In my opinion the difficulty of getting into a human antebrachial vein is grossly exaggerated. I can get there in kittens. Kittens who don't want whatever it is I'm peddling. Human veins are a piece of cake, and if there is blood running in the vein it is patent. "Blown" is the term for a vein that has just been punctured and is leaking blood into the subcutaneous tissue. That makes it hard to get, sure. But it's something you caused yourself, five minutes ago. It will seal over and heal pretty quickly. Nobody has "blown veins" as a permanent characteristic.
Wee story. My senior partner was due to have a blood test, and he trotted off to the doctor's surgery to have it done. He came back with wee circular elastoplasts dotted around the general area of the flexor aspect of his elbow. No blood had been collected - by the nurse, not a doctor. He said, sod this, you do it. So I did. Copious quantities of the stuff, first time of asking. His vein was extremely easy to get. He looked at the needle puncture and said, tattoo a bull's-eye round that! The nurse's efforts were nowhere near. I have literally no idea what she thought she was aiming for.
Our 12 yo springer went very peacefully and quietly, and quickly, in July. As did all our previous pets when their time came. Vets seem to know what they are doing.
