Importance of correctly injecting insulin in diabetic dog
Dear Dr. Forsythe: I have had a difficult time getting my dog’s diabetes under control for the last year. She has had diabetes for three years, but over the last year it has been harder and harder for us to control her blood sugar level. It all seemed to be much more of a struggle after I went back to work and started having my husband give the dog her morning insulin injection. I showed him how to do it several times and I’m pretty sure he is doing it right, but perhaps he makes some errors. How important is it that he be exact with this dose?
Terrier Mom
Dear Terrier Mom: It is very important to be exact with insulin dosing. It is also critical to handle the insulin bottle carefully and to give the dose at the exact time interval your veterinarian recommends. Since you’ve been dealing with a diabetic dog for several years now, you probably understand complications can arise associated with this challenging disease. It is interesting that your pet is less stable ever since your husband began giving her morning insulin injections. It makes me concerned that your pets’ recent setback may be “client-related.”(one due to a client’s inability to get the proper amount of insulin injected into the pet as needed). Things that fall under this category include:
*incorrect dose of insulin prepared
*air pulled into the syringe with the insulin
*Incorrect insulin syringe used
*intradermal injection given (into the skin rather than beneath the skin)
*through and through injection (goes into the skin and back out again)
*Premature withdrawal of the needle (needle pulled out before insulin ever injected).
Keep in mind that diabetes can be progressive, and pets that are regulated nicely one year may slip into a less regulated state the next year and require more insulin at some point in order to control their disease. In addition, bladder infections and other diseases (like dental disease, heart disease or liver disease) can complicate your doctor’s ability to easily regulate this disease. I recommend that you gently, and lovingly, review the injection technique with your husband to make sure he is really giving the correct quantity of insulin every time. And make plenty sure he avoids premature withdrawal of the needle!! Good luck with this case.
Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe: My cat Isabel is constantly up on the counter eating everything she can. It is really upsetting when I’m trying to cook a meal for the family and she is sticking her paw in something or licking out a spoon sitting on the counter. Not only does she eat everything she can, but she has a tendency to get the “runs” as well. Why does she eat so much stuff when her food bowl is right on the floor? And why is she getting diarrhea?
MS, Sonoma
Dear MS: It is not the least bit unusual for cats to get on counter tops and snoop around. Most of my clients remedy this by keeping a small spray bottle full of water nearby and spraying the cat when she gets up on the counter. This usually teaches the cat to stay off that area. As far as the cat being hungry and eating out of your pots and pans, I suggest you offer Isabel some tastier cat food. She is most likely bored with it and wants to try something a little yummier than what you are giving her now. Why not try offering her a nice canned food along with her dry food and see if this doesn’t slow down her incessant scavenging? Make sure you don’t let her get fat by monitoring her new rations carefully and avoid giving her human foods or dairy as well. This could be contributing to her ploppy stools as well. Nobody wants a pet popping onto the counter, poking around, pooping and popping off again. I’m sure your kitty will be more grateful and do less counter cruising in the future if you follow these suggestions.
Dr. F.
