Best Glucometer For Testing Diabetic Dogs And Cats
With more people wanting to test their pet's blood sugar at home, I am often asked the following question: Can I use my human glucometer to measure my pet's blood sugar level? The answer is a definite maybe.
In my experience, the most common glucometer used in veterinary practice is the Alpha Trak by Abbott. This unit is designed specifically for animals - cats, dogs, ferrets, horses, rats and mice. Each batch of test strips comes with a code that is entered into the unit to help insure the accuracy of the results. It requires 0.6 microliters of blood which is easily obtained from most animals.
There are many other glucometers including the One Touch Ultra, Reli On Micro, Ascencia Contour, Accucheck Aviva and the Freestyle that some people use on animals even though they were designed for humans. Before using any of these devices, I strongly recommend testing it for accuracy. Draw enough blood from the animal to perform a blood glucose curve on the new device as well as the veterinary hospital's blood analyzer. Compare the results, i.e. blood glucose curves and pay special attention to the extremes i.e., high and low blood sugar levels, as this seems to be where the greatest differences occur.
No matter what kind of glucometer you have, I strongly recommend checking it against a reliable machine at least every six months to make sure it is still working properly. Never change your pet's insulin dosage without speaking to your veterinarian first. I know I sound like a broken record on this, but I had a client kill their pet with an insulin overdose. Watching that cat suffer and die left an indelible mark. Work collaboratively with your veterinarian to make sure this does not happen to your pet.
In my experience, the most common glucometer used in veterinary practice is the Alpha Trak by Abbott. This unit is designed specifically for animals - cats, dogs, ferrets, horses, rats and mice. Each batch of test strips comes with a code that is entered into the unit to help insure the accuracy of the results. It requires 0.6 microliters of blood which is easily obtained from most animals.
There are many other glucometers including the One Touch Ultra, Reli On Micro, Ascencia Contour, Accucheck Aviva and the Freestyle that some people use on animals even though they were designed for humans. Before using any of these devices, I strongly recommend testing it for accuracy. Draw enough blood from the animal to perform a blood glucose curve on the new device as well as the veterinary hospital's blood analyzer. Compare the results, i.e. blood glucose curves and pay special attention to the extremes i.e., high and low blood sugar levels, as this seems to be where the greatest differences occur.
No matter what kind of glucometer you have, I strongly recommend checking it against a reliable machine at least every six months to make sure it is still working properly. Never change your pet's insulin dosage without speaking to your veterinarian first. I know I sound like a broken record on this, but I had a client kill their pet with an insulin overdose. Watching that cat suffer and die left an indelible mark. Work collaboratively with your veterinarian to make sure this does not happen to your pet.
Posted by Dr Kris Nelson at 5/10/2010 3:17 PM 
Categories: Ask The Vet
Tags: dogs in home blood testing glucometer cats diabetes mellitus
Categories: Ask The Vet
Tags: dogs in home blood testing glucometer cats diabetes mellitus
very good information
Reply to this
Can you comment on the use of the Freestyle Lite test strips in the AlphaTrak meter? There quite a few postings on www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB and reviews on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/review/R3P6KHB9FZNNF/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm) that indicate that the results from both strips are within a few points in both cats and dogs.
TIA,
Alex
Reply to this
Freestyle Lite strips seem to work well with the Alpha Trak glucometer. Unfortunately, I cannot point to any scientific studies to verify the accuracy of these two products in dogs and cats, only my clinical experience. The most important thing to remember about glucometers and strips in humans and animals is to verify their accuracy before using them to make clinical decisions. Over the years I have encountered glucometers from several different companies that were defective. My motto is verify, verify and verify again.
Another factor to consider is elevation because some glucometers work better than others. If you live in a mountains, check with local veterinary clinics to see what works best before you buy.
Reply to this
My grandmother has been having difficulties finding WHAT BRAND, TYPE, GAUGE, LANCETS to check her 12 year old Pomeranian. He has been diagnosed with thyroid problems, and now diabetes. NO ONE IS ABLE TO GIVE ME AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT WILL BE ACCURATE IN MONITORING HIS BLOOD. We have a Bayer Contour and have made several attempts to use it on the dog's ears. My grandmother DID NOT want to use his paw. Our veterinarian stated ANY UNIT WILL WORK, did not have any in the clinic, or mention that altitude could be a factor. I am wondering where/who can help me find the proper meter for approximately 7,000 ft in elevation that will effectively work on a canine.
Reply to this
Is it normal for a vet to DISCOURAGE the owner of a diabetic dog from testing blood sugar at home? My dog was just diagnosed with diabetes this past week and during our discharge visit (she was hospitalized for 3 days) we asked about testing her at home and he told us that it really wasn't neccesary and that he has MANY diabetic dog patients and MAYBE one owner uses a monitor at home. Everything on the internet that I have read says it's important to test at home. I feel like I'm flying blind, I have no idea what her sugar levels are and it scares me. He told us that he was concerned about her resistance...when I took her to the vet initially her glucose level was 471, the next day it was still over 400 and by the third morning they got it to 289 which I was told was still high. He said most dogs do fine after regulation and 6 month apart blood glucose curves at the office.
Reply to this
Some veterinarians worry about owners overtreating and inducing a symogi response or hypoglycemia based upon home blood tests. This could happen if the owner is very anxious about blood testing and the pet picks up the anxiety. On the other hand, just bringing them to the clinic can bring about the same elevation in blood glucose. That is why I prefer to teach the owners how to test at home. I feel strongly that owners need to be educated as they will be the ones best able to help the animal live a good life despite the diabetes. I certainly would not wait six months to do a new blood glucose curve. This may well be a situation where a second opinion will be quite beneficial to you and your pet.
Reply to this
one of our dogs was just diagnosed on Oct. 30, and spent 5 days in the vet hospital. we were told the same thing but i think we are also a bit nervous about knowing that we will be able to manage her disease well. we obviously love her very much and want to do the absolute BEST we can but right now it is very difficult. She has already started being pretty unhappy with getting the insulin shots which increases our anxiety. Do you have any advice on how to make this transition process any easier since you are also new to this?
Reply to this
Hi Amy, this is Dr. Nelson. In the beginning, it is common to feel overwhelmed with all the information. It is also normal for the animal to be uncomfortable with the injections. They do not feel well themselves as the glucose levels have not yet stabilized in the proper range. With time, your dog will do better with the injections and you will also become more comfortable that you can do this and help your dog enjoy a great life.
Reply to this
Hi Amy
When I read your comment about your dog being unhappy with the insulin shots, it reminded me of how my boy was the first year...then I found a piece of advice that made a huge difference - save a couple of pieces of the food ( in our case, the WD Hills kibble) ready to give as a treat right afterwards. Believe me, it really helps and they seem to then 'look forward' to the shot, knowing what is to follow!
Hope it works for you.
All the best
Sandra
Reply to this
Hi Crystal,
My dog was diagnosed with diabetes a few months before yours. Fortunately, I had the help of my vet and my doctor friend to treat his diabetes and prevent blindness. If you need some help with diabetes maintenance and blood testing at home, please try my blog at www.protecttheeyes.blogspot.com.
Reply to this
Dr. Nelson,
My jack russell female was just diagnosed with diabetes yesterday. We are very overwhelmed and worried about her. Her glucose was 358 and my vet wants to start her on insulin this week after doing a fasting test. Would there be anyway that we could try to control this with diet instead of insulin?
Reply to this
Hi, it is normal to feel overwhelmed when the diagnosis is first thrust upon you. I hope it helps if I assure you that with time, you will get very comfortable in managing the disease. I'm afraid dogs with Diabetes are different than humans in that we really can not control them with diet. Of course, that is not always possible with people either. Insulin is the answer and you will get very adept at delivering it. Please do not stress too much about always hitting the exact time for injections. You and your pet need to find a balanced approach to managing Diabetes while still having an enjoyable life together. By the way, pets can have wonderful lives and many great years with thoughtful owners - which it sounds like you are. Please see all the posts in this section for more detail. If you wouldn't mind, please say a prayer for me too. I'm headed to the hospital for what I hope is the final round of chemotherapy.
Reply to this
My grandmother has a Pomeranian dog who is approximately 12 years old. We have had extensive plood work done on him at the veterinary's office. He is being treated for thyroid problems, and now, diabetes. The vet was adamant that ANY glucometer would work properly on dogs. We've purchased a Bayer Contour. We have tried several times to check his blood with this meter, and are not able to draw ANY blood. We suspect the needle is not long enough to work effeciently, or the safety cap is an issue. I have also contacted Bayer who advised me they DO NOT MAKE AND/OR CARRY any type of canine diabetes monitoring and had no advise. Please help us find the proper equipment to use on our dog. No one I have contacted has any suggestions, informations, etc. regarding this. INCLUDING THE VET which is most irritating and confusing.
Thank You,
Harley
Reply to this
Dr Nelson
My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, has had diabetes for about 2 years now.
Initially the vet just 'guessed' how many units of insulin to give...which she then changed on a monthly basis, as I had to go back for checks for some months. Then I read about the 'curve' that needs to be done over a period, to correctly find the best dosage and took him to another vet to do this. Unfortunately, he wouldn't eat so there was 'guesswork' involved despite the curve. He seemed tired on the new dosage and I went back twice. Told to keep it the same for a bit longer. Then he had a seizure, rushed to the vet...I was told he was epileptic! Despite their medication he then had a very bad night of seizures, probably 30 or so. In the end I was referred to an expert who put him on human insulin twice a day, who stressed it was best not to use a glucose meter. Who also stressed that I should give him just 2 meals of WD hills food, per day..not to attempt to make my own food up for him ( brown rice, chicken, vegetables)at all. The little lad has done well, to be honest, but this past year he has started to really look for extra food during the day. So much so, that I have started to reduce just a little bit, the dosage that he has. I have noted the following:
Firstly, when he has no extra food at all during the day, he has 'wobbly' episodes, and his vision seems to suffer...as soon as he has a touch of food, this stops, and his sight improves. It was getting so frequent that in the end he was having twice the amount of food per day and I felt this was counter productive. So I have now reduced the dosage further, he was on 6.5 per day. Now is on 5.5 units og Umuline NPH. At night he used to have 7 but now is on 6.5. His weight is 10.5 and that has always been constant.
NOW, my current concern is after a visit to the vet just yesterday...
This vet tells me to split the food into 3 and give three times per day, as per the problems I've had. I am to increase the dosage by 0.5 morning and eve as his count was shown to be too high ( He does get terrified in the vets and I am concerned that the reading may be affected by his extreme stress)
The dosages have not been changed yet. This morning I looked at my dogs eyes and the whites looked 'red' ( one vet did tell me that human insulin differs from the Caninsulin because it doesn't last 12 hrs and so it is normal for levels to go up at the end of the period)just before he ate. After feeding him, I looked again and they were much paler - surely, if excess sugar was the problem, the red would stay like that or worsen after food, until the insulin was given??
This morning he has had a quarter of the daily amount of food, I aim to give him the next quarter towards the 'low' period between 12-1400 and then the other half tonight.
PLEASE HELP - what do you think about the advice I have been given?
I feel, instinctively, that the dosage he is about right (he was on antibiotics the past 40 days and I think it will settle d
Reply to this
Wow, I am sorry for your dog and what he has been through with diabetes. It is usually not this tough to find a maintenance dose and get them stabilized. I would recommend taking him to a veterinary internal medicine specialist as soon as possible. Although he may have epilepsy, neurologic disorders such as snapping at imaginary flies are common in this breed. The seizures could also result from hypoglycemia. I am especially concerned about a symogi response from the dosing schedule you described. It will help the internist if you are able to bring copies of all your medical records to the appointment. I hope the internist can get to the bottom of it quickly.
Reply to this
Thanks for your advice.
I am sorry , I forgot to mention that the seizures all stopped when he was put on the better dosage of human insulin...it was obviously due to the change in the insulin they recommended.
He had never had epilepsy before and thankfully, never since.
It si difficult for us, as we live in France and they do not appreciate our 'opinions' ! I am very happy to tell them, despite that, however, just a little unsure 'who' to turn to here.
Incidentally, the first day that I reduced his food, ready for the top up midday...went very wrong - fine up to , and after, having the second meal...then he lost his balance, half collapsed, and only by feeding him regularly ( carrot and some more wd a bit at a time) through the day, did he get through it!
Back on two meals and more stable.
I will let you know
Sandra
Reply to this
Dear Sandra,I feel your pain.
I have 10.5 years old miniature schnauzer Zeus , which was diagnosed with diabetes 1.5 years ago. As a result of diabetes, he developed a cataract in one of his eyes and went blind on one eye. We decided to “invest “ in eye surgery and he is back to playing ball and chasing rabbits on the backyard.
I remember how scared and worried I was for my “baby”. As was suggested by the vet, at the beginning we started to give him 3 units of insulin twice a day, switching to 5 units after 2 weeks. Glucose curve was done to see how he responds to the dose increase. In 2 more weeks we added another 2 units, and then another 2. Basically it took us 5 month to figure out the right dose.
As of now, Zeus gets 10 units of human insulin (Humulin HPN) at 7 a:m and 5 p:m. Humulin has to be given approximately 12 hours apart. We feed him Hills WD high fiber diet. I measure his glucose before each shot using AlphaTRAK glicometer, to make sure that I will not put him in coma because of low sugar.
In my opinion it is very important to have a meter at home and monitor the progress of the dose increase and once a month to run a glucose curve. To do the curve, you measure the level at the time of feeding/shot and then every 1 or 2 hours after that until the next feeding. My pet’s glucose goes from 230-250 before food/shot to 90-100 at the low peak, then going back to 230-250. The level of glucose is the lowest after 4-5 hours after insulin administration.
I was surprised that your vet told you to feed your dog 3 times a day. Do you give insulin shot 3 times a day as well? Food and insulin have to go together! If you feed a dog, glucose goes up and administration of insulin brings glucose down. The shaking that you described, was a result of low glucose level and you should give some treats to your pet right away to bring glucose level up or take him to emergency.
All above mentioned was the experience I went through. I cannot tell you what you should do. But I am sure of the following:
1.Feed high fiber diet (Hills WD)
2.If your dog is on Humulin, feed 2 times a day approximately 12 hours apart and give insulin shot after feeding.
3.Increase the insulin level by 1- 2 units every 1-2 weeks until the right dose is found.
4.Monitor glucose level before each shot, once a day or once a week.
5.Run blood glucose curve once a month or 2 to see if any dose adjustment needed.
I wish you all the best and hope your little friend will bring you happiness for many years.
Reply to this
Dear Irina
Firstly, a huge thank you for your words of hope and encouragement. I cannot tell how very much I appreciate it!
It was really helpful to read about your little schnauzer Zeus. I bet he is such a happy lad now - how awful it must have been for you all! We have just had some weeks of our Chip struggling with poor vision, because of a slight change in his insulin shots ( his anal gland infection got worse and his neck ganglion had swollen with some infection and our vet insisted that I increase the insulin or he would suffer more with other issues that he wouldn't be treating until the sugar level readings improved!) I have to say, I only increase a quarter of a unit each time rather than an entire unit at each shot and these sight problems occurred.
What I have done though, is to buy a meter in order to monitor his diabetes...that has shown that the higher levels of insulin do actually give him higher sugar level readings. However, I have to say that I have struggled to get a sufficient dose of blood at times! I was shown the method on the ear - where do you take the sample from?
Also, by looking through many forums on the net,I have discovered that pumpkin and green vegetables plus a touch of Cod liver Oil(added to his meal of WD Hills) have made a difference to his infection and I do believe that is improving every day! Just had a delivery of Pure Coconut Oil too and have heard that it is terrific.
Secondly, do please forgive my delay in getting a reply to you. I have had so much happening, some of which involved my little lad, and preoccupied a great deal of any spare time I had available...you know how it is - time seems to stand still when you are caring for your loved ones - nothing else is more important at that moment and you just stick with it to get them through!
Thank you again for your advice, it will help me take the next step forward I am sure, as I hadn't realised that it was so important to take the reading before the shot ( is the Umuline HPN the same as the Umuline NPH, which we use? I know ours works less towards the latter part of the 12 hours, for example)
Hoping that you and your loved ones are well.
Take care
Sandra
Reply to this
Get you dogs off this crappy prescription kibble and switch to a home cooked or raw low glycemic diet. It makes no sense to feed a dog unneeded carbohydrates and then use insulin to counteract the blood sugar increases due to carbohydrates. My father stayed with me for one month years before he died. He was insulin dependent and was eating the recommended diet. When I lowered his carbohydrate intake and included only low glycemic carbs, he needed almost no insulin for the month. Read the ingredients on these Rx diets and tell me why you would feed these to your dogs if you would not eat them yourselves? I managed to reverse my cats kidney failure by getting her off the kd diet and switching to completely raw and she has had normal BUN/creatnine readings since switching last year. Dogs and cats are carnivores and do not require carbohydrates. Think about it....what do wild dogs (coyotes, wolves, etc) eat in the wild? raw meat and there is no rice or any other carbohydrate in their diets.
Reply to this
Although I agree with restricting carbohydrates in diabetic animals, I do not agree with feeding raw diets of any kind to immunocompromised animals. In a healthy animal with a competent immune system, pathogens ingested through food are destroyed by a combination of defenses . . . hydrochloric acid in the stomach, B lymphocytes, T killer cells and macrophages to name just a few. In a immunocompromised patient, these systems are operating at less than 100% making the animal an easy target for infection. For example, neutropenic chemotherapy patients are not allowed to consume anything that is not cooked first to destroy bacteria and other pathogens. Other examples include the very young, old, animals with chronic disease like diabetes and animals on immunosuppressant medications.
As a veterinarian, the idea I sometimes hear that raw diets are the answer for every medical problem frustrates me because I have to treat the resulting infection. So far, all of the animals have made it. But I worry about the day my luck runs out. Therefore, please talk to your veterinarian before making any drastic changes to your pet's diet. They will be able to help you formulate a nutritious homemade diet if that is your preference.
Reply to this
I also need to correct a false statement contained in this comment. Cats are strict carnivores but dogs are omnivores like people.
Reply to this
My 8 year old Manchester Terrier was diagnosed with diabetes this last Monday. She spent two nights at the vet to regulate her insulin. She came home on 5 units of Humulin NPH twice a day. The vet has me using reagent strips to check her urine for glucose and ketone's. I am to increase or decrease her glucose by the results of the strips. First day the results were 1/10 of glucose and moderate ketones. I continued with the 5 units. Today it has been neg for glucose with only a trace of ketones. I dropped the insulin to 4 units tonight. I am feeding her Hills Prescription diet for diabetic dogs twice a day. She is allowed 2 treats a day also made by Hills. I am very nervous about using these strips. Are they accurate enough to use on a sliding scale for her insulin? Should I get a glucometer? I don't want to under or over give her insulin. She was very tired the first day home, but seems to be doing much better today. I am a nurse and would much rather work with a human than try to regulate a dogs insulin. I just don't know if I am doing any of this right. My vet is awesome, but after diagnosing my dog she left for vacation until Monday. So I feel kind of on my own with this right now. Any advise is much apreciated.
Reply to this
I personally do not recommend using urine glucose levels to dose insulin because of the possibility of the Somogyi syndrome. WIth a little training, anyone can learn to use a blood glucometer on their pet. Since you are a nurse, using a glucometer will be a snap. In the beginning, you will check your pet's blood sugar frequently. Once regulation is achieved, you can cut back and perform blood glucose curves when directed by your veterinarian.
I know it is very stressful when your pet is first diagnosed with diabetes but hang in there. I promise you it will get better.
Reply to this
Hi there Tammie
I really feel for you - our beloved pets rely on us but cannot tell us how they feel etc! I have used the urine strips for ages, but just as a check on the ketones really - my vet told me that the can show a reading which is the average of the sugar levels since the last urination, so certainly never alter insuline based on it.
I do, still, have problems myself in getting my dog's levels right as he has infections with the ears or anal glands on and off, which affects things.
I would love to ask what reading on the glucometer we should all expect to see before feeding , when a dog is on different types of insulin ( can a vet advise us all please??) Also, my vet has always told me to feed my pet then give insulin half an hour later...seems a long time, so have always done 20 mins later. Yet have never heard of anyone else doing the same...
Follow your instincts, too...best advice I would give. You know your dog better than anyone else. The look in their eyes, the gait etc, will all help you.
All the best
Sandra
Reply to this
Thank you for sharing your experience Sandra. You asked about the blood glucose levels. I like it to keep my diabetic patients between 100 and 200 with the nadir (lowest blood sugar level) occurring halfway between the two daily insulin injections. That means the blood glucose will be on the high end of the range, usually between 150 and 200, when you feed the pet and give them insulin. (As you know, always feed first and then adjust the insulin based on how much the pet consumed.) I know that 80 to 120 is the ideal blood glucose level but tight regulation like this often leads to life-threatening hypoglycemia. I try to keep my patients above 100 at all times. You also mentioned different types of insulin. I assume you mean different types for different dogs, not one dog on several types of insulin. Just to be clear, I do not recommend using several different types of insulin on one patient because it makes regulation very difficult. Find one that works the best for your pet and stick with it. Last, I wholeheartedly agree with you that the pet's family knows them better than anyone else. That's why I encourage owners to call me if their pet is acting abnormally even if their blood glucose levels are acceptable. Often times they have an infection, usually in the urinary bladder, brewing.
Thanks to all of you for taking such great care of your pets. I believe there is a special place in heaven for people who work as hard as you all do to provide thoughtful care for diabetic animals.
Reply to this
Dear Tammie,
I agree with with Dr. Nelson on the use of urine strips. It only shows you that glucose is high but you can not determine the exact glucose reading. Also, I would not change the level of insulin If you do not know glucose level. My mini schnauzer is 11 years old. He was diagnosed with diabetes 1.5 years ago. From my experience I can tell you that you have to be consistent with food and insulin administration. My schnauzie gets food and insulin at 6a:m and 5 p:m. I also measure his glucose before each meal and insulin administration. He is such a good patient and does not mind us checking it so often. It just gives me a piece of mind that I will not overdose him, and I can leave him home alone knowing that his glucose will not drop to dangerous levels. I remember how stressed and scared I was when he got diagnosis. I can promise you that in a month or so it will become easier to take care of your friend. I will be glad to help with any advise. My schnauzie lives with diabetes for 1.5 years so can your friend if you have lots of love and patience and of course do not mind waking up at 6 a:m on Sunday :-)
Reply to this
Thank you for your quick response. I to was worried about using the strips. I ordered a pet glucometer this morning and it should be here by Monday. I just didn't understand how I could regulate her insulin without knowing exactly what her blood sugar was. And you have to admit they make it easy for nurses. If it's between this and this you give this. LOL! Then my dog gets diabetes and I have no idea what to give.
Thank you again and I will continue to read these blogs to keep learning about it. I am keeping a diary on all of this. I am including all her readings, insulin given, her response and behaviors. I make look back one day and say, "Geez, that wasn't as bad as I thought."
Thank you again,
Tammie
Reply to this
Thank you for the kinds words. Keeping a diary is a great idea for all pets with chronic medical problems.
Reply to this
Thank you everyone for your advice and encouragement. I will say again, it's much easier to deal with a human pt than a 4 legged one. I have learned so much the last week and still have so much to learn. One thing I learned this weekend was that I have to police my house. Sat. when I came home Sheba had found a way to get to the dog food while I was gone. Sunday she found mints I didn't even know I had. I need to explain that Sheba was a rescue dog and tends to solve her on problems. If she wants it she will find a way to get to it. She has been known to unzip bags just to see what's in them. And can open cabinets. I had already removed all the treats from the house that I gave her before her diagnoses. Never dreamed I had to lock up the dog food and go around to see if there was anything else she might find.
Thank you again. I am sure I will have more questions and am so glad you are all here.
Reply to this
Yesterday we had to take down the crab apple tree from my backyard. Unfortunately I had to sacrifice the tree because my diabetic dog likes to eat the apples when they fall on the ground and his glucose levels go up.
Reply to this
Sorry to hear about your tree. My parents have red apple trees on their ranch and their dog loves them. Thankfully, she is not diabetic. I am getting better monitoring Sheba's glucose with the glucometer. She also tolerates it well. So far I have been able to keep her glucose levels between 105-134. I did mess up however. I did not realize that even when her glucose was normal I needed to give her insulin. When it was 105 I was afraid to give her insulin and go to work. When I got home it was 478. Don't know what I was thinking. I always feed her with her insulin shot. Won't do that again.
Reply to this
Wow, 105 to 134 is excellent glycemic control! Keep up the good work.
Reply to this
For all of you new to treating your dogs or cats with diabetes....Do not fear as you can do this!! My cat has had diabetes for 6 years. He is now either 16 or 17 years old and doing great. I live in a city where the entire vet community discourages people from checking their pets sugars at home. BOGUS! You must check it at home or you will be flying blind. Do endocrinologists tell their diabetic patients to check their own sugars? Well then why not pets too? (Money). OK enough said about that. I have used Abbott Freestyle for years. I have recently learned the importance of testing your pet at same time has lab work done to ensure accuracy of your home device as they can have issues. Still, you must check at home. I live in Kansas City and we are a bit behind here in the vet world. Best of luck.
Reply to this
Dr. Nelson,
What kind of food would you recommend to feed canine mini schnauzer who is a diabetic and on chemotherapy battling lymphoma. Unfortunately he is out of remission just after 7 weeks of chemo.
He is currently on WD Hills which was recommended by his vet. I know that WD is usually recommended to diabetic dogs but reading the label I was surprised to see that it has high % of carbs (51%). I recently found EVO chicken and turkey food which does not contain grains and low in carbs (21%). EVO has higher fat content 24% v.s 9% WD Hills. I was told that higher fat content might lead to pancreatitis.
I would like to know your opinion on that.
Thank you for your time,
Irina
Reply to this
Hello Irina, as a cancer survivor myself, I'm always sad to hear of animals or people who are fighting the disease. This is a great question. I will do a blog post in the next several days on the topic of diet and cancer. But for now, you should stick with Hill's WD.
Reply to this
Dr. Nelson,
I am a Firefighter/Paramedic in the state of Florida. I am very familiar with using glucometers, lancets, and test strips on humans. I have never attempted this on an animal however. My parents have a small Cocker Spaniel; ten years old. Whom is showing signs of diabetes. Polydipsia, in a cool environment without exertion, and polyuria. She has a bad habit of getting into human food when no one is looking. She ate an entire container of chocolate chip cookies (24 in total) the other day. I KNOW chocolate is very, very, very bad for dogs, (Theobromine). Not to mention the amount of sugar in the cookies. She is a very intelligent dog. She's figured out how to hop on chairs, and over to the counter top to get to food. So to summarize, my main questions are:
1. Can dog's develop Kussmaul's respirations as humans do in a Diabetic Ketoacidotic state?
2. Where is a good place to test a BGL on a Cocker Spaniel?
3. What are the normal blood glucose ranges on a Cocker Spaniel?
Thank you for your information, it has been extremely helpful.
Reply to this
As you know PU/PD may be a sign of several diseases including Cushings disease, renal disease and diabetes. In answer to your questions: 1) Yes KDA dogs will try to compensate for the metabolic acidosis with a respiratory alkalosis, i.e. Kussmaul breathing. 2) My favorite spot is the accessory carpal pad located behind the wrist. Since it is non-weight bearing, the pad is soft and easy to use. The ear works well also. 3) The normal BG range for dogs is similar to humans. The normal range varies between labs and equipment but generally it is 80 to 120. Due to the stress of handling/restraint for blood draws, it is not uncommon to see elevated BG levels, especially in cats. From what you have described, I strongly recommend you see a veterinarian for a CBC, Superchem, T4 and UA on this cocker. If she is diabetic, with your training and experience you are perfectly suited to monitor her treatment at home
Reply to this
I test my dog on her upper inner lip. I pull her lip up and dry it off where I am going to prick. I was told there are no nerve endings there. I believe that because my dog does not fight and sits very still while I do it
Reply to this
Dr. Nelson,
We just found out our Australian Terrier is diabetic about 4 weeks ago. Since then I have been online trying to find out everything I possibly can about diabetic dogs. There is so much conflicting information out there I'm more confused everyday.
She was diagnosed because she was losing her eyesight very quickly. The vet put her on 4 units twice a day (every 12 hr) she's been back twice for glucose checks and she seems to be doing good, she was at 105 the first time and 129 the second. The vet doesn't seem to be overly concerned so I'm not at this point. However I have her scheduled for cataract surgery next week (she has pretty much lost her eyesight) and I want to make sure her glucose stays stable so the cataracts do not return. Should I get a glucometer and take her levels everyday? And I've been reading a lot about a glucose curve. What is involved in that, and can I do it at home or does she have that done at the vets office. She gets very stressed when she goes, and I'm sure that effects her levels.
Sorry if I am rambling, but I am so concerned its been an adjustment for the whole family and I just want her to have a long and happy life. She is only 6.
Reply to this
Yes, I would highly recommend that you purchase a glucometer and monitor your dog's blood glucose levels at home. It is easy to do, allows you to monitor her much more closely and will save you money over the long run. A blood glucose curve is a graph of your dog's glucose levels taken every two hours over a 24 hour period. Once you have a glucometer, you can easily perform this at home and then have your veterinarian interpret it for you. I know the diagnosis is a bit overwhelming in the beginning. Hang in there! It will get better.
Reply to this
Thank you for clearing things up a bit. I will definitely purchase a glucometer immediately.
Hopefully she will be able to see again after Monday, that will definitely make things a lot better!!
Reply to this
Paula,
I understand how you feel because I went through the same scenario you have.
My mini schnauzer was diagnosed with a diabetes when he was 8 years old. I was as confused and frustrated as you because I was afraid to loose my "child".
I did glucose curve myself using Abbott Alphatrak glucose meter. The meter is more expensive but it is calibrated for animal use. You can use human glucose meters but the reading is going to be 10-30% different because human meters are not validated for animal use.
If you decide to buy human glucose meter, you can compare it to the one your doctor uses at your next visit ( I am pretty sure they use Alphatrak). This way you can see what % difference is between your human glucosemeter and Alphatrak.
I did not want any confusions that is why I bought Alphatrak. I also used Amason to by test strips. My husband or myself took reading every time before the meal. This way we could adjust the insulin by 1 unit if his glucose was lower or add 1 unit if would jump up.
I did glucose curve myself obtaining the blood from the ear. Your vet can show you how to do it.
Glucose curve is done taking glucose measurement every 1 to 2 hours for 12 hours and then making the curve using those measurements. For example if you feed your dog at 7a:m, take the measurement at 7, 9, 11, 12, 1p:m, 3, 5 and before evening meal. It should give you a good picture of how high the reading is before the meal and how low it is at the low peak which should be 6-8 hours after insulin administration.
I used excel program to plot the data and deriving the curve. 105 and 129 are very good readings for a diabetic dog if it is taken at the down peek of the curve.
We also went through cataract surgery and were very happy with it. It made our schnauzie happy and active again. We did both eyes, even though he still had eyesight in one eye. We just did not want to go through surgery again later.
Do not be scared by diabetes. Even though your life will be restricted because you have to give shots at a certain time ( we did it between 6-7a:m and 5-6 p:m), and it involves expense of insulin and test strips, it was worth it.
Our schnauzie lived with diabetes for 2.5 years. Unfortunately we lost him to very resistant lymphoma last year. Now he is in heaven. My heart is still aching.
I will be glad to help with any questions you have about cataract surgery or diabetes. I live in Chicago area and can give you my e-mail, phone or Skype if you would like.
Sorry if I was not clear with my writing, English is not my native.
Irina
Reply to this
Irina,
Thank you so much for all of your support and information. I'm very sorry to hear about your little schnauzer, that is just heart breaking.
I really appreciate the info on the cataract surgery. I am scared about the diabetes, but the surgery is keeping me up at night. I just want her to be able to see again. She lost her eyesight so quickly, she's as confused as I am. Her surgery is on Monday morning.
I did get a glucometer yesterday, and I'm going to try the curve today. It's a human one so hopefully it works well. I will ask the vet to compare it with theirs.
I am also confused about the diet I have her on. It seems everyone here is using the Hills WD I have Daphne on the ID she's been on it for quite a while for her sensitive digestive track. The vet said I could keep her on that. She eats dry food, and not all at once she grazes all day. I give her some canned ID (1/4 of a can) before her injection. I also found a great treat recipe online for her, she loves them, so I give her one after her injection. She almost seems to look forward to her shot since she knows she gets her canned food before, and a treat after.
Thank you again for all the information you gave me. I will let you know how her surgery goes.
Paula
P.S. Your English is better then mine!!!!
Reply to this
Dear Paula,
Do not worry about cataract surgery. It will be a miracle for your Daphne. She will get her freedom of movement back. We picked our Zeus back from the surgery and could see the difference right away.
For his diabetes Zeus was on Hills WD diet. He also got boiled chicken breast as a treat.
Broccoli and cauliflower can be given as well.
Just remember that with diabetes consistency is a clue. Same food at the same time, and the glucose level monitoring, is all you need to keep your Daphne healthy. God bless you and good luck.
Reply to this
Dear Irina,
Thank you for your words of encouragement. Daphne had her surgery yesterday. She is doing well. I think she can already see. She has a cone collar on so she's a bit frustrated. There's a lot of after care (eye drops and such) but she taking it well. How did your Zeus do with all of this?
I just thank God for modern veterinary medicine!!
Thank you again, you have been wonderful support.
Paula
Reply to this
That's great news. I am so happy that Daphne's surgery went well. I am not sure what kind of cone she is wearing but I find my patients do better in the clear ones. When I use the opaque ones, they seem depressed. Please give her a big hug for me.
Reply to this
Thank you for the well wishes and hugs!. She went on her first postoperative today, and the dr was very pleased. He said it helps that she's younger. She is wearing something called a comfy collar it's not as soft as it looked online but it definitely better then those stiff plastic ones. I wish it was clear!! But I think it's better then the plastic. Thanks again
Reply to this
Paula I am happy to hear that the surgery went well.
Zeus had to wear collar for a month after the surgery. He did not like it at first but then adjusted to the inconvenience. It was a tough month especially at night when he was trying to jump on the bed but couldn't . He woke me up at night a lot. It was like I had a newborn at home.
Zeus was on 3 different kinds of eye drops. One anti inflammatory, another was antibiotic and another from glaucoma, as he had high pressure in one eye.
He was a very good patient. I miss him sooooooo much.
Enjoy the time with your girl.
Reply to this
I'm sure you miss Zeus terribly. Do you think you will ever be able to get another dog?
Daph is doing really well, she is getting used to all the post-op care. She's a trooper!!This surgery truly is a miracle.
Irina, you have been a god send. I don't know anyone who has been through all of this, and your words of encouragement has been invaluable to me.
Thank you so much
Reply to this
My ferret Shock was recently diagnosed with insulinoma. I had purchased the Reli On glucose meter on Thursday. I decided to practice a couple of test strips on him and they both came back in the 30s. Yesterday morning he had crashed. I rushed him to the vet and I brought along my meter to get a reading from theirs to compare with mine. His b/g was at 19 and mine read 34. That's a 15 pt difference.
So my question is this. I never ever used a blood meter. With the 15 pt difference will it always be 15 under the reading on the monitor or can it be 15 over the reading on the monitor or can it go both ways?
Reply to this
In my experience with glucometers, they are not accurate at the high or low end of the range. They work the best in the middle of the bell curve, from approximately 60 to 400. I would strongly recommend your pursue surgical removal of the insulinoma as soon as possible. It is very difficult to maintain blood glucose levels with an insulinoma.
Reply to this
I would appreciate any advice. My 10 year old Dalmatian was diagnosed as diabetic 6 weeks ago. (This was straight after my lab was put to sleep and my cat was run over and killed). She was rushed to the vets with ketoacidosis. My vet had a terrible time trying to stabilise her. She seemed immune to normal insulin and eventiually the only insulin that worked was bovine insulin. She went blind practically overnight. Eventually she was stabilised with one injection of 28 units and she is fed twice a day. I asked my vet if it would help to give two injections but she said the Curves that she had taken did not indicate that this would help. Anyway she seems stable despite just undergoing cataract surgery - she was hospitalised for a few days. This hasn't been a great success because apparently she had significant retina deterioration although there was no indication before the diabetes. But at least she can see more than she coould a couple of weeks ago. We are still on the eye drop regime for another few weeks. I'm in the UK and we don't seem to be encouraged to use a glucometer at home. But I am seriously tempted to get one. I know you can get fixated on these things but surely it's better than guesswork. I have to say I wouldn't dream of altering the insulin dose until I spoke to my vet first. But it would be helpful to know what's going on. Any advice would be appreciated. I especially wanted to know if it is quite normal with bovine insulin to give one daily injection as oppposed to two. I know some insulins are longer lasting than others. Many thanks.
Reply to this
I am sorry about all of your pets. Losing one is tough enough but two and then having another develop health problems - that's really tough. I strongly recommend monitoring blood glucose at home with a glucometer. It is easy and provides better management of diabetes. Has your dog been tested for hyperadrenalcorticism (Cushings Disease)? In my experience, this is the most common cause of insulin resistance. I hope that helps!
Reply to this
Yes the vet tested her for Cushings and it was negative. I'll probably go with the glucometer. Just wondered if you had any comments on the one daily injection. My vet who is excellent did not see any advantage in two given the results of my dog's glucose curves. Thought it might be something to do with bovine insulin.
Reply to this
Bovine insulin is generally not used in dogs because the structural differences induce antibody formation and resistance. Dogs, pigs and humans share similar insulin structure while bovine insulin is more similar to cats. Which type of bovine insulin are you using, PZI or lente? Since bovine PZI has an unpredictable onset of action and duration in the dog, I have never used it in that species. In my opinion, if you are using bovine PZI then home testing is a must because it is unpredictable in the dog.
Reply to this