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dogs, daily insulin injections. e key to managing diabetic pets is to keep your pet's blood sugar near normal levels and avoid too- high or too-low levels that can be life-threatening. A treatment that works for one pet might not work as well for another pet, and patience is important as you and your pet adjust to the new diet and medications. Management of your diabetic pet may include some or all of the following: Dogs • A high-fiber diet is oen recommended. • Daily exercise is strongly recommended. Consult your veterinarian about an appropriate exercise program for your pet, considering factors such as weight, overall health and age. • Owners should consider spaying female dogs diagnosed with diabetes. Cats • A high-protein, low carbohydrate diet is oen recommended. • Daily exercise is strongly recommended, although it can be challenging to practice a daily fitness regimen with cats. Your veterinarian may be able to help you develop a plan. It is very important to maintain the proper insulin and feeding schedules recommended for your pet. It is also very important that your pet maintains a normal appetite while on insulin therapy, or you risk hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if your pet is not eating and absorbing enough sugars to balance the insulin's effect of removing the sugars from the bloodstream. You will also need to regularly check your pet's blood and urine sugar levels. Regular examinations and testing performed by your veterinarian may be supplemented by at-home monitoring of your pet's blood and urine glucose levels at home. Watch for the signs of an insulin overdose, which can include weakness, tremors or seizures, and loss of appetite. Contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic immediately if you observe any of these signs and consult your veterinarian about what you should do in the meantime to help your pet until it can be examined by a veterinarian. As signs of an insulin overdose can sometimes be very similar to signs of an insulin underdose, it is important that changes in dosage and frequency of insulin injections only be made by a veterinarian. Because older dogs and cats are more likely to develop age-related diseases or conditions, some of which could be confused with diabetes, regular examinations by a veterinarian can keep your pet healthy and detect problems before they become severe. Canine and feline diabetes can be managed successfully with insulin therapy and attention to diet and exercise. You could potentially add years to the life of your best friend! Stay positive, pet diabetes is manageable! If you have any questions about your pet's health or management, contact Best Friends Animal Hospital. SiG MT 104 S MT Dawn Milligan has been with Best Friends Animal Hospital for over 13 years. Dawn is a Veterinary Technician with over 30 years experience. She has been the Practice Manager for the last 8 years. Dawn's passion is advocating for all animals. Supplied Photo