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If you do a search for dogs with diabetes, you are far more apt to come across articles about what to do so that your dog doesn’t end up diabetic.
It is somewhat more difficult to find accurate information of how to care for your dog once they have diabetes.
In this article we will discuss best practices and tips if you find yourself in this unfortunate situation.
Running a Curve
If your dog has received a diabetic diagnosis, your first task is to run a curve.
Our first tip is to run it yourself regardless of how intimidating it may be.
The Vet will offer to keep your dog overnight to run a curve but it is an expense you can avoid because it will never be as accurate as the curve you can run at home. The stress alone will effect your dogs numbers and throw off the curve.
To protect your dog’s eyesight longer, striving for a 200 for the bulk of the day is your goal number.
Overall safe ranges are between 100-250.
This ensures that even if your dog has a spurt of activity, he will still be in a relatively good spot.
The FreeStyle Libre is a great tool to run a curve for 14 days for your pup. You can save money by downloading the App on your phone versus buying the reader.
You will want to keep a journal and test regularly over the course of two weeks. Once you have reached your target number for the majority of the day, you will know the correct dose of insulin for your dog.
Never increase the units of insulin too rapidly. It must be done gradually. For example, if your dog is getting 2 units of insulin but you feel the numbers are still too high, you will want to increase slowly. You wouldn’t want to increase from 2 units to 10 units.
Slow and steady increases of half a unit are best practice when running your curve.
Types of Insulin
The most common insulin on the market for dogs today is Vetsulin.
It is given twice daily in 12-hour intervals and needs to be refrigerated.
U-40 insulin syringes are used with Vetsulin and Vetsulin must be shaken before using.
Novolin N has been known to be a cheaper alternative to Vetsulin and can be found at local Walmart stores.
U-100 insulin syringes are used with Novolin and it must be gently rolled and not shaken prior to use.
The syringes are not interchangeable, and you can never reuse a syringe.
You will need to run a new curve anytime you are making changes in insulin or foods.
Frozen green beans are a great snack that will not change the blood glucose levels.
What to do if numbers are too high
push water, contact vet if prolonged, weight loss and muscle wasting, elevated levels over 500 prolonged ketoacidosis, water must be available 24/7
What to do if numbers are too low
71-90 high protein snacks, 70 or lower syrup on gums, stumbling, wobbly, drunk appearance, monitor every 15 minutes until out of danger
Using Pet Urine Strips
utis, D-Mannose, ketones
Best testing systems
Alpha Trax, rice bag micro, elbows
test, feed, inject, if dog vomits you can’t take inuslin back
Diabetic Dogs and Cataracts
OcuGlo, Ophthalmologist, adjust well with sense of hear and smell,
Injections
Tent skin, 45-degree angle, sling, while eating, another person holding, bevel up, dosing guide
Tips and Tricks
the importance of exercise, hour window if you miss dose, back flanks, scruff of neck not recommended due to scarring, start dosing insulin once you have a diagnosis, don’t wait to start giving insulin, Insulin must be kept under 77 degrees, methyl b12 for diabetic neuropathy, consistent food, weigh it, viale rubber protector in case you drop insulin,
