Question
What should I write in a notebook for my diabetic dog?
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
When you're new to this, it's easy to write too much or too little. Four lines a day is enough: what he ate, including treats, how he seemed, the time of his injection, and one extra thing if it mattered, like water, a walk or a question. Keep the insulin amount on your vet's written plan, and take a week of notes to each visit.
I never give insulin amounts here. Yours comes from your vet's written plan.
What you might notice at home
In the first week it's easy to end up with pages of numbers and nothing about how he actually was. Then the vet asks 'how is he in himself?' and the notebook can't answer. Four lines a day is enough.
Lots of owners keep a diary like this. When it's written down, vet visits feel a lot less stressful.
A single day, four lines
- What he ate, including treats.
- How he seemed: bright, usual, quiet, off colour.
- The time of his injection.
- One extra only if it mattered: a reading, a walk, vomit, a question.
What to take with you
Take the last week rather than the whole month. The seven-day log and the questions sheet are printable, or use Today's log and the weekly page fills in from the days you save.
Sources
- Notes and curves to show your vetNotes to show your vet
- Seven-day logA week of notes on one sheet
- Questions for the vetQuestions to bring to the vet
- Check-up or blood test day: do I still feed him and give insulin?What to bring on visit day
- Is one glucose number enough?Why numbers alone don't tell you enough
Every outside source I used is listed on the Sources page.
Related
Guide
Home testing, glucose curves and notes for your vet
What to write down each day, and when your vet might ask for a curve.
Printable
Seven-day log
A week of meals, moods and injection times on one page.
Printable
Questions for the vet
Write your questions down before the visit so you don't forget them.
Q&A
What is a glucose curve, and can I do it at home?
A glucose curve is a set of readings across the day. Your vet will tell you when to do one.