Getting Started with Treatment of Diabetes for Dogs and Cats in Amesbury, MA

Diabetes mellitus is a condition when the body does not produce enough insulin. The signs include drinking more water, urinating more, eating more, and losing weight. It is common for diabetic dogs to form cataracts and both dogs and cats are prone to infections.  Infection can make diabetes hard to control so the presence of a bladder or oral infection needs to be checked and resolved when recognized.

Treatment of diabetes requires a special diet, 1-2 insulin injections per day, good observation skills at home, a regular feeding and injection schedule, and regular visits to MVAH.  All food and supplies are available at MVAH or at Covetrus, our online pharmacy.

The costs are variable from pet to pet and depend on response to treatment but can range from $400-$600 the first month and then $200-$300/month thereafter but, the cost can increase significantly if they do not respond to the insulin in the typical way or have emergencies especially on the weekend or at night.

Diet and Insulin for Your Diabetic Pet

We recommend that diabetic dogs eat Hill’s Prescription w/d dry and/or canned food and cats eat Hill's Prescription m/d canned food only.  They need to eat 2 meals a day and food should not be left out between meals.  Take one week to transition them to their new food, but after that, feed only the special diet. They can have some treats, but the brand of treat, the number of treats and the time of day they are given needs to be the same every day.  Hill’s Prescription Diets are available at MVAH, but we can also arrange home delivery from Covetrus.

Dogs will be prescribed Vetsulin insulin with the proper syringes and cats will be prescribed Lantus Solostar glargine pens with proper syringes.  Vetsulin is available at MVAH, or we can arrange home delivery from Covetrus.  MVAH does not stock Lantus pens for cats, but they are available at Covetrus.

SAMPLE schedule for feeding and giving injections:

Feed 1 cup of Hill’s canine w/d at 7am and give 6 units of insulin at 7:10am

Feed 1 cup of Hill’s canine w/d at 7pm and give 6 units of insulin at 7:10 pm

How to Give an Injection of Vetsulin to Dogs

A veterinary technician will show you how to do this.

Supplies: Vetsulin and U40 Insulin Syringes

  1. Remove insulin from the refrigerator and roll the bottle between palms of hands to mix
  2. Insert needle into the bottle and then hold bottle upside down
  3. Draw the recommended dose into the syringe and remove any air
  4. Give the injection under the skin usually in the shoulder area but anywhere on the body is fine
  5. Replace the cap on the needle using a one hand technique
  6. Discard the needle and syringe into a red sharps container or metal container such as a coffee can. These containers should not be put in the trash. Return the full containers to MVAH for legal disposal.

How to Give an Injection of Lantus Insulin to Cats

A veterinary technician will show you how to do this.

Supplies:  Lantus Solostar pens and U100 insulin syringes

  1. Remove the Solostar pen from the refrigerator, insert the needle into the end of the pen
  2. Withdraw the recommended dose, remove any air in the syringe
  3. Give the injection under the skin usually in the shoulder area but anywhere on the body is fine
  4. Replace the cap on the needle with a one hand technique
  5. Discard the needle and syringe into a red sharps container or metal container such as a coffee can. These containers should not be put in the trash. Return the full containers to MVAH for legal disposal.

What You Need to do at Home

  • Observe eating, urinating, and drinking habits. As the blood sugar returns to normal, your pet should drink and urinate less.
  • Give insulin injections and feed as recommended. If you have any problems or questions call us before the recheck appointment.
  • Establish a clear schedule of who will do the injections. Missing an occasional injection is not an emergency but getting 2 injections closer than every 10-12 hours could be.
  • Observe for signs of low blood sugar. Most pets look wobbly, dazed, weak or drunk or, in severe situations, you may find them unconscious. If you think they are showing these signs, and they are conscious, give 1 tablespoon (15ml) of karo syrup per 20#.  If they are not conscious rub some karo on their gums and get them to MVAH or the emergency hospital if we are not open.

Complications and What You Do

  1. If your pet does not eat their meal, is vomiting, acting lethargic, or has other signs of illness do not give them insulin and call the hospital for instructions.
  2. If you are not sure if they got their injection do not give more insulin.
  3. If you forgot to give the insulin and it is within 2-3 hours of the normal injection time you can give the injection; if it is later than 3 hours after the normal injection time skip that injection and give the next injection at the recommended time.
  4. Do not change the dose of insulin, the type of insulin, the needles, add food or change food without checking with us first.

Checklist of Things You Need Today:

  • Insulin, needles and starting dose
  • Food and feeding schedule
  • Red sharps container
  • 20cc syringe for oral karo syrup
  • Recheck appointment for 1-2 weeks