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If you follow us on Facebook or if you have read any previous posts, you know by now that we go RVing with a diabetic dog. Our dog, House, was diagnosed with canine diabetes last year. At first Kellie and I were more than surprised. We had never heard of diabetes in dogs. Dealing with the new ritual and trying to get his glucose numbers under control were the biggest challenges. Now don’t get me wrong, we still struggle from time to time with it, but nothing like before.
Symptoms Of A Diabetic Dog
We knew something was wrong when House began to lose weight. He went from over 100 pounds to around 75 pounds in just a few weeks. When you pay close attention to your furry friends, we all know when something just isn’t right. He had a few spots on his hind quarters that looked like his fur had been shaved off. We immediately took him to our vet to see what was going on. After several tests, the results came back as, you guessed it, diabetes. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, some other symptoms include:
- Excessive water drinking and urination
- Weight loss
- Skin infections
- Cloudy eyes
If your dog or cat shows any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your vet to get them checked out as soon as possible.
We Still Go RVing
We still go RVing with our diabetic dog just as often as we did before. The only thing that has changed is the schedule. We have to give House his insulin shot twice a day, every twelve hours. That means no sleeping in and evening outings have to wait until a little later than normal. Keeping his insulin cool is our main concern. We put a thermometer in the fridge to monitor the temperature. If something happens and the fridge stops working properly, we need to know so we can figure something else out. We usually carry a small, foldable cool pack just in case.
House still enjoys the morning walks to get some exercise. Kellie has been playing the “let’s go find some bugs” game with him since he was a puppy. He gets excited when she lifts up a leaf or shakes a bush and asks him, “Do you wanna find some bugs?” It’s fun to watch.
House has been blind for a few months now because of his diabetic cataracts. It slows him down some as he is more cautious about where he goes. He tends to stay more by our side now because of it. It was heartbreaking to look at his face when he began to lose his sight. He had a look of total confusion and would look scared to death from time to time. I’m sure it was terrifying to him to slowly go blind.
He trusts Kellie and I to make sure he doesn’t walk off the porch or walk into obstacles. I guess we are his seeing eye humans.
Timing Is Everything
Our vet told us he could not stress more the importance of keeping a set schedule for testing House’s glucose and feeding times. The schedule is key to getting his glucose numbers under control. As I stated above, we keep him on a VERY strict schedule. He knows that when he hears Kellie’s phone alarm go off, it’s time to eat.
We test his blood/sugar levels every 12 hours before he eats and give him his insulin shot about 30 minutes after that. We use the Alpha Trak 2 Metering Kit and feed him the Hills W/D prescription dog food.
Conclusion On RVing With A Diabetic Dog
When it comes to RVing with a diabetic dog, not much changes. If your furry friend is comfortable riding in the vehicle for the trip, then nothing should slow you down. You know your pet and their limitations. The most important thing is to protect their insulin and plan for the unexpected. Keep your vet’s number handy just in case you have any questions. It’s also not a bad idea to carry extra supplies with you packed for easy access.
Do you travel with a diabetic dog or cat? Leave us a comment below and tell us all about your furry friend.
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