Question
Why do my dog's numbers swing so much from day to day?
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
Readings often change from day to day, even when nothing seems different. A big swing doesn't tell you what to do with the insulin. Your vet needs the whole pattern, your meter and how your dog is doing. Tell them quickly about any low readings or illness. If he's weak, trembling or confused, get urgent help.
I never give insulin amounts here. Yours comes from your vet's written plan.
What to know at home
Meals, exercise, how the insulin is handled, how the blood sample is taken and other illness can all affect the numbers. Don't change lots of things at once to try to smooth out the graph. Your dog being comfortable and avoiding lows matters more than a neat graph.
What to write down
- Readings with times and device
- Food actually eaten and activity
- Thirst, weight, appetite and possible treatment mistakes
What to ask next
Ask whether the vet wants a glucose curve, a check of your meter, or to see your dog. If he is weak, trembling, confused or collapses, get urgent help. Don't wait for another day of readings.
Sources
- Is one glucose number enough?Why one number is not enough
- What is a glucose curve, and can I do it at home?What a glucose curve is
- My meter readings jump around. Is the meter wrong?Checking whether the meter is reading right
- What is the Somogyi rebound, and could my dog have it?Why a high after a low is hard to judge
- Glucose stays high even on insulin. Why?Why glucose can stay high on insulin
- Can fireworks, guests or a house move upset his diabetes?Stress and upheaval as a cause of swings
Every outside source I used is listed on the Sources page.
Related
Q&A
We are switching insulin types. What should we expect?
Get the new plan in writing before the first injection of the new insulin.
Q&A
My meter shows a number. What should I do?
Write down the number, the time and how he seems. Your vet is the one to say if it's good or bad.
Q&A
How should insulin be kept at home?
Follow what it says on the box. Keep it in the fridge, never frozen, and never in a hot car.
Urgent help
Emergency or low blood sugar
Call a vet now if your dog is weak, collapsed or having a seizure.