How to Care For Your Diabetic Pet

So your pet’s been diagnosed with diabetes.

First: don’t panic!

We understand how distressing this diagnosis can be, but, with proper treatment, exercise, nutrition, and monitoring, your pet can still lead a long, happy life. However, it does take commitment on your part as the pet parent, so we want to pass along as much information as possible to make sure your care of your diabetic pet goes smoothly. We’ve gathered some basic information about cat and dog diabetes as well as tips on how to store insulin and give injections below. Armed with knowledge, a close relationship with your vet, and the ability to give your pet as much love as possible throughout this process, you and your fur baby will be just fine.

 

Demystifying Pet Diabetes

Just as in humans, there are two types of pet diabetes. 

• Type One: The body no longer produces insulin
• Type Two: The body produces insulin but doesn’t recognize it and can’t use the insulin it produces

 

Dogs are most often diagnosed with Type One diabetes, while cats are most often diagnosed with Type Two.

 

What is Insulin, and Why Is It So Important?

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate sugar uptake by the cells. It’s the key that unlocks the door of the blood cells to let the sugar inside. Without insulin, the cells of the body begin to starve and look for other sources of energy and nutrition to use, and, ultimately, they break down critical fat and muscle tissue. This breakdown causes a serious illness called ketosis and can make the patient extremely ill.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetes, so our treatment goal is to manage symptoms.

 

What are Some Symptoms of Diabetes?

• Increased thirst
• Increased urination 
• Increased hunger
• Muscle weakness
• Weight loss even though the patient seems to be ravenous all the time

 

Other conditions can cause similar symptoms, so vets will run a full blood panel and urinalysis. We may also conduct additional testing, such as fructosamine levels. If we determine your pet has diabetes, we’ll start treatment.

If the body is no longer producing insulin, the insulin must be supplied by injections, usually twice daily. The veterinary staff will teach you how to give insulin injections at home and go over other treatment details, such as diet, exercise, and feeding routines. Canine diabetic patients require insulin injections, while feline diabetic patients can sometimes be controlled with diet and exercise changes alone.

 

A Diabetes Treatment Routine is Key

Because diabetes is not cured but managed, it requires a commitment to a routine. One person should be the pet’s primary caregiver and effectively communicate with other family members to prevent double feedings and possible double dosing of the pet’s injections.

It may be helpful to maintain a chart to keep your family and veterinarian abreast of what’s happening with your pet’s treatment. You should consider including the following information:

• Feeding times
• Insulin dose amounts and times
• Any physical and behavioral changes

 

Everyone needs to be committed to this routine. Any changes like increased urine, thirst, or appetite could indicate that the insulin needs to be adjusted. However, you should only do so under your veterinarian’s guidance. Your vet will also have your pet come in on a routine basis to reevaluate and test insulin levels. This is a critical part of treatment that you shouldn’t ignore because insulin levels may need to be adjusted depending on test results and the pet’s overall health. We understand that life gets busy, but bear in mind what a crucial role these vet visits play in your pet’s treatment plan. It may take some time for your pet’s insulin level to be controlled, so this step is essential.

 

Storing and Preparing Your Pet’s Insulin

Because routine is so critical to your pet’s health, please always read directions on the insulin and adhere to the schedule.

Tips for insulin storage:

• Keep it in the fridge
• Know the type of insulin you use and the dose
• Mix insulin before drawing it up into the syringe
• Again, read the directions carefully, as some brands need to be rolled in the hands while others need to be shaken
• Know the type of syringe your insulin requires (more on that below)

 

Never preload syringes for future use. Insulin bonds to the plastic and the rubber of the syringe, which means a preloaded syringe that sits in the fridge will not give a full dose of insulin. There are U40 and U100 concentrations of insulin, and it's essential for you to know what concentration yours is, as there are different syringes for different concentrations. Switching syringes can cause underdoses or overdoses, leading to medical emergencies.

Both types of syringes hold 3/10 of a milliliter. U40 has a red cap and smaller demarcations. U100 has an orange cap and has larger demarcations. Use the syringe only one time. Needles get less sharp with each use and a dull needle can hurt your pet because of difficulty penetrating the skin. Dispose of the insulin in the provided container. When the container is full, seal it and put it in the trash can. If the container is not provided, insulin syringes can be placed in a thick plastic container like a milk jug. Never put a used syringe directly into the trash.

 

Administering Insulin To Your Pet

Giving insulin to your pet isn’t difficult. You may be able to administer it by yourself but it’s never a bad idea to have someone around to help, especially until you gain confidence and your pet gets used to the process.

Make insulin a happy time. Also, ensure that your pet has eaten at least most of their pre-insulin meal, as you never want to give a pet insulin on an empty stomach.

Draw the recommended dose into the syringe using the proper size syringe. To give the injection on a dog, gently pull a pinch of skin anywhere there’s enough to spare. When injecting a cat, do so towards the shoulder blades instead of directly on the neck. Their skin in the middle is thicker and may not absorb the insulin as effectively. Rub the injection site after. Be sure to give lots of praise and treats, as this will make the process easier each time!

 

Words of Caution About Pet Insulin Injections

Never change your pet’s insulin amount without consulting your veterinarian and, remember, it’s vital that you maintain a schedule for feeding and injections. Your veterinarian can help you come up with one for you and your pet.

If your pet didn’t eat their meal, consult with a veterinarian because insulin should be always given with a meal unless directed otherwise. If you can’t reach your vet, attempt to feed your pet again at the next scheduled injection time. If it happens again, reach out to your veterinarian once again, as this could be cause for concern, and they will likely want you to bring your pet in for an exam.

If you miss a dose of insulin, again, consult with your veterinarian. Do not give an extra dose. 

 

As with anything, the process of treating your pet for diabetes will become second nature and, hopefully, easy. However, never hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. And if you’d like to do further research on the topic, the AVMA has a guide to treating and monitoring diabetes in pets.