Question
How do I care for a diabetic dog in hot weather?
Sunny, owner notes“I wish my dog lived as long as I do.”Updated
I'm an owner, not a vet. This is not veterinary advice, so check anything medical with your own vet.
Short answer
Hot days are harder on a diabetic dog, and on his insulin. Keep clean water out, and keep both him and the insulin out of the heat. Walk him in the cooler hours and don't add a long walk on a hot day. Ask your vet how to plan his summer routine. If he's very distressed, weak, collapses or struggles to breathe, get to a vet urgently.
I never give insulin amounts here. Yours comes from your vet's written plan.
What to know at home
Set up shade, a cool place to rest, and a way to carry insulin that keeps it cool without freezing it. Follow the storage instructions for his exact insulin. If you think it got too hot, ask the pharmacy or your vet, because you can't tell just by looking at it.
What to write down
- Heat exposure and activity
- Drinking, appetite and unusual behaviour
- Storage concerns or travel plans
What to ask next
Ask your vet for a plan for hot days and power cuts before you need one. If your dog is unwell now, get him seen. Don't experiment with food or insulin to work out what's wrong.
Sources
- How should insulin be kept at home?How to keep insulin safe
- The power went off. Is the insulin in the fridge still OK?If the fridge loses power
- How should walks work for a diabetic dog?How walks should work
- How can I tell if my diabetic dog is dehydrated?Signs he is dehydrated
- Emergency or low blood sugar: call your vet nowIf he collapses or struggles to breathe
- My dog lives outdoors or on the terrace. Does that matter now?Heat and shade for dogs kept outside
Every outside source I used is listed on the Sources page.
Related
Q&A
How do I feed a diabetic dog alongside my other pets?
Feed your diabetic dog separately and watch him eat, so you know what he actually ate.
Q&A
What should I write in a notebook for my diabetic dog?
Food, mood, water, injection times and your questions. Keep it short.
Q&A
When does a diabetic dog need a vet the same day?
If he's weak, trembling, collapsing, vomiting or won't eat, call your vet now. Read the rest later.
Urgent help
Emergency or low blood sugar
Call a vet now if your dog is weak, collapsed or having a seizure.