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Question

Can heat and damp spoil my meter, test strips or urine strips?

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, damp weather can be hard on test strips and the meter, and you can't always see the damage. Keep strips in their own closed pot, away from sun, steam and the bathroom. Check the expiry date. If readings suddenly look strange but your dog seems fine, ask your vet how to check the meter. If he seems unwell, call the vet anyway.

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What to know at home

Strips are sensitive to heat, light and moisture, and so are urine and ketone strips. Leaving the pot open, or keeping it in a hot car or a steamy kitchen, can make results less reliable. The meter's instructions usually say which temperatures it works in.

What to write down

  • Where you store the meter and strips
  • Expiry dates and when each pot was opened
  • Any reading that didn't match how your dog seemed

What to ask next

Take the meter, strips and your notes to the next visit and ask the team to check them against their own test. Don't make treatment decisions on a reading you don't trust. If your dog is weak, shaky or vomiting, call your vet whatever the meter says.

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Sources

Every outside source I used is listed on the Sources page.

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Urgent help

Emergency or low blood sugar

Call a vet now if your dog is weak, collapsed or having a seizure.