I'm hoping for some advice about managing my newly diagnosed dog, Juicy - she's eight years old, a labxkelpie, 27kg. Any advice would be wonderful, as this is all super new to us, but in particular we're starting to have trouble at injection time - especially just towards the end of the shot. The actual needlestick itself doesn't seem to bother her.
She was diagnosed with diabetes just over a week ago and started on 7 units of insulin AM/PM. At first she stood there calmly while I injected her, had a treat, gentle massage of the area afterwards. Everything seemed to be going pretty smoothly. As her dose was increased over the week, though, she started whimpering and pulling away at the end of the injection. She's now at 14 units AM/PM and consistently pulling away towards the end of the injection, whimpering, very distressed. Last night we had the worst attempt ever, and this morning she tried to hide from the syringe. She's getting very stressed about injection time, and I'm really upset to see her like that.
We started off so well, and I know it's only been a week, but it feels like we're going rapidly backwards. I assume her insulin will be increased again after she goes back for another curve next week, and I really want to find a way to make this better for her. I've tried to take a very practical, no-nonsense approach to injection time, because she is an anxious dog, but last night, for example, I was feeling pretty confident (as we'd had a good morning injection), but she just seems to be in pain towards the end of the shot.
I'm injecting around her scruff, in a slightly different area each time (say left, right, upper, lower areas of the scruff), squeezing a fold of skin/fat and trying to inject quickly and smoothly. She doesn't like being stroked around her hips, so I haven't tried that area. I'm using a 0.3mL 0.25mm (31G) x 8mm syringe with a short needle. She gets a treat she really likes before and after, lots of hugs and praise.
If anyone has an advice or suggestions about what might be triggering this reaction at the end of the injection, or any advice at all that stands out to you, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!
Jo & Juicy
She was diagnosed with diabetes just over a week ago and started on 7 units of insulin AM/PM. At first she stood there calmly while I injected her, had a treat, gentle massage of the area afterwards. Everything seemed to be going pretty smoothly. As her dose was increased over the week, though, she started whimpering and pulling away at the end of the injection. She's now at 14 units AM/PM and consistently pulling away towards the end of the injection, whimpering, very distressed. Last night we had the worst attempt ever, and this morning she tried to hide from the syringe. She's getting very stressed about injection time, and I'm really upset to see her like that.
We started off so well, and I know it's only been a week, but it feels like we're going rapidly backwards. I assume her insulin will be increased again after she goes back for another curve next week, and I really want to find a way to make this better for her. I've tried to take a very practical, no-nonsense approach to injection time, because she is an anxious dog, but last night, for example, I was feeling pretty confident (as we'd had a good morning injection), but she just seems to be in pain towards the end of the shot.
I'm injecting around her scruff, in a slightly different area each time (say left, right, upper, lower areas of the scruff), squeezing a fold of skin/fat and trying to inject quickly and smoothly. She doesn't like being stroked around her hips, so I haven't tried that area. I'm using a 0.3mL 0.25mm (31G) x 8mm syringe with a short needle. She gets a treat she really likes before and after, lots of hugs and praise.
If anyone has an advice or suggestions about what might be triggering this reaction at the end of the injection, or any advice at all that stands out to you, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!
Jo & Juicy
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