[Buccal glucose measurements in dogs using safety lancets for blood sampling]

Glucose measurements at the pinna or paws are an important part of the management of diabetic dogs. Despite extensive rubbing or warming of the testing site, an adequate blood sample cannot always be obtained. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the lip as an alternative sampling site with respect to practicability and tolerance by the dogs and reliability of the measured values.

Nine clinic-owned male-castrated healthy beagles were included in this prospective study. Glucose measurements were performed using a glucometer developed for veterinary use, before and 15 minutes after oral application of glucose syrup. Capillary blood was collected using two commercially available safety lancets (Wellion Safety lancet [23 gauge] and Wellion Safety lancet special [blade 0.8 mm]) at the buccal mucosa of the upper lip and at the pinna. Measured values were compared with those obtained from venous plasma (reference method).

Buccal glucose measurements were easy to perform and were well tolerated by the dogs without obvious pain reactions. There was no difference between the glucose concentrations from the lip samples and those determined using the reference method (p = 0.793, F < 1). The glucose application had no effect on the observed differences (reference value minus glucometer value; p = 0.63, F < 1). However, in one dog, a clinically problematic discrepancy of 3.6 mmol/l was observed. The special lancet caused noticeable secondary bleeding in two dogs.

The results of this study indicate that the buccal mucosa is a convenient and reliable alternative sampling site for glucose measurements in dogs. Problematic deviations from reference values are possible after oral glucose application and the use of blade-like needles is not encouraged.