Now, there is a growing interest on diabetic-alert dogs, which are trained especially to help patients with Type 1 diabetes prevent the dangers of having a drop in their insulin level. A study conducted at Queen’s University Belfast in December 2008 on 212 diabetic dog owners who are insulin dependent showed that 65% of them were given warning signs by their pets when they are in the verge of having a hypoglycemic episode. These warning signs include barking, whining, and licking.

There are a few non-profit organizations that train dogs in order to assist diabetic patients by improving their sense of smell. According to these groups, dogs can sniff a certain scent that is directly related to insulin drop in humans. Such actions are very instrumental to preventing coma or seizures, which can occur among people with hypoglycemic episodes.

Carol Edwards, the Program Director of Dogs4Diabetics, says that dogs have an uncanny ability to smell blood sugar level drop before it actually happens, however, the answers to the “how’s” and “why’s” have yet to be determined. This is the reason why the American Diabetes Association has not yet given the green light on backing up claims on diabetic alert dogs.

Although this may be the case, it has not stopped diabetic patients from taking interest, and eventually, owning a service dog to help them. Kristin Wilson, for one, puts her trust on her pet Kolumbo, who is always at least 80% accurate in detecting an impending blood sugar drop. Many others, some of them kids, have grown to love and appreciate their service dogs which keep them safe from hypoglycemic episodes particularly at night.

Both women claim their dogs have done a great job at detecting any drop in blood-sugar levels. Although not yet scientifically proven, the Diabetics4Dogs, a nonprofit organization that holds trainings for these diabetic-alert canines, firmly believe in a dog’s ability to ‘smell’ a hypoglycemic episode. In fact, a study was conducted at Queen’s University Belfast (Ireland) in 2008, where 212 dog owners with Type 1 diabetes were questioned, and it was found that 65% of the dogs reacted to such an episode at least once, while about 31% reacted to more than 11 hypoglycemic episodes.

Such reactions include licking their owners, jumping on them, or barking, while others got scared and ran away, trembling. Take note that none of these dogs had proper training.

Kolumbo and Sherman were trained by Diabetics4Dogs in Bay Area, Concord CA. According to the Program Director, Carol Edwards, these dogs have the ability to smell endorphins and acetone, among others. During training, the dogs are exposed to the smell of such elements, or the scent of low-blood sugar, along with other types of training such as social and obedience training. She did indicate that since they started training service dogs in 2004, a few owners have brought back their dogs because of their inability to detect hypoglycemia.

Wilson and Zamora, however, have remained grateful for their dogs. Being insulin dependents, their sugar levels could go down to a dangerous level without any warning sign, and may result to seizures, and even coma. Zamora has had 7 seizures in her life, 5 of which have occurred over the last 2 years. Wilson has not encountered any, but says having Kolumbo is very instrumental to seizure prevention.

Wilson says that to get Kulombo, she spent $50 for application, a hundred dollars for training materials, and miscellaneous costs such as the dog crate was about $1,400. Currently, she and her dog are in training and will not graduate until Kulombo becomes very accurate at detecting any drop in blood sugar levels. On the other hand, Zamora says her dog is very accurate, detecting 3 hypoglycemic episodes in the past 2 weeks alone.

What makes Seth stand out from everyone else diagnosed with the same medical condition is that he has his very own Service dog named Rex.

This 16-week old pup’s main job is to warn his owner if there are glucose level fluctuations. This is especially helpful, and even life-saving, for young kids like Seth, who at night can render themselves very susceptible to possible glucose level fluctuations, without parents knowing it.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) community manager in Phoenix, AZ., Sara Sparman, says there has been a lot of inquiries about these diabetes-alert dogs, and numerous people are very interested, however, price seems to be a huge factor to consider.

Getting one such dog, along with basic and specialized trainings could easily cost a whopping $8,000.

Luckily for Seth, he was able to raise the amount with the help of fundraising events in his community and school, with full support from family and friends.

According to Sparman, these diabetes-alert dogs are found to be extremely helpful when the child or patient is asleep, and could certainly compliment the use of blood-glucose monitors.

There are hi-tech gizmos available, such as the one that Seth has, but the problem arises when kids are asleep and they basically just sleep through even with alarms going off.

First of all, you need to keep track of his daily activities, and this includes a record as to when insulin was administered. This is especially helpful if there is more than one person in the household. Record-keeping can prevent confusion, under-dosage and over-dosage can take place if you are not too careful.

Second, you should make sure you give your dog something to drink at all times. You should have bowls of water available in many parts of the house including the outdoor areas, as diabetic dogs are very prone to thirst.

Third, keep sweets out of reach from your dog. Remember, we want to lower down his glucose level. If you have children in the house, you need to educate them regarding the dog’s condition as they might just leave candies and cookies around, or might even give your dog some of their food as a treat.

Fourth, you should have a list of phone numbers of the vet and animal clinics or hospitals, should emergency arise. Take note that your dog’s condition is delicate and emergencies might just happen, so you want to be ready for that.

Fifth, you should also have a readily available bottle of honey because your dog might become hypoglycemic. Now you might wonder how a dog who is supposed to have too much sugar in the body become hypoglycemic – which is brought about by too little sugar or glucose? This is tip number 6.

If your dog gets an overdose of insulin, or if his exercise activities become too strenuous, his glucose in the body would go down altogether. Too much or too little of glucose is never good, so make sure that everybody is careful when it comes to diet plans, dosage and exercise activities for your dog.

Seventh, it is important that your dog gets regular visits to his vet so his condition can be assessed and monitored. Additionally, many diabetic dogs get urinary tract infections so the vet can also check if your dog has one.

And lastly, give your dog the love and attention he needs. You need to spend more time with him, in the same way you would for a sick person. Spending time with your pet would put more enthusiasm and strength, which will surely be very instrumental for him to live normally.

Below are the most common problems associated with diabetes in dogs.

1. Blindness

Due to excess glucose in the body, it goes into the lens of the eyes. The glucose found in the lens turns into sorbitol which brings about more water in the eyes. When this happens, the normal eye functions become disrupted, and the lens would then turn cloudy. Consequently, the dog’s eyesight will be badly affected, causing partial or complete blindness. This can be treated through surgery but only if the dog’s condition is stable enough to withstand the procedure.

2. Ketoacidosis

When your dog’s breath starts to smell like nail polish, it is an indication that he may have ketoacidosis. What is it and why do diabetic dogs develop this condition?

Ketoacidosis is a very dangerous disease that usually occurs when a diabetic dog is not given proper treatment. As you are probably aware, when a dog has diabetes, insulin production is affected. When there is no insulin, the body’s glucose level goes up. As a natural response, the body then metabolizes stored fat and turns it into fatty acids which would then be processed in the liver to produce ketones.

On normal levels, ketones are effective in boosting the body’s energy, but when produced in high amounts, which is the case if insulin is unavailable, it causes ketoacidosis which could be fatal if not treated immediately.

3. Recurring Infections

Dogs with diabetes have weakened immune systems and are thus prone to infections. Additionally, a high level of glucose in the body also attracts bacteria, which thrives well in such conditions. Urinary tract infection is also common because when there is excess glucose in the urinary tract, it will house more bacteria, both good and bad ones. It is therefore necessary for you to ensure that your dog lives in a clean environment to prevent the onset of infections which could further cause difficulties his condition.

As you may have realized, these complications can be prevented if you follow treatments and recommendations made by your dog’s vet. A diabetic dog’s condition may require extra attention and care nonetheless, long-term problems are avoidable.

Below are the most common names in canine diabetes drugs.

1. Vetsulin

Vetsulin is the only veterinary insulin that has been approved by the FDA. This is porcine insulin which differs from human insulin, and is the preferred choice because it has similar protein sequence as that of dogs. Effectiveness lasts for about 14 hours.

This drug is not advisable to use for pets with allergic reactions to pork. Standard dosage is 0.5 unit of insulin/kg of body weight.

Although Vetsulin is very effective in making sure the body gets insulin, it poses a danger against hypoglycaemia, if the dosage given is not accurate. When given too much Vetsulin, or any form of insulin, it will bring about a very low level of glucose which results in the said condition.

2. Glipizide

This drug is taken in the form of a tablet and functions to control glucose level in the blood. It takes its action in the pancreas by stimulating it to produce insulin.

Dosage is 5mg taken twice daily but this may vary depending on the weight of your dog as well as the severity of the condition. The vet should be able to give you the correct dosage. Side effects include vomiting, nausea, confusion, and numbness. As for dangers, studies show Glipizide is not harmful as long as it is given in the proper dosage.

Originally, this drug was made for humans but was found to produce significant effects on animals. It is important that you know however that this drug is not a cure for diabetes but it does help manage the condition. Its efficacy is not as high as injectables either, but this would be a good alternative if the pet is allergic to pork, or if the pet owner is hesitant to administer intravenously.

3. DDAVP

Desmopressin Acetate of DDAVP is the synthetic version of vasopressin which is an antidiuretic hormone. DDAVP is used as treatment for Diabetes Insipidus, specifically Central Diabetes Insipidus, and it also controls excessive urination brought about by this condition.

Dosage is 1-2 drops per nostril or per eye sac, or as determined by the vet. DDAVP is generally safe however prolonged use can cause fluid retention and may also cause eye inflammation.

The good thing about having your own glucometer reader at home is that you can save a lot of money from vet consultations, and your readings are taken real time, i.e. right after meals, and can be done as often as necessary.

The information here is based on two types of measuring systems- millimole per liter (mmol/L) and milligram per deciliter (mg/dL).

(mmol/L) (mg/dL)

<2.2     <40

Any reading below this would indicate hypoglycemia therefore treatment should be given immediately. This condition is a result of too much insulin, and may take place without any sign or symptom.

2.7-7.5     50-130

This is a good range when you have not administered insulin to your dog. However, if insulin was given and his glucose level reading is in between these numbers, it might not be a safe outcome.

3.2-4.4     57-79

This range is normal for non-diabetic pets. But if your dog was administered with insulin, this is also not an ideal range. If it is stable in this range though, it should be okay.

5     90

This should be the ideal lowest blood sugar level when your pet is insulin-controlled.

7.8     140

This should be the maximum level for human blood glucose after a meal, and since glucose levels for both humans and dogs are similar, glucose level of your pet should not be any higher than this otherwise, organ dysfunction, particularly the pancreas, may occur.

5.5-10     100-180

Diabetic dogs should aim at maintaining this range.

<10-15     <180-270

This is the “Renal threshold” although this may vary from dog to dog. This could be an indication of hyperglycemia.

14     250

This is already an unsafe level. This can cause blindness in dogs as well as ketoacidosis.

>20     >360

At this level, insulin should be administered immediately. Call the vet as this sugar level is already considered dangerous and may bring about long term ill effects to your dog.

Remember that if the glucose level is too low, this could result in hypoglycemia which is a result of excessive insulin. In this case, insulin should be stopped until the level goes down, or medication that lowers insulin should be administered. If glucose level is too high, this could result in hyperglycemia or ketoacidosis, or both, and in this case, insulin should be given right away.

Giving your dog a well-balanced meal every time is very important. It is also recommended that you do away with regular pet food and simply concoct a home-made healthy meal for him or buy specialized meals if this is what the vet suggests.

However, bear in mind that as with our diet plans, their diet plans are not uniform for all, and what may work for one dog will not be as effective for another. To ascertain you get your dog’s diet plan right, you should consult with the vet. Here are the basic things you need to remember when feeding your diabetic dog.

1. Avoid foods with high fat content.

If your dog’s pancreas does not function properly, you should not feed him anything that will cause him to gain weight. Obesity will only worsen canine diabetes so scrap this off the menu.

2. Avoid sugars.

Whether it is natural or commercial sugars, it should not be given to your dog. Remember that our goal here is to lower glucose level, and if you feed him food that contains sugar, regardless of how insignificant the amount is, it will simply take us much farther from our goal, and ultimately, it is our dog that will suffer. So, even if it is just a treat, cross it out.

3. Increase fiber intake.

In our meals, we always make sure we eat fiber-enriched foods to aid in proper digestion. This is exactly the way it is for your dog. Since his digestive system is unable to function properly, fiber would certainly help. Though you have been giving him foods containing fiber ever since, increasing the amount would be beneficial as it will help in digesting carbohydrates which help in lowering down glucose level.

There are home-made and commercial diabetic meals available for your dog. Both are recommended because these are especially made to help your dog maintain low glucose level. Your next step now is to have a talk with the vet and discuss your dog’s meal plan. He knows what type of meals will be most helpful to your dog.

Below are the symptoms of canine diabetes. If you notice that your dog is showing one or two of these, you will do him good by having him checked by a vet.

1. Frequent urination

Do you notice your dog urinating more often than usual? It could be a symptom. You see, once a dog has diabetes, blood glucose is increased in abnormal levels. Sugar, when it goes down to the dog’s urinary tract, would increase the amount of urine and this is why the dogs pee more often if they have diabetes.

2. Extreme thirst

High levels of sugar or glucose in the blood can bring about thirst. If your dog seems to have an insatiable desire to drink water, then it should be a warning sign for diabetes.

3. Weight loss

If your dog appears to have a pretty good appetite and yet you notice that he is losing weight, it could be because of the aforementioned medical condition. This is because insulin production is lowered, and once this happens, normal digestion cannot take place.

4. Weakness and dullness

If your dog is afflicted with diabetes, he will feel weak. His coat would also appear dull and the eyes would look tired. He may want to just sleep all the time and he will not be as playful as he used to be.

5. Sweet breath

Due to the high levels of glucose in your dog’s body, it will manifest in his breath. While your dog’s breath should normally smell like “dog breath” (if you are a pet owner, you would know what this means), the occurrence of diabetes will cause his breath to smell sweet and sugar-ish.

6. Vomiting and shaking

A diabetic dog will often vomit. Moreover, if he becomes hypoglycemic, he might be shaking and may also lose consciousness. This can be extremely dangerous so medical attention should be sought immediately.

These are the usual symptoms of canine diabetes. If you notice that your dog exhibits these symptoms, get ahold of his veterinarian right away so that treatment will be given. If your dog does not get treated right away, it could be dangerous and as a responsible pet owner, you do not want to commit a fatal mistake.

The following are the different treatment options for you. Depending on the severity of the condition, you may either be advised to use any one, or all of these.

1. Diet

A good diet plan for your dog would be meals that have zero fat and sugar. His meals should be fiber-rich and with high carbohydrate content, or as prescribed by the vet. You can find commercial diabetic dog food in stores and pet shops, or you can also opt to prepare home-made meals for him. As a precaution though, never feed him anything without discussing it with the vet as it may be harmful for your diabetic dog.

2. Weight Loss Program: Exercise

Yes, your dog needs one. Aside from proper nutrition, your dog may need to exercise everyday too. A daily walk would help him burn calories and utilize the excess sugar in the body. Take note however that your dog may be weak because of his condition so you need to be gentle on the exercise program.

3. Medication

Since your dog’s pancreas can no longer produce sufficient insulin, the best and most important treatment for your dog is insulin. You can administer this as an oral dose or intravenously, but the problem with buying the tablet form is that absorption becomes very ineffective since this is a protein substance.

You can purchase injectables; don’t worry though, the needles are small and are not really painful for your dog. There are also oral medications available, but the potency may not be as high as that of IV dosage. You should also talk with your doctor regarding which type of medication is best for him.

There is also a type of diabetes which occurs among pregnant female dogs. Since administering medication might be dangerous for her and her pups, the best treatment is diet and exercise.

These 3 types of treatment are necessary to help your diabetic dog manage his condition. While cure is not guaranteed, these treatment options are definitely helpful in lowering down the glucose level which is the goal we need to attain when our dog has diabetes. Consistency is important for diabetes treatment. If not done regularly, your dog’s condition could worsen.