AlphaTRAK 3 Blood Glucose Diabetic Monitoring Kit for Cats, Dogs, & Horses

Q: How often should I test my cat/dog? What’s the best time of day to test? A: Your veterinarian is the best resource to recommend how often to test your pet’s blood glucose level. These recommendations can vary by pets, and some factors that can influence this decision include: • The type of insulin your pet is receiving and how often • If any changes to your pet’s insulin (dose, frequency, type, etc.) have occurred recently • If your pet is exhibiting abnormal clinical signs or behavior

Q: Are gloves required? A: When obtaining a blood sample, gloves are not required. However, since animal blood may be a potential source of disease, pet owners may choose to wear gloves.

Q: I’m having trouble getting a good blood sample, what do I do? A: Warming the area will help increase blood flow. Gently rub or apply a warm (not hot) cloth to the test site. If using a wet cloth, place the cloth inside a plastic bag to avoid diluting the blood sample. Additionally, a thin layer of petroleum jelly may be applied to the test site prior to lancing. This can help the blood form a droplet without getting into the hair.

Q: Do I need to keep the code strip after I set up the device? A: A code strip is provided with each new pack of AlphaTrak 3 Test Strips. The code strip is used once to set the species lot code. If you lost the code strip before setting the lot code, you’ll need to purchase a new pack of AlphaTrak 3 test strips. We recommend keeping the code strip within the zippered carry case provided with the AlphaTrak 3 Starter Kit.

Q: How old does my cat or dog need to be to be tested? A: There is no minimum age of usage for AlphaTrak 3. You should consult with your veterinarian to determine what is recommended for your pet.

Q: Why do I need to switch between cat or dog on the meter? A: Cats and dogs differ in the distribution of glucose in the blood. The unique codes in the AlphaTrak 3 glucose monitoring system account for these species differences to deliver accurate results for both cats and dogs.

Q: How do I switch between cat or dog on the meter? A: You can easily switch between species without the code strip: Simply insert a test strip and once the blood drop appears on the screen, press and hold “c” and at the same time press “m”. An icon corresponding to the selected species will appear.

Q: When should I do a control solution test? A: A control solution test should be performed with every new pack of strips. It allows you to practice testing without using animal blood, confirm that the meter and test strips are working properly, or to verify spurious blood glucose test results. It may be advisable to perform a control solution test before a ‘blood glucose curve’.

Q: How do I perform a control solution test? A: To perform a control solution test: 1. Check the expiration date of control solution and test strip. 2. Insert test strip into meter to turn it on. 3. Set the correct species code by pressing and holding “c”, and then at the same time press “m”. 4. Select the control test setting by pressing “c” to for 3 seconds until you see the control solution bottle icon on the display. Failure to select the correct setting will product inaccurate results. 5. Apply control solution to the front edge of the test strip. 6. Compare the control solution result to the test range printed on the test strip vial.