Should I add a supplement for my diabetic dog?

What you might notice at home

A bottle promises help with glucose, joints or eyes. Cataracts make the eye ones very tempting. But an owner saying 'we used this and he never got cataracts' doesn't mean the bottle did it.

People also mention chia, cinnamon and other kitchen add-ins. They're still food, and they still change what's in his bowl.

What to write down for the vet

• The product name and the daily amount you give, from the label you already use.
• Who suggested it.
• Anything sweetened. Look for xylitol on the label.
• Anything else it might affect, like liver, eyes or joints.

What to take with you

Take the bottles with you so your vet can check them.

Do herbal remedies or products that claim to treat diabetes work?

A label saying natural, herbal or 'diabetes support' doesn't show it treats diabetes in dogs. Take the full ingredient list to your vet before using it and ask what it's actually been shown to do.

Never stop prescribed treatment to try something from an advert. Mention every supplement at medicine reviews, even ones you only give now and then. Human products aren't automatically safe for dogs either.

My dog ate something with xylitol. Is that an emergency?

If your dog might have eaten xylitol, this is an emergency, even if they look fine. Call a vet or emergency clinic now and keep the packet. Don't make your dog sick or give anything by mouth unless the vet tells you to.

Xylitol is sometimes called birch sugar and turns up in some sugar-free foods and other products. Tell the vet the exact ingredients and when your dog ate it. It can drop blood sugar quickly, so a normal first reading doesn't mean your dog is safe.