dog diabetes

[dillon]

My dog has just been diagnosed diabetic. I have all my instructions and know exactly what to do but I can't get my vet till Monday and I have a querie. I am going to be later home tomorrow night than normal. Will it matter if the dog doesn't get his second dose of insulin tillabout 4 hours later than normal

[kita1]

Not sure as I have never had a diabetic dog, but 4 hours does seem rather a long time.

Could you get a pass out of work and go home to give his dose on time? Or could you get a friend to do it?

If not then really the question is pointless (don't mean that in a bad way) and you have answered it yourself - you will just have to wait and see how he is when you get home - I don't suppose it will kill him or anything. The little bit I know about diabetes is that I think you have to give the insulin to cope with the time of feeding? So if he does not have a feed then his blood sugar should stay stable for the time you are away. I would give the dose as soon as you walk through the door though.

I would try and put in place either friends or neighbours (or even a local kennels) that could cope with your dog in future when you are not available - maybe even leave your key with someone permanently that you could call up if you cannot get home for some reason. A local professional dog walker or dog carer may be of some help for the future.

Hope everything is OK, I am sure it will be.

[kita1]

Also if he has just been diagnosed then he has been coping up until now without insulin so he will probably be OK.

Try not to worry too much.

PS I know what it is like I had to leave a dog home alone whilst at work - two days after she had had a major operation. Still don't know how I got through those five hours!!! Of course she was fine - but I imagined all sorts of things - like her ripping her stitches out etc.

[welshlibranr]

Hi dillon
Sorry this post is a little late, I have a diabetic dog, he was diagnosed 2 years ago now, and also has an insulin injection twice daily and he's still very healthy indeed aged 11, my vet advised me that I should keep the injections and meals as close as possible to every 12 hours, a few minutes or even half an hour won't cause too much of a problem, but if you delay too much you are putting your pet at risk I have always stuck to this regime, and all has been well thankfully, therefore I think that if you're going to need to be late by more than half an hour or so you do need to get some back up, hope this helps