Traveling with a Diabetic Dog
Traveling with a diabetic dog; for many of us this is a new experience and can be quite stressful, and I understand feeling stressed or anxious before going on a trip with a newly diagnosed diabetic dog. Ensuring that we have all their medications, supplies and any extras needed for any unforeseen circumstances helps make traveling with our sweet pups a more enjoyable experience!
Lucy was a traveler and camping was a passion. After Lucy was diagnosed with diabetes and pancreatitis we had camping trips planned so I made a list of supplies that I needed for Lucy. I printed this list and anxiously triple checked everything off to make sure I had not forgotten anything. I packed a variety of healthy treats and toppers to ensure I get her to eat since this was an issue sometimes when we traveled. The first night in the desert everything went smoothly. But the next morning Lucy was not interested in food so in comes my stress level! Diabetes was new to me at this point and all I knew is that she must eat to get insulin. I had to reduce insulin and her lack of appetite progressively got worse. Her blood glucose levels were high and she was refusing any topper I added to her food. She did not want my go-to toppers; Parmesan cheese, canned chicken breast or canned wet food. To say I was stressed out is an understatement. We decided that if Lucy did not eat we were going to end our trip early and go home. Out of desperation I grabbed a small dab of fat free cream cheese and made a gravy with some hot water, and voila she ate her entire dinner. Fat free cream cheese gravy became my go-to and she ate every meal for the balance of trip. Did this experience deter me from any future trips? No it did not, I just made sure that I had more options for Lucy. She loved camping; she was a people dog and loved to be with the group we camped with. Successive trips went well once I had a better grasp on managing diabetes and had some tricks under my belt.
I would like to share with you some tips and lists today to help make travelling with your diabetic pup easier and less stressful! Grab a cup of your favorite caffeinated beverage and let’s get to it!
Whenever I travelled with Lucy I overpacked supplies and this included extra syringes and an unopened vial of insulin. We had a portable refrigerator so I did not worry about insulin getting too warm. There are some great products out there to help keep insulin cold. The following are products that people use and have gotten good reviews:
Frio Insulin Cooling Case – Small, portable and easy to store. There are different versions and colors.
Medicool Insulin Protector Case – This case holds two bottles of insulin and keeps insulin cool for up to 16 hours.
Cooluli Classic 4 Liter Small Mini Fridge – A mini refrigerator that is large enough to store a 6 pack of cans. This can be used in an automobile (power port or cigarette lighter) or in your home using 110 electrical outlet. These coolers also come in some fabulous colors!
PetTest products that are great for traveling:
Vial Safe Vial Protectors – Keeps your insulin protected in case of accidental drops!
PetTest Eco-Friendly Premium Compostable Poop Bags with Dispenser – Let’s face it, who doesn’t need poop bags on hand?
Small Week Away Tote Bag (Small Dogs) and Large Week Away Tote Bag (Medium/Large Dogs) – Great tote bags for your dogs supplies.
Always have a written prescription for your dog’s insulin and syringes, even if you do not require an Rx for insulin. The USA no longer requires a prescription for NPH insulin (e.g., Humulin N, Novolin N) but when selling insulin for use in dogs the pharmacy can legally require a prescription. Some states require a prescription for syringes.
The following checklists are something I have used many times and share often. These checklists can be used for emergency preparedness as well. I have also included an over the counter medications list for dogs, and I did pack a medical kit with these OTC medications. Please make sure you speak to your vet before giving any over the counter medications to your dog.
(Click on pics below to take you to a printable PDF)
TRAVEL TIPS WHEN FLYING
Dogs checked in the cargo hold:
- Each Airline has specific rules for traveling with a dog. Some airlines allow dogs below in the cargo hold, others do not. There are specific rules for the type of pet carrier allowed. Check with your airline.
- If allowed, to travel with a Diabetic Dog in the cargo hold compartment it requires careful planning prior to the flight. Most airlines require the pet to be check in two hours or more prior to the flight departure time, this means that food and insulin must be completed prior to checking in your dog. No food or water will be available after checking in your dog. The length of the flight plus the added check in time may mean adjustments to your normal schedule of feeding and insulin time.
Dogs carried into the cabin:
- New US government regulations are in effect and require each airline to follow strict rules for allowing Pets in the cabin. Please check with your specific airline for the requirements.
- The size of your dog including the pet carrier must be small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of you. Pets in cabin must remain in the carrier the entire flight and are not allowed out.
- There is NO refrigeration on the aircraft, Insulin that is required to be kept cold must be carried on with a means of keeping it cold. TSA has specific rules about bringing Insulin through security checkpoints, check the TSA website for specific information. Some airlines may be able to offer a small amount of ice, but that can vary.
- Plan your travel day accordingly, your regular schedule of feeding and giving insulin may need to be adjusted slightly. Keep in mind security screening times at airports can be lengthy, your dog carrier requires individual screening and can take some extra time. You may need to leave early to the airport to allow for these.
- Most airports have pet relief stations, plan time to allow your dog to go potty before you go through the security checkpoints.
Dogs as Service Animals in the cabin:
- New US government regulations have very specific rules when traveling with a Service Animal. Please check with your airline about the specific rules. If your Service Animal is also Diabetic the same general rules apply about carrying Insulin through the security checkpoints as mentioned previously, check the TSA website for specific information about bringing Insulin through security.
A huge thank you to Ross for taking the time out to provide this important information for flying with a dog!
I hope that today’s blog helps you relax a bit more when planning a trip or getting ready to travel. For me, these lists really helped when travelling with Lucy. The Benadryl really came in handy when Lucy got bit by fire ants!
Until next week, stay cool and caffeinated!
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please start a conversation below.
If you are looking for a Facebook community to join for support, I have been an admin in Diabetic Dog Owners for four and a half years. You can also join Canine Diabetes Support and Information on Facebook as well.
Be sure to join the PetTest family on Facebook and Instagram. PetTest has fun, interactive posts AND they have fabulous giveaways every week!
For a printable version of this blog click here.