Monitoring glucose and ketones in urine

Your vet may ask you to monitor your diabetic dog by regularly testing samples of its urine.

What you need

1. Clean containers for collecting urine.

2. Urine dipsticks recommended by your vet.

3. A place to record results.

To Collect Urine

1. Collect urine samples from your dog a few times a week at different times of day. The best times to collect urine are in the morning and afternoon before feeding and at night just before bedtime.

2. Take your dog out for a walk on a lead.

3. Have a clean container ready to collect a sample when your dog urinates.

To Test urine using urine dipsticks

1. Follow the instructions for the dipsticks you are using, especially for the time to read the results.

2. Place the dipstick in the container with the urine and soak the test pads.

3. Remove the dipstick and tap dry.

4. Read the result after the time specified on the stick bottle (usually 1 minute).

5. Hold the stick against the chart on the dipstick container, and compare colours.

6. Record the results including time of collection and times of insulin injections given for that day.

Diabetes in Dogs : Treatments

The main component in treating diabetes in dogs is their diet. A high-fiber, carb-moderate diet can put dog diabetes into remission. This means time to stop the table scraps and talk to your vet about the best dog food. Watch for foods that are advertised as light, as they tend to be higher in carbs than you want. Some vets will also prescribe insulin supplements for mealtimes, or a fat-restricted diet for dogs that also have pancreatitis. Occasionally, oral medications may be prescribed .

After your pet's diet has been regulated, you may have to give your dog regular insulin injections. There are many animal and synthetic insulin brands used to treat diabetes in dogs. The most common is probably Caninsulin or Vetsulin, but don't be surprised if your veterinarian prescribes a human insulin instead.

Treatment for diabetes in dogs should start slowly and conservatively, largely because an overdose of insulin can kill your dog in just minutes. You should buy a blood glucose meter for your dog and test him yourself, as urine strips aren't accurate enough to monitor glucose levels. Follow your vet's advice; they will probably tell you that your pet's glucose level should remain between 100-180 mg/dL, preferably toward the lower end. Readings over 250 should be called in to the veterinarian, as that is where serious damage can result. It takes experience to maintain your dog's glucose levels.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), marked by lethargy, confusion, loss of bladder and bowel control, vomiting, and seizures, can be treated by rubbing honey or corn syrup on your pet's gums and rushing them to the vet. Continue rubbing the sweets on their gums on the way; this could be a lifesaving treatment. Low blood glucose (40 mg/dL) without symptoms should be treated by giving your pet treats right away. Allow your dog to drink as much water as they want, and don't worry that their drinking too much.

With the proper care, your diabetic dog can have a normal and healthy life.

Diabetes in Dogs : Quick Tips

Diabetes in dogs is on the increase. There little difference between diabetes in humans and in dogs. What can you do to protect your pet regarding diabetes? Here are some helpful tips.

Take a quick look at how and what you feed your dog. Are they being fed the proper diet? Are they drinking excessive amounts of water? Has your dog been gaining a great deal of weight suddenly, or likewise, losing a lot of weight for no reason? Do you notice them urinating more than normal? These could all be symptoms or an early warning sign of diabetes in dogs. I would suggest an annual medical check up for your pet to be sure.

If the results confirm your dog has diabetes remember it is a manageable disease. There are steps you can take in treating the disease. Have a vet check your dog's insulin. They will take a blood sample from your dog's body and test it. The first step is to get the glucose (blood sugar), level to normal.

If your dog requires insulin shots, it may seem extremely difficult, and your dog may not want to give you cooperation, but as time goes on, it will get better. Animals have a way of getting in routines just as humans do.

You also want to prepare yourself in the event your pet has a health emergency. See if some other members of your family will get some training with you in case you're not there. Of course, the main responsibility of the day to day treatment will be yours, but if you are not there it should be left to one particular individual in the family.

A record of your dog's day-to-day health is necessary. Make notes on anything unusual. It's also a good idea to record other important information such as: the vet's emergency phone number, steps to follow in case of too much insulin, precautions to be taken if the needle breaks and possibly what to do in the event of a seizure.

The biggest issue with diabetes in dogs is to be sure and monitor their blood glucose level. Your vet may recommend bringing your pet in periodically to check these levels.

Things can seem overwhelming at first with canine diabetes, but everything will be routine in time. Dogs are wonderful, and your pet is certainly worth the effort to protect their health and allow them to lead a happy and healthy life. Keep an eye on the early warning signs of diabetes and take action if you see anything unusual.