Supplies that the owner of a diabetic dog should keep to hand

If your dog has been diagnosed with diabetes, this means that the life of both you and your dog will need to undergo some changes in order to keep the condition under control and allow the dog to retain a good quality of life.

During the initial stages after diagnosis and the start of a medication and lifestyle regime, this can prove to be rather a lot to take in for the dog owner, and the amount of things that they will need to be aware of and take care of can be rather numerous. One thing that many owners of diabetics do to make life simpler for themselves and to allow them to be prepared at all times where their dog is concerned is to make up a supply kit that always stays with or near the dog, on hand if it is needed.

Your vet can help you to work out what should be contained in this kit and how to fine tune it to suit the needs of your own dog, but in this article we will cover the basics of what should go into a supply kit for the diabetic dog, and how this should be managed. Read on to learn more.

What goes into your kit

Your dog’s insulin supplies are the obvious things that should be in their kit, but there are several other things that should go into your kit too.

Finding a suitable container to carry everything is a good start, and this should if possible incorporate a chiller bag that can be used with ice packs to provide refrigeration for insulin when on the move.

Some of the main elements that should make up you r kit include:

• Insulin supplies as prescribed by your vet, plus some spares in case of accidents or unexpected occurrences.
• The appropriate syringes or delivery method for your insulin, such as sterile syringes and needles of the correct gauge to administer the medicine.
• The syringes and needles should be stored in a secure package that will protect them from breakage and contamination.
• You will also need to carry a sharps bin or other suitable vessel for the disposal of the used needles and syringes.
• A small container to collect your dog’s urine for testing.
• Diabetic testing strips.
• A diabetic blood testing device.
• A supply of emergency glucose to administer if your dog exhibits low blood sugar levels. Honey or maple syrup are preferable to pure sugar itself, as these natural products are more quickly absorbed by the body.
• Contact details for the vet that manages your dog’s treatment, including their out-of-hours cover number for use in emergencies.
• A copy of your pet’s veterinary records that covers the details of their condition and their treatment protocol, in case you need to refer back to this or provide it to another vet in an emergency.

Travelling

A cooler bag should be sufficient to chill your dog’s insulin for a few hours at a time when on the move, but if you are planning a long car journey or holiday away with your dog, you may wish to invest in a small 12v fridge or cooler box that can be powered by the 12v socket in your car.

You should also find the details of a local vet in the area that you are travelling to, and keep their number to hand in case of any emergencies.

It is a good idea to have your dog’s collar or collar tag marked up with a medi-alert for their condition, including contact details for both yourself and the vet that manages their condition.

A supply of the appropriate food for your diabetic dog is also important when you are on the move, and you should always stock up in advance of travelling, to be sure that you don’t get caught out away from home without enough food, and no local stores that can supply more.

Other carers

If you ever need to leave your dog in a boarding kennels or have a sitter come in to take care of your dog, you should choose carefully to find a person that is experienced in the care and monitoring of a diabetic dog, and that you can trust with their care. Some smaller dogs may even be able to board short term in the veterinary clinic that manages their treatment, although this is not always an option.

Your kit should be kept where your dog is at all times, and anyone that is caring for your dog should familiarise themselves with the kit, what it contains, and how to use it. You should also make arrangements with the carer for what they should do if they have concerns about your dog’s condition while you are away; for instance, if they should contact your vet directly, or get in touch with you for advice on how to proceed first.