The daily routine
Meal and injection times, sharing care at home, and sticking to your vet's written plan.
I'm an owner, not a vet. This is not veterinary advice, so check anything medical with your own vet.
- Do I feed my diabetic dog before the insulin?2 minMost vets say feed first, then give insulin. Follow the order your own vet wrote down.
- How many hours apart should the two meals be?3 minUsually about twelve hours apart. If your vet gave you different times, use theirs.
- What if the morning meal ran late?4 minIf your plan doesn't already say what to do when you're late, call your vet.
- What if we might have given the insulin twice?3 minCall your vet or an emergency clinic right away, even if he looks fine. Write down the times you know.
- How do I make insulin time easier for my dog?3 minDo it at mealtime, stay calm and praise him. If you're struggling, ask your vet to watch you do it once.
- How should insulin be kept at home?4 minFollow what it says on the box. Keep it in the fridge, never frozen, and never in a hot car.
- Can I travel with a diabetic dog?4 minTalk to your vet before a long trip. Pack the written plan, his usual food and the clinic's number.
- Should I pull back the plunger, and how fast do I inject?3 minAsk your vet or nurse to show you with your own supplies, then watch you do it.
- How do I dispose of used syringes and lancets?3 minPut used syringes and lancets in a hard sharps box and keep it away from children and pets.
- Can I reuse or pre-fill syringes?3 minCheck with your vet or pharmacist before you reuse a syringe or fill one ahead of time.
- Lumps, bleeding or soreness at the injection site: is it a problem?3 minTell your vet about a lump, bleeding or soreness where you inject, especially if it lasts or he seems sore.
- Can I use spare diabetes supplies?3 minAsk your vet to check any spare supplies before you use them.
- The power went off. Is the insulin in the fridge still OK?3 minKeep the fridge shut during a power cut, and call your vet or pharmacist if the insulin may have got warm.
- Can older children help look after a diabetic dog?3 minChildren often want to help with a diabetic dog, and there are safe jobs they can do while an adult handles the insulin.
- Do I give insulin if my dog didn't eat?3 minCall your vet and ask what to do about the next injection. Insulin lowers blood sugar, so giving it to a dog who hasn't eaten can make the sugar drop too low.