Anyone have a dog with diabetes?

[CathyA]

I'm wondering if my dog has it. She has hypothyroidism and I give her meds. But lately, she's been nervous and has been drinking and peeing more.
I know we need a blood test, but she goes absolutely bonkers to take her in. I fear she'll have a heart attack, and they won't give us a sedative beforehand.
I looked for some test strips at the stores to test for glucose spilled into the urine, but they're all for ketones, which she may not have.
Hmmm....I just thought of something..........I have a test glucometer. If I could just figure out how to get a little drop of blood, I could test her here at home.

Anyone know where the best spot to stick her for a drop of blood would be?

[sweetana3]

http://www.alphatrakmeter.com/monitoring-how-to-test.html

[CathyA]

Thanks sweetana! I didn't even think to google anything. Thought it probably was never done.
Thanks again!

[Kestra]

Thanks sweetana! I didn't even think to google anything. Thought it probably was never done.
Thanks again!

Yes, it's actually done all the time. The ear has always been our go-to area.

[CathyA]

Thanks Kestra! I haven't read the whole article yet, but I hadn't thought of the ear. Sounds like it would be pretty easy to get it from there.
Sounds like you have a dog with diabetes. Could you tell me what led you to suspect diabetes? Was it mostly the drinking and peeing? Did his/her personality change at all?
Does your pet need insulin, or do you use a special kind of food?
Thanks again.

[CathyA]

Actually, I just read on that website and I need a species-specific glucose monitor. So I can't use mine. I'm thinking buying one would still be cheaper than a trip to the vet's.
Kestra.....what brand do you have?

[Kestra]

I don't have a diabetic animal, but I'm a vet tech, so have cared for them a lot back when I worked in clinic. I never thought that the glucometer was species specific. It seems we always sent people to the drugstore to get the meter and supplies. And I do tons of claims now (pet insurance) for glucose testing stuff and it's always from the drugstore. Now I'm second-guessing myself. I think the websites are saying it might not be as accurate, but typically a diabetic animal has super high glucose when it's untreated, so I think using your regular glucose monitor would be a fine first step. It doesn't do any harm to try it out. Just be careful to only prick a little vein. And hold pressure on it for quite a while afterwards.
The usual symptoms are the increased peeing/drinking, like you describe, plus often increased hunger along with weight loss.

In my experience, some cats do okay with a diet change, but dogs typically need insulin. But I'm not a vet, and none of this is intended to be a diagnosis or prescription. Just general knowledge stuff.

[CathyA]

Thanks Kestra.
The info I got is that dogs have a much higher "normal" blood glucose than humans, so a human meter will underestimate the level. But you're right........if its really high on my meter, then that's a good indication we should take her to the vet. Thanks again!