Tracking Diabetes in Your Dog's Urine
Monitoring Glucose and Ketones in Your Dog's Urine
Immediately following diagnosis, your veterinarian may ask you to check your pet's urine to monitor glucose and ketones. Depending on your pet, this may be done 1–3 times a day:
- Early in the morning, just prior to the time of the Vetsulin® injection and first meal
- Late in the afternoon, before the second meal
- Late in the evening
If monitoring once daily, the measurement should occur at the same time every day.
Collecting Urine
As treatment progresses, less frequent testing will be needed. Regular examinations remain important though, because your dog's insulin needs can change.
Tools for Collecting
- Clean containers for collecting urine
- Urine dipsticks from your veterinarian
- A place to record results
How to Collect
- Take your dog out for a walk on a leash. Keep your dog on a leash so that he will be within reach when he urinates
- Have a clean, dry container (dish, bowl, or small pan) ready to catch urine when your dog urinates
- When your dog begins to urinate, slowly slide the container under the urine stream
- If needed, long-handled devices are also commercially available to help facilitate urine collection
Using Urine Dipsticks
Recording your dog's results is important to properly manage care. Keep track using the Pet Diabetes Tracker app or download a copy of the management monitoring sheet.
Tracking Tools & Resources
- Pet Diabetes Tracker app
Review and keep important information to manage care.
- Blood Glucose Curve Tool
Easily record blood glucose readings to generate a blood glucose curve.
- Helpful Downloads
Additional resources to understand and manage canine diabetes.