Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How can I measure my pet's blood sugar at home?
By Casella, Martina et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2002·Clinic for Small Animal·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Measurement of capillary blood glucose concentrations by pet owners: a new tool in the management of diabetes mellitus.
Plain-English summary
A new method for measuring blood sugar in dogs and cats using a portable glucose meter has been tested, allowing pet owners to check their pets' glucose levels at home. In a trial with seven healthy dogs and seven healthy cats, most dog owners successfully performed the test, while some cat owners faced challenges. Common issues included not getting enough blood from the ear or not using the lancet device correctly. This method could help pet owners manage diabetes in their pets more effectively by monitoring blood sugar levels at home.
People also search for: dog diabetes management · how to check cat blood sugar · portable glucose meter for pets
Abstract
Recently a new method for capillary blood sampling from the ears of dogs and cats was described, which allows the measurement of glucose concentration by means of portable glucose meters. The authors of this report evaluated the suitability of this method for use by pet owners and the potential technical problems. The owners of seven healthy dogs and seven healthy cats were asked to perform two glucose curves (measuring blood glucose concentration every 2 hours for a total of 12 hours). All dog owners and three cat owners were able to perform a reliable blood glucose curve. The most frequently encountered problems were inadequate formation of a blood drop due to excessive digital pressure on the pinna, repeatedly depressing the plunger of the lancet device instead of allowing the negative pressure to slowly build up, and failure to fill the test strip up to the mark. The authors conclude that these steps of the procedure need to be stressed during technique demonstration and that home monitoring of blood glucose concentrations may serve as a new tool in the management of diabetic dogs and cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12022410/