Signs of Diabetes in Dogs and Cats

How can you tell if your dog or cat has diabetes? There are common symptoms to watch for and we recommend talking to your veterinarian about prevention at each annual check up. 

1. Excessive Thirst. Dogs and cats will drink more than usual. In fact, you'll probably notice your cat drinking more frequently because getting cats to drink enough water can be so challenging. Dogs will also drink more water and you'll notice the bowl needs to be filled more frequently.
2. More Pee. This one is definitely easier to tell with cats because you clean the litter box whereas dogs may need to go outside more frequently or will start having accidents in the house. Cat pee also tends to be "sticky" and you may notice the clumps stick to the litter scoop or the litter box.
3. More Infections. This one is easiest with dogs. You may notice their feet become infected if they get thorns. They may break out in other infections such as sores that don't heal.
4. Appetite. Your dog or cat may seem to always be hungry, as though they can't get enough food. They may have an increased sense of urgency while eating. They may try to get into the food bag or dispenser between meals.
5. Weight Loss. The urgency for food can coincide with weight loss as they struggle to absorb enough nutrition from their normal diet.
6. Coat Quality. Diabetic pets often have poor coat quality. Dandruff, oily fur, lackluster appearance.

Diabetes is a serious disease and will be a life-changing diagnosis. Talk to your vet about prevention and be sure to take your pet to the vet when you notice any of the above symptoms.

If your pet is diagnosed with diabetes we're here to help. Read our article on hiring a pet sitter to take care of your diabetic pet.

  

Diabetic Pet Care

How do you travel or even have evenings out if your pet is diagnosed with diabetes? 

We hear this concern from our new clients all the time. They feel tied to an insulin schedule and it makes it challenging to spend a day or evening out, go to Tucson, visit with friends, go camping or even take a vacation. It's a life changing diagnosis, that's for sure!

We're here to help! We have diabetes certified pet sitters on our team who are experienced taking care of diabetic cats and dogs. Whether you need care for a vacation or an evening out, we are just a click away!

Our requirements (we're sorry to single out cats but they've given us the most stories!): 

1. Your pet must be friendly. We've had some pretty scary encounters, mostly with cats as they are the most common diabetic pets, but also with a few dogs. Cat bites are a serious issue and can lead to infections. Your dog or cat must be well-socialized and must not have any issues with injections.
2. Your cat cannot hide. If you have a diabetic cat who is friendly but is known to sleep soundly in odd locations, like in the box springs or under the sofa, we'll ask that you keep all bedroom doors closed and block other napping places that may require moving furniture or the use of ladders. 
3. Identical pets must be distinguished. This is most easily done with collars of opposite color. You might be able to tell two nearly identical littermate cats apart at a glance but we can't accept the risk that the cat with the slightly more pronounced stripes on the tail might not be the one who gets the insulin. 

Most of the time diabetic pets are pretty easy and their owners can travel with peace of mind while the pets are in our care. The above criteria is from our 12 years experience in all sorts of situations! We've had cats hiss, growl, bite and chase our pet sitters. We've had them hide inside box springs, which required disassembling the bed. We've had to use a restraint bag (specifically designed for testing the blood glucose of cats who are less than impressed by this event) to give insulin injections (this usually only works once and then they are on to us). 

How can you tell if your dog or cat has diabetes? Here are 7 common symptoms to watch for.

Because insulin is not optional we will take extra steps prescreening your diabetic pet. New clients should expect to schedule 2 to 3 practice visits for us to come by at the evening feeding/insulin time while you are out. These visits will let us know whether your pet will cooperate with our pet sitters before your actual trip leaves them in our care for several days.

Let's talk about your diabetic pet and how we can help! Call or text 520-333-7387 and tell us about your pet!

Beware of Low Cost Service

We've been in business for a long time and we've seen our share of low cost alternatives. While we are not in competition with them for your business we do want to share our thoughts to help you make a sound decision.

No Credentials. Most of these providers are not licensed to do business and they don't have insurance or a bond. It is wise to choose someone who places value and professionalism on the service they are providing. Are they bonded and insured? Are they licensed to do business? (you can check with the city) Are they a member of the Chamber of Commerce? Look for signs that they are legitimate and have a professional business presence in the community.

No Accountability. Hobby pet sitters without a business don't have a reputation at stake. There are no documented reviews and they don't have a presence with a professional network. Be wary of trusting anyone in this position.

No Structure. While professional businesses offer a local manager you can always reach and online scheduling with GPS tracking to show you their location and time of arrival and completion, hobbyists don't have these safeguards. We have heard from so many pet parents who call us in a panic that their pet sitter didn't show up, they can't reach them and they don't know if their pets have been cared for since they left for vacation. Yikes. In one situation, the pet owner called the hobbyist who said she was at their house yet they were watching their security cameras and she wasn't! They abandoned their travel and made the 5 hour drive home. This isn't possible when you have flown to your destination.

Very Low Cost. Be skeptical over a business or hobbyist that offers a rate that seems too good to be true. When you consider the travel time and expense between jobs and that, with travel time, it can easily take almost an hour to do a 30 minute visit, how do they support such low wages? Are they invested in the care they provide?

We've all heard the saying "You get what you pay for". We know it is true when we hire team members and we are selective in our hiring process. It is also proven true in any service-oriented business from landscaping to home improvement projects to auto mechanics. The difference in our industry is that, not only are you giving someone the key to your home, lives are at stake. There is a lot riding on your choice. 

What should you do? If budget is your primary concern and you are not able to afford a professional service, with all of the benefits that come with that service, we would strongly recommend choosing a family member or close friend that you know and trust. 

Cat With Asthma

We take care of many special needs pets. Most are diabetic dogs and cats who require insulin injections twice a day. We've also given fluids to pets who have kidney disease, injections for pain medications and plenty of oral medications for all sorts of conditions from blood pressure to thyroid. We have all sorts of tricks to get those pills down when the pets aren't cooperative.

Rama is a cat with asthma. He's on an inhaled steroid once a day after every evening meal. He must sit quietly with the pet sitter and take 8 to 10 breaths from his inhaler. The client also has a rescue inhaler standing by should he have an asthma attack outside these treatments and we monitor his breathing comfort on every visit to work with the client if he starts to have symptoms that may lead to an attack. 

No matter what condition your special needs pet has we can help! Give us a call to talk about it and we'll come up with a plan to allow you to travel with Peace of Mind.