Living with a Diabetic Pet

This beautiful feline is "Emmy". She is a senior citizen at 19 years of age and has been living with diabetes for over 7 years now. I am fortunate enough to be able to take care of Emmy when her mom goes out of town, and they have both taught me so much! Thanks to them, not only have I become quite the expert at administering insulin shots, but I have also been the lucky recipient of Emmy's loving, extremely patient spirit. Moreover, I am grateful to Cindy (Emmy's mom) for renewing my faith in humans with her unwaivering TLC and persistence in accepting the challenges of this role.

Cindy was kind enough to pass on the following tips she has learned over the years:

1. The good news is that a diabetic pet can live a long and happy life!
2. Find a vet that you can trust and who thoroughly understands your pet- you need to know what to expect when your pet gets too much or too litle insulin.
3. The level of insulin required does not remain constant. As an animal ages and loses weight, the dosage will decrease.
4. Make sure your pet has had a full meal before giving insulin - this alone could cause an overdose.
5. It is possible to either give too much insulin (overdose) or give too little (underdose). Over time, you will learn what type of behavior your pet exhibits in both situations. If an overdose has occurred, make sure you have Karo syrup on hand. Rubbing some on your pet's gums is the first response to an overdose. You should also do everything possible to keep your pet safe, like temporarily confining them to a small area, as their behavior will not be normal.

For more detailed information on animal diabetes, visit www.noah-health.org/en/healthy/pet/disease/diabetes.html.

If you live in Raleigh, check out our website: www.noplacelikehomepetsitting.org.