Now that said, when were monitoring blood glucose levels in our dogs and cats, were not using the readings to micromanage or to change the insulin dose on a daily basis. Instead, you may run a few sample every couple of weeks, especially once your pet is stabilized on their insulin treatment.
So you can definitely use a human glucometer but there are other ways to monitor a diabetic dog or cat at home as well. If, for example, your pet doesnt tolerate having their blood glucose measured or its not something that youre able to do for whatever reason, there are other ways that you can monitor a diabetic patient at home.
This can be a big problem, especially in cats, that means addition blood tests may be required. Monitoring your pet’s blood glucose avoids this.
If you have a diabetic dog or cat then blood glucose monitoring at home is an excellent way to know their insulin treatment is working well.
And then also just monitor their general demeanor. Are they happy or are they sick, lethargic or tired? A happy pet is unlikely to be in dire straights with diabetic management. Especially if their drinking is low, if theyre maintaining a stable weight, then the likelihood is that the insulin dose that theyre on is absolutely sufficient.
Pros and Cons of the Pet Control HQ Blood Sugar Glucose Monitor System
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| There is a logbook included so you can keep track of your dog’s results. | Calibration of the device must be performed by a veterinarian. |
| The user-friendly design makes it extremely easy to use. | |
| In order to ensure accuracy, the glucometer kit uses enzyme test strips containing GDH enzyme. |
The human home glucose monitoring systems are being increasingly used for pet diabetes management, yet many pet owners may not know that glucose readings obtained from a pet using a human meter may not be as precise as the ones obtained from a pet specific meter. Fortunately, the developments and availability of pet specific glucose meters have made obtaining accurate glucose readings for cats and dogs at home a possibility that did not exist a decade ago.
Effective glucose monitoring is the key to proper management of diabetes in cats and dogs. Although glucose levels in diabetic cats and dogs can be measured using the same techniques used in humans, the meter used for measuring their blood glucose levels would have to be the one that is specifically made for cats and dogs. A human glucose meter, when used for measuring glucose levels in cats and dogs, can often deliver inaccurate results.
As you can see the distribution of glucose in the blood of humans and animal is different. There is also a definite variation between the size of the red blood cells between humans and animals. Even more, humans and pets have a different PCV (packed cell volume) – humans: 37-50%, dog: 37-55%, cat: 24-45%, meaning that the number of red blood cells differs a lot between the species.
Dog Diabetes- human vs canine glucometer
Using a blood sugar meter designed for companion animals increases reading accuracy. Dr. Lee discusses the risks of using a human blood sugar meter, as well as the improved results with the AlphaTrak.
Q: My cat Jasper gets insulin injections for his diabetes, and his veterinarian wants me to monitor his blood sugar levels at home using an AlphaTrak veterinary glucose meter. I’m told the AlphaTrak gives more accurate results with cat blood than a human glucose meter, which I can borrow from a family member. Do I really need to spend the money on a veterinary glucose meter?
A: Yes. Research has shown that veterinary glucose meters like the AlphaTrak are much more accurate for measuring cat and dog blood glucose (sugar) levels than blood glucose meters designed for human blood.
In one study in which results were classified as normal, low or high, five human glucose meters inaccurately classified up to 39 percent of the pets’ blood glucose levels. When results are so inaccurate that they fall into the wrong diagnostic category, the decision to increase or decrease an insulin dose will be incorrect, endangering the pet’s life.
Another reason to use a veterinary meter is to ensure Jasper’s comfort. The AlphaTrak requires only one-tenth as much blood as a human meter, so even a very tiny drop is enough to produce an accurate result.
Home glucose testing is especially helpful in cats, as many exhibit stress hyperglycemia—abnormally high blood sugar levels induced by stress—when they’re tested at the animal hospital. For information on how to check Jasper’s blood sugar at home, go to veterinarypartner.com and search “monitoring glucose.”
Editor’s Note: The A1C test may be helpful for evaluating the effectiveness of diabetes treatment in pets. Dr. Lee discusses this test and ways veterinarians monitor pets with diabetes.
No one is permitted to sell, solicit or negotiate an insurance policy without a producer license in the state in which the plan is sold, and all prospects should be directed to Figo Pet Insurance. The information contained in this website is for illustrative purposes only and coverage under any pet insurance policy is expressly subject to the conditions, restrictions, limitations, exclusions (including pre-existing conditions), and terms of the policy documentation issued by the insurer. Availability of this program is subject to each state’s approval and coverage may vary by state. Coverage underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company (IAIC), a Delaware Insurance Company, 11333 North Scottsdale Road Suite 160 Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Live Vet and the Figo Pet Cloud are separate non-insurance services unaffiliated with IAIC.