Diabetic dog?

[stingrhea]

Originally Posted by shenaismybaby

One of our dogs was just diagnosed with severe diabetes a couple of days ago. He was drinking a lot, and had lost weight, and not eating well. They did blood work, and I found out the next day it was diabetes. He is now getting insulin shots twice a day, as well as a major change in diet.
Good luck!

oh, thanks and good luck to you. i know it must be very stressful getting this diagnosis. my guy is eating a lot not drinking excessively, but urinating lots. most likely a uti, i guess.

[stingrhea]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

My Lady is a diabetic. Excessive urination and excessive drinking are the classic signs an owner first notices.

To answer your question, yes, you can check his blood glucose with your meter. I check Lady myself with an Ultra One Touch. Normal blood sugar is similar to humans, between 80-120.

Paw pricks don't work on dogs. The best place to get the drop of blood is inside the lip right above the canine teeth. There is a vein that runs vertically along there plus it is not a very sensitive area. If he is good about having his mouth touched, maybe you can do it.

Here is a step by step that may be helpful:

http://www.sugarcats.net/sites/harry/lipprick.html

thank you ladymom. i am going to do that tomorrow to check it. thanks everyone for all the good ideas and answers. i worry a lot, and me being diabetic i pay a lot of attention to anything that might indicate diabetes. it probably isn't, but if it is i am glad i already know about taking care of diabetes.

[stingrhea]

I tested his blood sugar and it was only 68, so it is not diabetes! I am so glad of that...we see the vet next week about his leg, so I will tell her then about his excess urination. Thanks everyone...
~Melody

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by stingrhea

I tested his blood sugar and it was only 68, so it is not diabetes! I am so glad of that...we see the vet next week about his leg, so I will tell her then about his excess urination. Thanks everyone...
~Melody

Gosh, you're fast!

Did you stick his lip? Was he good about it?

It took me a year to get brave enough to home test Lady!

[stingrhea]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

Gosh, you're fast!

Did you stick his lip? Was he good about it?

It took me a year to get brave enough to home test Lady!

yes, i did the lip stick, like the instructions you sent. i was checking my own blood sugar so i did his too. yes, he was good about it. like i keep telling everyone, he is an easy dog, a really sweet, good boy. i've been diabetic almost thirty years now and also i used to draw blood at my job, so i am used to taking blood. he was my first non human blood draw though.

[Ladymom]

Lady loves to get her sugar checked! She comes running to me when she hears me unzip the case to her meter.

If she hears me run water for her bath, she runs and hides.

Go figure!

[stingrhea]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

Lady loves to get her sugar checked! She comes running to me when she hears me unzip the case to her meter.

If she hears me run water for her bath, she runs and hides.

Go figure!

ya just never know! I guess to each her own...