Fee Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 When OH took Callie to the vet's yesterday he met one of our elderly neighbours, very distressed because her old dog has just been diagnosed with diabetes and will need a daily injection. Neither this lady nor her dog are very mobile, and although the vet's surgery isn't far it is going to be a real struggle for her to get there. David is giving her a lift there this morning and said he will take her when he can, but his working hours mean that this isn't always going to be possible. I don't drive, so can't be much help even on the days I'm at home. I have no experience of canine diabetes, and wondered - do the injections have to be given by a vet, or can people be trained to do them at home? The dog's owner has very shaky hands so I doubt she would be able to do it, but is it something I could learn to do? This lady adores her dog, so I'm really desperate to find a way to help her if I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sproggie14 Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 (edited) It should just be a simple subcutaneous injection which is very easy to do. Edited March 9, 2006 by sproggie14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooster Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Should be able to be done at home. One of my friends occasionally looks after a diabetic collie, and they have to catch her wee in a container a few times a day, test it, and inject her with insulin. I think she has to go for more regular check ups at the vets than a 'normal' dog, but other than that, it's all left for the owners to do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muriel Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Yes, can be done at home - one of the old chaps in the village learnt to do it for his wee dog when he (the dog) became diabetic. Should be easy for you to learn. All the best to all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Fee, I thought these would generally be done at home. It would cost a fortune to visit the vets every day for an appointment wouldn't it? Can you go along with her to the vet to be shown how to do it one day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernie Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Once stabilised yes the insulin is usually given by the owner at home. My friend had a diabetic dog and gave insulin injections to her dog for over 5 years after checking her urine in a morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Rumpelstiltskin Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Yeh, we have had dogs in the kennels that needed insulin and its easy enough. The vet will go through everything, and what to do if the dog has a hypo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fee Posted March 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Thanks all. I had a chat with the lady yesterday - one of the vet nurses who lives in the next road has volunteered to call in on her way to work and do the urine test and the injections for the moment, which I thought was really sweet. Once they are sure the condition is stabilised we're going to sort out a rota between me and a couple of other neighbours who have offered to help, and get ourselves trained to do the injections. I just hope all goes well for this old dog, she and her owner are both so sweet and are absolutely devoted to one another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooster Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Good for you - it's lovely that a few people have volunteered to help her Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted March 17, 2006 Report Share Posted March 17, 2006 That's great news Fee, hope things work out for them both Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandymoss Posted March 18, 2006 Report Share Posted March 18, 2006 glad u have found some help. my uncles dog was diabetic and they injected insulin at home for over 2 years with no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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