Updated on May 25, 2023
When measuring the dog’s insulin level, human glucometers are occasionally employed. The problem is that this data isn’t always reliable. However, dogs can be a useful tool in keeping tabs on your blood sugar levels.
Dog Glucometer Vs. Human Glucometer
Having a home device that can monitor blood glucose levels is ideal if you are caring for a diabetic dog. One can simply monitor their blood pressure with one of the many glucometers on the market, both for humans and their dogs. It’s also a great technique to figure out if your medicine is doing the trick.
When compared to its animal counterpart, the human glucometer is quite cheap. However, the results you get from the dog glucometer will be reliable because it was designed with canines in mind. There is a significant difference in readings when a human glucometer is used on a dog and vice versa, as has been shown by previous research.
Can You Use a Human Glucometer on Dogs?
A dog with diabetes can utilise a human glucometer, to put it briefly. If you insist on using this tool, keep in mind that precise readings are not to be expected. Point-of-care glucometers can easily measure blood glucose in any species, according to medical publications. Cross-contamination between human and canine blood is a possibility, which poses risks in particular situations.
The discrepancy is roughly 75–80 percent, which is significant and potentially dangerous for diabetes-prone dog breeds. It also won’t show you whether or not the treatment is helping your pet. Getting your dog its very own dog glucometer is the finest solution.
Can You Test a Dog’s Blood Sugar at Home?
Dogs can be tested for diabetes with ease at home with the help of a pet-specific glucose metre. However, regular blood glucose testing is essential for effective diabetes management in your pet. While the method of measuring glucose in animals and humans is consistent, the findings will change based on the instrument.
It’s possible for a human glucose metre that was originally used on dogs to give false readings. The main reason it can’t provide precise metering is that there are significant variances in the way that glucose is distributed in dogs and people.
The plasma contains 58% of the human body’s glucose, while the RBCs have the remaining 42%.
Only 5% of the glucose in a dog’s body is found in the plasma; the other 12.5% is stored in the red blood cells.
What Breeds of Dogs Are Prone to Diabetes?
Canine diabetes, sometimes known as diabetes mellitus, is a metabolic disorder characterised by abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood. Dogs with diabetes produce inadequate amounts of insulin, a hormone that keeps their blood sugar in check.
Dogs of middle age and up often suffer from this illness. About one in every 300 dogs is thought to have this disorder. Some dog breeds are predisposed to diabetes. Here is a rundown of those species:
Dogs that resemble Cockers, or Spaniels,
Dachshunds
Doberman Pinschers
AKC German Shepherds
Retrievers, Golden
Keeshond
Retrievers from the Labrador breed
Miniature Schnauzers
Pomeranians
Samoyeds \sTerriers
Puppy Dogs
How Often Do I Need to Check My Dog’s Glucose?
Canine health is negatively impacted by two different forms of diabetes. You have insulin-deficient diabetes if your dog’s blood does not produce enough insulin. When insulin is still effective, however, we talk about diabetes with insulin resistance. But the body is still not using it to control blood sugar.
Let’s say you’ve noticed certain symptoms that make you think your dog might have diabetes mellitus.
Then, controlling your pet’s blood glucose level is a must. Having a dog glucometer at home allows for frequent blood monitoring. Every three to four months is a good benchmark for routine blood glucose monitoring in veterinary medicine.
What Is a Normal Blood Sugar Level for A Dog?
A dog’s blood glucose level needs to stay within a strict range if it is to be healthy. Knowing the shape of your dog’s blood glucose curve will make it much simpler to measure his or her blood sugar and track any improvements brought on by the use of insulin. For efficient management of diabetes in your dog, the blood glucose level should be kept between 100 and 250 mg/dL on a daily basis.
Can Dogs Measure Blood Sugar in Humans?
The continual measurement and monitoring of blood sugar levels might be challenging for humans with diabetes. Additionally, it can be difficult for persons already debilitated by this illness to conduct hourly readings of blood sugar. It’s a relief to know that trained Diabetic Alert Dogs can provide support while monitoring blood sugar levels.
It has been proved by scientists that medical detection canines can detect and test a person’s blood sugar levels by sniffing their exhaled isoprene. When you breathe out, you release this chemical. Therefore, a person’s isoprene levels can be used as a reliable indicator of whether or not they have diabetes.
Indicator of Diabetes When a person’s blood sugar level fluctuates, a dog will be able to sense it long before the person feels sick. This can assist a diabetic get their medication ready in case their condition suddenly worsens.
How Should Your Dog’s Blood Sugar Be Measured?
Blood samples are taken from your dog’s pinna during home monitoring to check his or her blood sugar levels (earflap).
Take care to keep your dog’s ears toasty. As a result, it’s less of a challenge to draw blood from this location. If it doesn’t, try holding it between your palms for a minute.
Isopropyl alcohol can be used to disinfect your dog’s ear canal. Then you should puncture your dog’s ear with a hypodermic needle or lancet that has been properly sterilised.
Use the dog glucometer or glucose test strip to collect the blood samples.
Apply pressure with a cotton swab to the area surrounding your dog’s ear until the bleeding stops.
Find out what happened.
How To Do Make Sure Dog Blood Sugar Is Normal?
Over the course of a 24-hour period, the blood glucose level of a stable dog exhibiting diabetic symptoms should fall anywhere between 5 and 12 mmol/l (90 and 216 mg/dl). It’s important to check the dog’s blood sugar levels by collecting blood and urine samples.
Maintaining a blood glucose level over the usual range indicates inadequate insulin production or distribution if your dog has it.
Your vet may recommend learning the fundamentals of blood sugar monitoring so you can keep tabs on your pet’s blood sugar levels. If you suspect your dog has diabetes, look for these symptoms.
Canine polyuria, or excessive urinating
Polydipsia, also known as excessive thirst,
Polyphagia, or excessive hunger,
Loss of body fat that can be seen, despite an increase in hunger
