Living with diabetes: Products to make it easier for pets and a GIVEAWAY

This giveaway happened in 2013 and is now over. But continue to check out these products that can help pets with diabetes.

All this month we are talking about diabetes awareness for dogs and cats. Check out our previous stories here.

Today we are talking about making it easier to live with diabetes, and be sure to read to the end of the article, because we are hosting a giveaweay!

Diabetes in pets causes a number of side issues. Many are actually very similar to human diabetes. So how can you make these issues easier for pets to live with? Here's a few products to consider.

BLOOD GLUCOSE METERS

A blood glucose meter is number one to help you monitor blood sugar levels in your pets. You can't use the one for humans though, you have to get one for pets.

AlphaTrak is one type of glucose meter on the market.

Dr. Joe Bartges from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine says having in-home sugar levels are very helpful top have.

"There are also interstitial glucose monitors that give very detailed information," Bartges said. "There is a little probe inserted under the skin and the probe measures the sugar in the tissue fluid every few minutes."

WATER

Dehydration can be a problem in diabetic pets, especially if the diabetes is not in control. Dehydration can be dangerous for your pet anyway, but it can affect the gums and the skin, and it can also affect the way the body gets insulin.

Urinary tract infections are another issue. Diabetic pets are far more susceptible.

The best thing is for pets to have lots of fresh water. For that, consider a water fountain which uses a pump to keep the water flowing and aerated.

 
On Friday I reviewed the PetSafe Drinkwell Water Fountain. The fountain is an excellent way to keep fresh water for your pet. Just make sure your cat is willing to drink from the fountain.

Now if your pet is drinking more water, chances are they might pee more. If you have a cat, make sure you have a good absorbent cat litter, and keep the pan as clean as you can. If you have a dog, it might be time to consider giving them a place to go in the house if they need to. Earlier this year I reviewed the reusable, designer pee pads from Spoiled Pup Boutique. It might be a good option.

CUTS, SORES AND DRY SKIN

One problem that is true for both humans and pets is a higher susceptibility toward infections, especially skin problems. Pet parents need to watch their pets for cuts or bites or other things that, if left untreated, could get infected. Fungus can also be a problem.

Suggestions: 

• Paw balms to keep the pads soft and free from cracks (especially helpful in the winter time).
• Liquid bandages, blood stopper powder and other products to easily stop pet bleeding.
• Salves that help with hot spots and sores. I would suggest Dr. Rose's remedies for this. It's all natural, and my friend said it seemed to help with her dogs sores. 

ORAL CARE

Veterinary expert Dr. Lorie Huston said no list would be complete without proper oral care.

"Tooth brushing (with a tooth paste designed for pets, not humans) is the gold standard," Huston said. "Check with your veterinarian before using chewies or other dental treats though."

It's not just about cleaning though, but about getting into the habit of checking your dog's mouth regularly. Pets with diabetes are more susceptible to infections, and if the tartar in the teeth is not taken care of, bacteria in the mouth can lead to infections there and elsewhere.

Never brushed your pets' teeth before? This is something that takes some time for the pet to get used to. you may actually want to start with your finger instead of going right to the tooth brush. Carol Bryant from Fidose of Reality did a great video earlier this year explaining how to get your pet used to get their teeth brushed.

FOOD AND TREATS

Food is probably the most important part of keeping diabetes in check and helping pets live with the disease. But it's not something that any of the vets I talked to were comfortable making suggestions for.

The reasons are simple: every dog or cat is different. And some pets will have different needs to maintain a balance. If the pet is overweight, you may need some special food. Just putting your dog on a grain free diet may not be the answer right away. So you need to check with your vet. They will likely suggest a prescription diet, usually created by Hill's or Purina. Do your homework before you look into those.

With the help of your vet, you may be able to get food specially created for your dog. In Orlando, we have a place called Rick's Dog Deli, which designs dog food based on the pet's needs. See if you have something like that near you.

As for treats, it might be best to stay away, at least at the beginning. There are many companies that are coming out with low calorie treats, like the PetSafe Lickety Stik or the Natural Balance Perfect Bites for cats. But again, check with your vet.

When it comes to food, Dr. Huston also suggests getting something else.

"An automatic feeder that can be programmed to dispense a given quantity of food at a given time," Huston said. "A low tech version, still very acceptable, is a measuring cup used to make sure the same amount of food is delivered each day. Feedings should be given at the same time each day as well, which is why an automatic feeder might make life easier for busy owners who can’t always be at home at the same time each day."

POSTS

• Post 1 -- Pets get diabetes too 
• Post 2  -- Diabetes in dogs and cats: Wading through the science
• Post 3 -- Living with a diabetic dog: Meet KC the cairn terrier

AND NOW --Time for a GIVEAWAY!

We are giving away two prizes:

• A PetSafe Drinkwell Avalon water fountain ( white in color, value at $90 -- Thanks to PetSafe for providing the fountain)
• A $25 Petco Gift Card (Thanks to Petco for providing the card)

To enter, all you have to do is comment below on what your do to keep your pet healthy. PLUS, enter the Rafflecopter below.

The giveaway closes on Dec. 1.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Living with a diabetic dog: Meet KC the cairn terrier

Pet Diabetes Awareness Month is in November, and all this month we are taking a closer look at diabetes in dogs and cats, how to prevent, how to diagnose it and how to live with it.

One of the best ways is to talk to people with diabetic pets to get a sense of their life and their dog's life.

So here is Christy Kobielsky and her dog KC.

1) What kind of pet do you have? Cairn Terrier

2) Name, age, sex... KC she is 11 yrs old

3) How old were they when they got diabetes? KC was diagnosed at 10 yrs old (6-30-12)

4) How early were they diagnosed? She had not had it for very long before we found out 1 week maybe.

5) Are they insulin dependent? Yes all dogs are type 1 and have to have insulin.

6) What do you feed your pet? She has been on W/D since the day she was diagnosed. She does very well on it.

7) Walk me through a typical day with your pet. I test KC around 6:15 a.m. and she eats at 6:30 a.m. I give her the insulin injection injection about 10 min later depending on her Blood Glucose reading. If it is lower than 100 I will wait about 30 minutes to let the food get ahead of the insulin, if it higher than 200 I will give the shot right away and not wait at all. She is on a strict schedule of 12 hours apart for her meals. We go through the same routine at 6:15 test then dinner at 6:30.

8) Are there any special things you've bought your pet (besides insulin) to help them live with diabetes? I give KC 1 tsp of Coconut oil with her AM feeding, I had to buy a special dish in the beginning to slow up her eating because when they are not regulated they have a ravenous appetite. I had to buy a meter to test her with.

 9) Do you have anything in particular you have to be mindful of? Yes there is a lot of things, everything KC eats can affect her BG numbers, exercise can lower or raise BG's. Most go lower. KC is one that goes higher. KC went through a stage where she wouldn't eat so I had to find toppers to entice her but wouldn't mess with her BG's very much. Medications have effects on BG as well. Pretty much everything that goes in KC's mouth can effect her.

10) Anything else you'd like to add? While Canine Diabetes can be overwhelming in the beginning it is a very manageable disease as long as you follow a strict schedule of 12 hr feeding. Home blood testing is our best weapon against diabetes and it isn't as hard as you think.

I started my own Canine Diabetes group with another women who has been around K9 diabetes for many years.  And you can add your website or FB account if you have one. My site is on Facebook called: Canine Diabetes Support and Information. I have put together an extensive file system with links to help people with understanding Canine Diabetes and everything that goes along with this roller coaster disease.

We'll be talking to more people about their pet's diabetes, so please stay tuned. 

If you are interested in sharing your pet's diabetes story, please email me at czizo@cfl.rr.com. I am especially interested in talking to anyone who has a beagle with diabetes.

PREVIOUS POSTS:

• Post 1 -- Pets get diabetes too 
• Post 2 -- Diabetes in dogs and cats: Wading through the science 

Pets can get diabetes too: Pet Diabetes Month

This is Trouble.

Trouble was my family's cat. He came to us after being taken from his mother at a young age. We weren't planning to keep him, but many of you know how that goes.

He grew to be a big, grouchy Siamese. He loved my mom most, he and I would fight (why lay on your back if you don't want a belly rub?). But after about 10 years he started to lose weight rapidly.  The doctor said he had diabetes.

The doctor didn't think he needed insulin, I guess, because he just had mom buy the special food. But it was right around the pet food scare, and Trouble's food ended up on the recall list.

I'll never forget when my parents' told me that Trouble died at home. I cried and cried.

Diabetes is on the rise in dogs and cats. There are different factors -- genetics, obesity, pancreas-related illnesses like pancreatitis can add to the issue. But how many of us really know much about how diabetes in cats and dogs?

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, but it's also Pet Diabetes Awareness Month.

All this month, we'll be taking a closer look at diabetes in cats and dogs -- from the diagnosis to every day life with a diabetic pet, to preventing diabetes.

We'll have giveaways too. Stay tuned for that.

I interviewed a number of experts for this series. They include:

• Dr. Lorie Huston, DVM
• Dr. Joe Bartges of the University of Tennessee Veterinary College
• Dr. Anna Coffin, DVM
• Steve from SlimDoggy

Please share this infographic with your friends, and help spread the word about diabetes in cats and dogs. The earlier people recognize the symptoms, the better it will be in treating the disease.