Question
My meter readings jump around. Is the meter wrong?
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
A reading that doesn't fit how your dog seems can come from the dog, the blood sample or the meter, so the meter isn't always broken. Ask your vet how to check that it's reading right. Write down every number and what was happening at the time. If your dog seems unwell, call the vet first, whatever the meter says.
What to know at home
Use only the strips made for your meter, and do the control check the way the instructions say. If readings don't make sense, take the meter, strips and recent results to the vet. A second meter won't settle it on its own, because different meters can read differently, so let the vet compare them.
What to write down
- Meter and strip details, including expiry
- Error messages and sampling difficulties
- Timing, food and how your dog seemed
What to ask next
Ask whether they want you to repeat the test, run a control check, or bring the meter in to compare with their machine. If your dog is weak or collapses, a normal-looking reading doesn't make it okay. Get help straight away.
Sources
- Which test strips fit my glucose meter?Which strips fit your meter
- Can heat and damp spoil my meter, test strips or urine strips?Heat and damp on meters and strips
- Is one glucose number enough?Why one reading is not enough
- My meter shows a number. What should I do?What to do with a number
- Emergency or low blood sugar: call your vet nowWhen he is weak whatever the reading
Every outside source I used is listed on the Sources page.
Related
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Fructosamine is a blood test that helps your vet see how your dog's sugar has been over the past few weeks.
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How do I check my diabetic dog's glucose at home?
Most owners get the hang of home testing. Let your vet pick the meter and show you how.
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Is one glucose number enough?
One reading only shows that moment. Write it down with the time and how he seemed, and let your vet look at it.