Our chihuahua mix, Laika, was diagnosed with diabetes during a vet visit today. The vet prescribed the 12.5 oz. can of Hill's Prescription Diet w/d Multi-Benefit Vegetables and Chicken. This particular canned food is very expensive. I read diabetic dogs don't need to be on any special diet - or they can be fed certain human foods. Also, I believe there are less expensive diabetic dog foods.
I read it's better to give diabetic dogs canned food instead of dry food - is that true?
When we got home after the vet visit, Laika seemed very hungry. Typically, we gave her a little human food throughout the day, along with her generic dry dog food for small dogs. She only ate a little this morning, and was out for a while today for the vet visit. Maybe she was pretty stressed, too. The vet seemed to say that she should now eat only twice a day, spaced 12 hours apart. It seems 2 meals spaced 12 hours apart seems too long - especially for a dog accustomed to getting small amounts of food throughout the day. The Hills canned diabetic food she was prescribed seems very thin, not dense - and the vet said to give her half a can in the morning, and half a can at night, 12 hours later. It seems like she would be hungry on so little food a day.
I've read that diabetic dogs can be given insulin shots as little as 7.5 hours apart - is that true?
They said to give her an insulin shot 30 minutes after each feeding - but some sources say to give them WITH a meal. Can diabetic dogs have 3 meals a day so they won't have to wait so long between meals? Do they need an insulin shot after each meal, if they eat 3 meals a day?
The vet and vet techs said a lot - this is a pretty complicated condition for dogs. It was hard to catch everything they said. They also didn't seem to be too happy with my questions, or the questions of the family members I went in with. It was a fairly painful visit.
The vet said Laika needed to come in the next week and most likely stay the whole day at the clinic so they could take blood draws throughout the day - at least, I think that's what they said. Is this necessary? I haven't read about this anywhere else. We've already made an appointment for her for a week later to stay at the vet's the whole day. That sounds like it would be thousands of dollars. Today's visit was over $500.
It sounds very expensive caring for a diabetic dog, with any prescription food, special diet, insulin, shots, glucose/urine monitoring, vet visits, etc. Of course, we want the best possible care for our dog, and for her to enjoy a long, happy life.
Also, is it okay to give her treats throughout the day? The vet said to avoid giving her bread and rice, but said it was okay to give her vegetables and plain meats without a lot of oil or salt. What else can she be given as treats?
Sorry about all these questions. I don't think the vet, vet techs, and other employees there were working towards our best interests - so I feel the need to ask more questions in this forum. They seemed to be suspicious and contemptuous towards us, though we're extremely polite, kind, educated, good people who love and care for our dog very much.
I read it's better to give diabetic dogs canned food instead of dry food - is that true?
When we got home after the vet visit, Laika seemed very hungry. Typically, we gave her a little human food throughout the day, along with her generic dry dog food for small dogs. She only ate a little this morning, and was out for a while today for the vet visit. Maybe she was pretty stressed, too. The vet seemed to say that she should now eat only twice a day, spaced 12 hours apart. It seems 2 meals spaced 12 hours apart seems too long - especially for a dog accustomed to getting small amounts of food throughout the day. The Hills canned diabetic food she was prescribed seems very thin, not dense - and the vet said to give her half a can in the morning, and half a can at night, 12 hours later. It seems like she would be hungry on so little food a day.
I've read that diabetic dogs can be given insulin shots as little as 7.5 hours apart - is that true?
They said to give her an insulin shot 30 minutes after each feeding - but some sources say to give them WITH a meal. Can diabetic dogs have 3 meals a day so they won't have to wait so long between meals? Do they need an insulin shot after each meal, if they eat 3 meals a day?
The vet and vet techs said a lot - this is a pretty complicated condition for dogs. It was hard to catch everything they said. They also didn't seem to be too happy with my questions, or the questions of the family members I went in with. It was a fairly painful visit.
The vet said Laika needed to come in the next week and most likely stay the whole day at the clinic so they could take blood draws throughout the day - at least, I think that's what they said. Is this necessary? I haven't read about this anywhere else. We've already made an appointment for her for a week later to stay at the vet's the whole day. That sounds like it would be thousands of dollars. Today's visit was over $500.
It sounds very expensive caring for a diabetic dog, with any prescription food, special diet, insulin, shots, glucose/urine monitoring, vet visits, etc. Of course, we want the best possible care for our dog, and for her to enjoy a long, happy life.
Also, is it okay to give her treats throughout the day? The vet said to avoid giving her bread and rice, but said it was okay to give her vegetables and plain meats without a lot of oil or salt. What else can she be given as treats?
Sorry about all these questions. I don't think the vet, vet techs, and other employees there were working towards our best interests - so I feel the need to ask more questions in this forum. They seemed to be suspicious and contemptuous towards us, though we're extremely polite, kind, educated, good people who love and care for our dog very much.
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