogs and cats can get sebaceous cysts, whether purebred or not. The cysts look like enclosed small bumps that stay whitish in color and are raised from the skin. When touched, they feel like small circular or oval lumps under the skin. If your pet has a sebaceous cyst, you will notice a raised bump.
The jugular veins include three pairs of veins in your neck. The three pairs are the interior, exterior and anterior veins. These veins are important because they return blood from your brain back toward your heart. They can help with diagnosing many different medical conditions.
The jugular vein is raised by applying pressure to the base of the neck just cranial of the thoracic inlet. The skin over the jugular may be moved or the neck gently twisted to help visualize the vein.
The function of the internal jugular vein is to collect blood from the skull, brain, superficial parts of the face, and the majority of the neck. The tributaries of the internal jugular include the inferior petrosal sinus, facial, lingual, pharyngeal, superior and middle thyroid, and, occasionally, the occipital vein.
Mother cats only carry kittens by the scruff for the first few weeks of life. They can do that because kittens have a reflex in which their bodies go totally limp when picked up by the scruff—a reflex that is lost by adolescence. What is often seen as “relaxation” in a scruffed cat is actually behavioral shutdown.
If a cat is too stressed on the grooming table, and is badly matted, the most humane route to take is to sedate the cat to get it shaved. Once this has been done we have a clean slate to start the counter conditioning programme to help the cat get used to the grooming process.
What happens during a pet blood test? a patch of fur will be shaved from the area where the blood sample will be taken. The most common areas are the front legs, neck, or occasionally the hind legs.
Scruffing is painful: “A firm grasp of skin at the base of the neck is undoubtedly uncomfortable for cats,” says Dr. Koch. Moreover, suspending their weight by the nape of their neck can cause pain.
Scruffing is uncomfortable and may even be painful for the cat. Scruffing could also damage your relationship with your cat. Your cat may see this treatment as a betrayal of trust and begin to act more fearful or hostile around you.
There are two ways that veterinarians can source blood for a transfusion. They can pull blood from a willing canine donor or contact a pet blood bank and request blood. Vets can order from national pet blood banks, and many local emergency and specialty hospitals have their own pet blood banks, too.
One of the most common tests is a complete blood count (CBC) that analyzes the numbers and appearance of blood cells. The CBC is important in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease and infection. Blood samples are usually taken by the veterinarian or a veterinary technician for analysis.
From a blood test, we can work out if your pet is dehydrated, has underlying kidney disease or liver changes, and assess your pet's red and white blood cells.