Diabetes is very similar between dogs and humans and how they react, how it affects them. As a furbaby's mommy/daddy you are seeing changes with your dog and maybe not understanding or thinking they are suddenly being spoiled/acting up. Your furbaby is trying to tell you something, but the only way they can is by 'acting up'. Do not assume they are being bad first off and try to control that behavior. If they didn't have the behavior before diagnosis and suddenly they are, assume it is the diabetes. You will become a detective in this journey and by carefully taking a minute to breathe in and out slowly first, do watch your furbaby, take a moment to notice the changes, write them down so you can look back on them later..soon you will know, you will learn the smallest thing and know how to react.
Humans go through many emotions, denial, depression, anger. Diabetes can be affected by these emotions, many things can affect the diabetes and cause it to be out of wack - hormones if a female. If the female dog is not spayed or a male not nutered,she/he will experience problems with their numbers when in heat. Yes even humans will experience these changes also, more so the females.
The dogs don't understand the emotional part of denial or anger, but they do sense something is wrong with them, and of course dealing to them is "acting up". I also believe a dog/or any animal can experience depression bought on by this disease. You may notice them starting to be clingy to you or spouse, they might suddenly start having accidents, or maybe they just are not nice lol. Humans can be actually obnoxious at times depending on their numbers being low or even high and they do not even realize they are behaving this way.
Low Blood Sugar:
This can cause agressiveness, is your dog snapping or acting out. Do you notice they are acting extremely hungry, begging for something to eat. Acting nervous, panting too much, or acting confused. Difficulty walking, lack of energy, maybe drowsiness?
If you notice these and there are so many others, (but then doggies can't tell you if their eyesight is acting up or they have a headache or slurred speech) do test their blood glucose if you are monitoring at home.
Rule of thumb for a human is 15 carbs test 15 minutes. With the doggies, try a bit of kayro syrup, honey, or peanut butter on you finger, if the dog can eat peanut butter. Even a small milk bone can help.
This is a good reason, just experiencing lows, to monitor your dog's glucose at home. Experiencing a serious low can result in seizures, loss of consciousness and even low body temperature.
High Blood Sugar:
Extremely thirsty, frequent urination, even in the house even though they are housebroken. Suddenly you might notice them itching constantly (high numbers can cause dry itchy skin) weight loss coming on quickly, and even increased appetite. And of course unconsciousness and confusion. Keeping numbers high and out of control can also cause heart problems, eye sight issues, ketoacidosis, and kidney complications.
Granted highs and lows have some of the same symptoms and it is confusing to figure out what is what, so that is where testing (monitoring) comes in play.
I know in the beginning I was so totally confused and could not 'read' my body, and I know you as furbaby mommies/daddies, you are even more so, but in time it does become easier, you do learn how they act with a low or a high, usually you won't notice one symptom for both situations.
Along with diet, you will need to make sure there is exercise added to their daily routine, don't let them become couch potatoes. Get their favorite toy and go outside, even a few minutes is better than none. Exercise will help control the numbers and move the sugar through the system to lower the numbers. Do not exercise them when they are extremely high, this can cause a fast drop and almost for sure send them into a hypo.
Dogs sometimes do not accept diet changes readily. We as humans of course know we cannot eat what we had been doing and need to be make changes if we want to be healthy. Dogs might fight you with this change....do it gradually, making adjustments accordingly to their insulin to help control, hopefully you will be able to make a change to a better food choice within a week or two. Many will cook for the dogs instead of store bought or even special foods suggested by the vet. But the goal is to feed every twelve hours. Some might want their 'cookies' which they use to get....try subbing veggies for that if they like them.
The numbers will not stabilize immediately...it doesn't happen with humans and won't with the doggies...It takes time for the body to adjust and in some cases, human or otherwise, it doesn't no matter what, sad to say. But you can control to the best of your ability. It takes time to get the right combination of the insulin and just when you had it figured out, the disease will change the rules, this is where becoming a detective comes in play - stress maybe, new changes in the home life, maybe a cold, some other illness coming on...
Have a good relationship with your vet will also help..It is important to know that not all vets know about this disease as much as they would like you to think, ask questions, ask again, do not accept everything they say or tell you you must do without questioning. If they won't or can't give you an answer to your questions, then maybe time to interview another. Let them know you have the controlling say, let them know you have another support team here with this site with ones who have gone through this, some more than once. If the vet is good, they will understand and accept this...I had no problem firing doctors until I found the right fit for me..
If you don't monitor at home, think about it, yes it might seem scary to you, thinking you are hurting your dog, etc but it has been a life savor to many humans and even to the dogs, it lets you know if you are having lows or highs and you can treat accordingly. Take your time making this decision if you are not sure, we can help guide you through this, even the vet should show you how to do this. Human meters are not as accurate in testing dogs, but it still is a great guide, and the vet can test at the office same time you do with the meter and you will then know how much of a difference there is between the vet's and your meter to give you an idea.
But do also know, this disease does suck, you never get use to it, you will hate it at times, but do know you will do what is needed and you will gain the confidence needed to control. You will know this is not the end of the world but just a new way of life and we are here for you.
Humans go through many emotions, denial, depression, anger. Diabetes can be affected by these emotions, many things can affect the diabetes and cause it to be out of wack - hormones if a female. If the female dog is not spayed or a male not nutered,she/he will experience problems with their numbers when in heat. Yes even humans will experience these changes also, more so the females.
The dogs don't understand the emotional part of denial or anger, but they do sense something is wrong with them, and of course dealing to them is "acting up". I also believe a dog/or any animal can experience depression bought on by this disease. You may notice them starting to be clingy to you or spouse, they might suddenly start having accidents, or maybe they just are not nice lol. Humans can be actually obnoxious at times depending on their numbers being low or even high and they do not even realize they are behaving this way.
Low Blood Sugar:
This can cause agressiveness, is your dog snapping or acting out. Do you notice they are acting extremely hungry, begging for something to eat. Acting nervous, panting too much, or acting confused. Difficulty walking, lack of energy, maybe drowsiness?
If you notice these and there are so many others, (but then doggies can't tell you if their eyesight is acting up or they have a headache or slurred speech) do test their blood glucose if you are monitoring at home.
Rule of thumb for a human is 15 carbs test 15 minutes. With the doggies, try a bit of kayro syrup, honey, or peanut butter on you finger, if the dog can eat peanut butter. Even a small milk bone can help.
This is a good reason, just experiencing lows, to monitor your dog's glucose at home. Experiencing a serious low can result in seizures, loss of consciousness and even low body temperature.
High Blood Sugar:
Extremely thirsty, frequent urination, even in the house even though they are housebroken. Suddenly you might notice them itching constantly (high numbers can cause dry itchy skin) weight loss coming on quickly, and even increased appetite. And of course unconsciousness and confusion. Keeping numbers high and out of control can also cause heart problems, eye sight issues, ketoacidosis, and kidney complications.
Granted highs and lows have some of the same symptoms and it is confusing to figure out what is what, so that is where testing (monitoring) comes in play.
I know in the beginning I was so totally confused and could not 'read' my body, and I know you as furbaby mommies/daddies, you are even more so, but in time it does become easier, you do learn how they act with a low or a high, usually you won't notice one symptom for both situations.
Along with diet, you will need to make sure there is exercise added to their daily routine, don't let them become couch potatoes. Get their favorite toy and go outside, even a few minutes is better than none. Exercise will help control the numbers and move the sugar through the system to lower the numbers. Do not exercise them when they are extremely high, this can cause a fast drop and almost for sure send them into a hypo.
Dogs sometimes do not accept diet changes readily. We as humans of course know we cannot eat what we had been doing and need to be make changes if we want to be healthy. Dogs might fight you with this change....do it gradually, making adjustments accordingly to their insulin to help control, hopefully you will be able to make a change to a better food choice within a week or two. Many will cook for the dogs instead of store bought or even special foods suggested by the vet. But the goal is to feed every twelve hours. Some might want their 'cookies' which they use to get....try subbing veggies for that if they like them.
The numbers will not stabilize immediately...it doesn't happen with humans and won't with the doggies...It takes time for the body to adjust and in some cases, human or otherwise, it doesn't no matter what, sad to say. But you can control to the best of your ability. It takes time to get the right combination of the insulin and just when you had it figured out, the disease will change the rules, this is where becoming a detective comes in play - stress maybe, new changes in the home life, maybe a cold, some other illness coming on...
Have a good relationship with your vet will also help..It is important to know that not all vets know about this disease as much as they would like you to think, ask questions, ask again, do not accept everything they say or tell you you must do without questioning. If they won't or can't give you an answer to your questions, then maybe time to interview another. Let them know you have the controlling say, let them know you have another support team here with this site with ones who have gone through this, some more than once. If the vet is good, they will understand and accept this...I had no problem firing doctors until I found the right fit for me..
If you don't monitor at home, think about it, yes it might seem scary to you, thinking you are hurting your dog, etc but it has been a life savor to many humans and even to the dogs, it lets you know if you are having lows or highs and you can treat accordingly. Take your time making this decision if you are not sure, we can help guide you through this, even the vet should show you how to do this. Human meters are not as accurate in testing dogs, but it still is a great guide, and the vet can test at the office same time you do with the meter and you will then know how much of a difference there is between the vet's and your meter to give you an idea.
But do also know, this disease does suck, you never get use to it, you will hate it at times, but do know you will do what is needed and you will gain the confidence needed to control. You will know this is not the end of the world but just a new way of life and we are here for you.
