How do I check my diabetic dog's glucose at home?

What you might see at home

Your vet suggests a meter, or you buy one after a scary week. The first hurdles are getting him to stand still and getting a drop of blood from the ear, lip, paw or elbow.

Some people never test at home and just rely on vet visits. That's okay too, if your vet is happy with it.

What to write down for the vet

• Which meter you used, and the number exactly as it showed.
• The time, when he last ate, and how he seemed.
• Which spot worked, if you're still learning.
• Any questions, written separately from the numbers.

What to take with you

Take the whole log, including the ordinary numbers. The curve sheet is a blank grid for a day your vet asks you to record. If he's unwell, call your vet before starting a curve.

Which glucose meter should I buy?

Before you buy, ask your vet which meter they can support for dogs. Check you can keep getting the matching strips and that someone can teach you and help when it plays up.

Take the exact meter and strip details to the vet before you start. Ask them to show you how to take a sample, check you can actually get a reading, and write down what to report. Having a meter at home helps with checking, but insulin decisions still stay with your vet.

Pet meter or human meter: which do I need?

It's easy to assume any glucose meter will do. Human and pet meters can read a dog's blood differently, so don't treat them as the same. Ask your vet which meter suits dogs and how they'll read the results from it. Don't use an online conversion or average two meters.

Keep the full meter name and strip instructions with your notes. If the meter your vet suggests is hard to use or the strips are hard to find, talk to them about another option before you switch.

My vet doesn't do home testing. Should I start anyway?

It can feel frustrating when you want to test at home and your vet isn't keen. Ask why they don't recommend it and how they plan to keep an eye on your dog instead. Home testing can help, but it needs the right meter, someone to teach you, and someone to go through the results with you.

Tell them if clinic visits or the worry are getting hard for you. Ask for a plan they can support, or get a second opinion. Don't test in secret or change insulin based on your own readings.

How do I keep matching meter strips available?

Before you settle on a meter, check the full model name, which strips go with it, whether you can keep buying them, and what help your vet can give. A meter that's easy to find in the shop isn't automatically right for your dog.

Note down the exact strip name, expiry date and storage instructions. Ask the vet to check the meter and strips together and show you how to test. If you can't get something, agree an alternative with them instead of swapping in other strips.