AlphaTRAK 2 Blood Glucose Monitoring System Starter Kit for Dogs & Cats, 50 strips

Our veterinarian recommended the AlphaTRAK2 Blood Glucose Monitoring System and specifically told us to purchase from Chewy. I submitted the order online around 1 PM on a Monday. Our vet said she had received the fax for her to sign for the AlphaTRAK2 and Alfie's prescription diabetic food by 2:15 PM the same day. She filled out the paperwork after she was finished seeing other patients for the day around 5 PM. Our order was promptly filled and delivered to us by 9 AM Wednesday. I am very impressed with the quick turnaround. I don't know if prescription items are expedited, but was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. A vet tech showed us how to use the AlphaTRAK2, how to draw a wee bit Our veterinarian recommended the AlphaTRAK2 Blood Glucose Monitoring System and specifically told us to purchase from Chewy. I submitted the order online around 1 PM on a Monday. Our vet said she had received the fax for her to sign for the AlphaTRAK2 and Alfie's prescription diabetic food by 2:15 PM the same day. She filled out the paperwork after she was finished seeing other patients for the day around 5 PM. Our order was promptly filled and delivered to us by 9 AM Wednesday. I am very impressed with the quick turnaround. I don't know if prescription items are expedited, but was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. A vet tech showed us how to use the AlphaTRAK2, how to draw a wee bit of blood, and keep a log of his readings. The system is easy to use once you learn how. It's a bit different from a human glucometer, but still has enough similarities for me to understand and get a leg up. With the help of our vet and Chewy, we are hopeful Alfie has many good years to come. … more

I will start with saying that I am a nurse and have obtained more fingerstick blood glucose samples than one could possible count! The mechanics of use for this product may be simple, but it is nearly impossible to obtain a blood sample. I typically use 3-4 lancets per stick as they barely penetrate enough to get a sample. If I do indeed get a sample, it is usually too small which causes an error message and necessitates an entirely new strip which is a waste. Some users have recommended using warm compresses, massaging etc. I am a busy mother who works full time and this is not something I am capable of spending time on. Performing home glucose curves on my dog is already more than enough I will start with saying that I am a nurse and have obtained more fingerstick blood glucose samples than one could possible count! The mechanics of use for this product may be simple, but it is nearly impossible to obtain a blood sample. I typically use 3-4 lancets per stick as they barely penetrate enough to get a sample. If I do indeed get a sample, it is usually too small which causes an error message and necessitates an entirely new strip which is a waste. Some users have recommended using warm compresses, massaging etc. I am a busy mother who works full time and this is not something I am capable of spending time on. Performing home glucose curves on my dog is already more than enough of my time! … more

I am still getting used to checking my cat's glucose with this system. Getting the blood to come out is hard and the iemt used to do that is really useless as it does not draw blood. The vet told me this when she recommended it but I tried it for myself and sadly she was right. I can not give it 5 stars because of that and I have only used it twice. I am still thumping through the book if the Errors show up . Still it is a handy time to have for spot checks. He still goes for glucose scans though.

The meter works great. Easy to use & set up. Only problem....the lancets are HORRIBLE! It's virtually impossible to do an ear pinna stick and get enough blood. They simply don't go deep enough to penetrate tough senior cat skin, even at the deepest setting (on ear or really any place). Now I understand why owners had issues & why we NEVER used the lancets @ the veterinary hospitals I work at. I'm glad I can do my own venipuncture with syringes.

I had done a lot of research on this product so was not surprised when I had a hard time getting enough blood to get a reading. I found it easier to get a blood sample first before setting up the meter. Also the instructions for setting up date and time does not show the screens that appear on the meter so I have not been able to get these settings into the meter.

Received the monitoring system. Read all the instructions and also reviews and tips from you tube individuals relative to the system. I tried for hours on three days to attempt to draw blood using the new lancing device received with this unit that replaced the previous one. The lancing device has three levels to select from 1 to 5. I originally started on level 2, could not draw any blood, then level 3, minimal spot and finally level 5, just again a small smear of blood from my dogs ear. I also massaged the dogs ear, used a warm small pillow with rice, and used a warm wash cloth attempting to encourage the blood flow prior to any of the above attempts. I attempted to draw blood from all Received the monitoring system. Read all the instructions and also reviews and tips from you tube individuals relative to the system. I tried for hours on three days to attempt to draw blood using the new lancing device received with this unit that replaced the previous one. The lancing device has three levels to select from 1 to 5. I originally started on level 2, could not draw any blood, then level 3, minimal spot and finally level 5, just again a small smear of blood from my dogs ear. I also massaged the dogs ear, used a warm small pillow with rice, and used a warm wash cloth attempting to encourage the blood flow prior to any of the above attempts. I attempted to draw blood from all the ear areas recommended, but nothing worked. I only used her ear as she would not let me use the inside of her mouth or pads on feet. I even tried laying a sheet of saran wrap tightly across the top of a cup and used the lancing device and lancet in the center of this to see if any type of piercing would happen on No. 5 lancet and the saran wrap did not pierce. Finally gave up and read reviews about other lancing devices and the Genteel was recommended. I ordered this product and am waiting to receive it, as supposedly the vacuum it creates will help with the blood draw. … more

Ernie, my 11-year-old mixed poodle rescue, developed a complicated case of diabetes myelitis. I purchased this kit so that I would have a backup to my initial one. I highly recommend purchasing medical systems like this from Chewy.

This item was recommended by my vet, as it is used in their office. It took a while to understand how to use it, and sometimes it's frustrating because I can't get enough blood from my dogs ear in the 2minutes allowed. Also, I called the company because it was not clear where the blood had to be on the strip. I've done it several times now and it's getting easier. Hate squeezing my dog's ear to get blood out, but he's been wonderful through this learning curve.

Unfortunately, this seems to be the only game in town. It works - usually. But each strip costs $1 and if you take too long to get the strip in the blood, you get an error message and it's easy to waste $2.00 or more trying to get a glucose level in one try. It's frustrating. You have to set the lancet at 5 to get anything out of a dog. But it is better than nothing.

I’ve used this device for three different sessions of blood glucose testing. While it saves me $$$ by not needing to take my cat to the vet for these tests, the device itself is unreliable. I can go through 2, 3, 5 different tests strips before getting one that will register with the monitor. And those test strips are $1.00 EACH! I have experience with using blood glucose monitors for humans; they are easy & reliable. But this monitor is finicky, tetchy, & and can give two very different readings within minutes of each other. How am I supposed to figure out which one is accurate? Is either one accurate? This uncertainty is not what I expected, after paying $60 for the system. My last complaint I’ve used this device for three different sessions of blood glucose testing. While it saves me $$$ by not needing to take my cat to the vet for these tests, the device itself is unreliable. I can go through 2, 3, 5 different tests strips before getting one that will register with the monitor. And those test strips are $1.00 EACH! I have experience with using blood glucose monitors for humans; they are easy & reliable. But this monitor is finicky, tetchy, & and can give two very different readings within minutes of each other. How am I supposed to figure out which one is accurate? Is either one accurate? This uncertainty is not what I expected, after paying $60 for the system. My last complaint is about the lancet device: it doesn’t work. I leave the cover off and just use it as a holder for the lancets. Is it really too much to ask for a system that works simply and accurately? … more