Comparison of haematological analyses of blood taken from the cephalic and marginal ear veins in cats.

Various haematological components were compared in blood samples from the cephalic and marginal ear vein of 21 cats. Test results tended to be higher in blood samples from the cephalic vein, although significant differences were only detected for haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell count and the absolute numbers of neutrophilic granulocytes and lymphocytes. Differences in test results between the two veins were small and apparently of only minor practical importance, thereby further substantiating the suitability of the marginal ear vein nick technique as a means of obtaining small blood samples from cats.