Question
Is a skin sensor worth it 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
If testing is a daily battle, a sensor can be a real relief. It sticks on the skin and records glucose without pricking him every time, and most last up to about two weeks. Many owners find it makes life much easier. If it shows a low, check with a blood reading. Your vet will say whether he needs one and how to send the readings.
I never give insulin amounts here. Yours comes from your vet's written plan.
What you might see at home
A sensor can make the first weeks much less of a fight. But they do fall off, and the first day's readings can look odd. Stress and meals both push the numbers up. Let your vet see the readings rather than changing his food because of them.
Some vets limit sensor use so owners don't panic over every small rise and fall. That's reasonable. More numbers can add worry without making your dog any safer.
What to ask before you buy
- Does your vet think he needs one right now?
- What should you do if it falls off or shows a low?
- Who reads the trace, and how do you send it?
If the sensor and your dog don't match
Don't stick a human sensor on your dog just because someone online did. Ask your vet which one to use. If the sensor says one thing and he looks another, especially if he seems weak, call your vet. Check a low the way your vet showed you.
The Libre fell off or reads differently from the meter. What now?
A sensor reads sugar in the fluid under the skin rather than straight from blood, so the two won't always match. If it falls off, shows errors or gives a reading that doesn't fit how your dog seems, call the vet for a backup plan. Don't stick it back on or use a conversion you found online.
Ask your vet how to double-check odd or low sensor readings. If your dog is weak, wobbly, collapses or has a seizure, get urgent help. Don't let fiddling with the device hold up that call.
Sources
- How do I check my diabetic dog's glucose at home?Checking a low with a blood reading
- My meter readings jump around. Is the meter wrong?When readings don't match each other
- My diabetic dog hates glucose testsWhen he hates being tested
- Emergency or low blood sugar: call your vet nowWhat to do if he seems low or unwell
Every outside source I used is listed on the Sources page.
Related
Q&A
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.
Q&A
My diabetic dog hates glucose tests
Some dogs never settle with pricks. Tell your vet, because there may be a gentler way.
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.