Tips for New Diabetic Fur Parents

Being told your dog is diabetic can be a very overwhelming diagnosis.  We are told we must give injections, food may need to be changed, treats are a no-no. Typically vets do not know a lot about managing diabetes at home, to no fault of their own. Diabetes can be complicated to manage and vets learn a little about a lot!

I knew nothing about diabetes, and when I look back at my lack of knowledge I often think, “I wish I knew that back then!” Luckily, Lucy was very forgiving of my errors and she thrived once I learned a bit about diabetes. Here are some tips that I pass along to new members in our group.

Insulin

Vetsulin / Caninsulin is insulin made specifically for dogs and cats. This insulin is a U40 insulin and you need to use U40 syringes with it. This insulin MUST be shaken to mix properly. U40 syringe caps are always red. This insulin has two peaks even though it is an intermediate acting insulin. The first peak helps with food spikes.

NPH insulin is a human intermediate acting insulin with one peak, this insulin must be rolled gently to mix to a milky consistency. Common brands are Humulin and Novolin. These are U100 insulins and use a U100 syringe. Caps for U100 syringes are orange.

ALWAYS READ PRODUCT INSERTS! Product inserts are written by the manufacturer, so they know what they are talking about. If you look up product inserts online, make sure they are the most current insert.

Make sure you warm the filled syringe before injecting insulin by holding between your fingers for a minute or so. Cold insulin can burn!

Food / Insulin Schedule

Food and insulin should be given every 12 hours. It is common for dogs to be started on insulin once per day because vets want to see if the pancreas is still functioning somewhat, and how blood glucose levels do with insulin therapy. After curves are run dogs are switched to insulin every 12 hours.

We do have one hour to work with, so 11 – 13 hours is acceptable if you have issues that arise.

Weighing Food

Insulin and food work together so it is important to have consistent food at mealtime given. Measuring in cups is not precise, especially when feeding dry food. Dry food is typically higher in carbs than wet food. Carbs raise blood glucose levels, so being precise and weighing in grams is suggested.

Test Blood Glucose Levels

I have written blogs about testing blood glucose levels and why it is so important. I will quickly repeat why we need to be able to test BG levels.

• We know that we can safely given insulin.
• If our dog is acting off we know whether it is due to hypoglycemia.
• Constant high blood glucose can be due to infections like UTI and we can get our pup into the vets’ office for a check-up.

To read more please follow this link: https://shoppettest.com/blog/the-importance-of-home-testing/

Testing Urine for Ketones

This is so important, especially for newly diagnosed dogs. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a very serious illness that is fatal if not treated immediately by the vet. When there is not enough insulin to work with glucose, the body produces an acid called ketones. Ketones build up and cause diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Ketone urinalysis strips are easy to use and tell us if our dog has ketones or not. Take a few minutes out to read this blog on ketones: https://shoppettest.com/blog/ketones-and-diabetic-ketoacidosis-dka-when-and-why-you-need-to-test-ketones-in-urine/

Support

Like I said above, I knew nothing about diabetes when Lucy was diagnosed. I felt very alone, overwhelmed and at times scared. About a month after diagnosis, I just joined several forums and quickly learned that what I was feeling was normal! There are Facebook groups you can join and there are diabetic forums you can join as well.

Read

There is a lot to learn, so I suggest reading as much as you can, digesting that info and taking breaks. Since our dogs are considered Type 1 diabetics, I read about human T1 diabetics and diet. We can cross reference a lot of information.

If you are reading something and it makes your head spin, take a break. Eventually you will have a lightbulb moment and the material will start making sense.

PetTest sponsors our DDO-U: Diabetic Dog Owners University, just about everything you need to know about diabetic dogs is in the course. It is free (thanks to PetTest), there is no time limit and you can go back as much as you need to. Sign up for the course and if you have any questions, you can always email me, I am the course owner and an administrator.   https://ddo-u.thinkific.com/

Take a Deep Breath

Finally, I tell all new members of our Facebook group to take a deep breath! You are not hurting your dog; you are saving your dog’s life with every injection and every blood glucose test. Although this can be scary and overwhelming, it does get easier and I cannot adequately explain the bond you will create with your diabetic dog. Lucy and I became inseparable and I cherish the relationship that we had because of diabetes.

If you are looking for a Facebook community to join for support, I have been an admin in Diabetic Dog Owners for four years. You can also join Canine Diabetes Support and Information on Facebook as well.

For more conversations, photos, and giveaways check out PetTest on Facebook and Instagram.

Links to products for testing blood glucose levels:

PetTest 21 Gauge Twist Top Lancets: https://shoppettest.com/pettest-twist-top-lancets/

PetTest 21 Gauge Safety Lancets: https://shoppettest.com/pettest-safety-lancets/

Red-Dot Lancing Device: https://shoppettest.com/red-dot-lancing-device/

PetTest Genteel Painless Lancing Device: https://shoppettest.com/genteel-lancing-device/

PetTest Painless Glucose Monitoring System (PetTest Meter Kit and PetTest Genteel): https://shoppettest.com/pettest-meter-kit-with-genteel/

Link to Ketone Urinalysis Test Strips: https://shoppettest.com/ketone-strips-for-pets/