My vet was not much help when I asked about taking my dog for walks/runs or anything exercise, she just kept focusing on the timing of feeding. Does anyone having recommendations on exercising a diabetic dog? Should I not do things like hikes and just keep it basic like short runs and walks?
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Exercising your diabetic dog
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Re: Exercising your diabetic dog
Exercise is good for your dog! There's no reason your dog can't be active. Mine did agility and flyball several times per week. However, you want to make sure that exercise isn't causing low blood sugar. Are you home testing?Sparky Love, diagnosed March 5, 2014. Enrolled in Kinostat study to prevent cataract formation. Pancreatitis June 16, 2014 - hospitalized for 6 days in the ICU. Went to the Rainbow Bridge June 23, 2014. I love you very much, baby.
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Re: Exercising your diabetic dog
as cara suggested exercise is fun for dogs but it has the potential to drop blood sugar sometimes dramatically and one of the ways a dog can go hypoglycemic
the reason cara suggested if you test blood sugar this will help to determine what is the best time to walk and how much and when insulin is not that strong
i would start out slow if you do test blood sugar you can test before you leave and after the walk to see how it goes . i would start out no more than 10 to maybe 15 minutes per walk maybe no more than twice a day to start and stay close to home if you do run into problems . bring some liquid sugar with you like honey or karo just in case and its something you should carry with you at all times . listen to your pup they know when to take a break
i was running my pup really hard in the beginning with long hikes. vet thought it was great. when i tested her blood sugar she was dropping 100s of points in a short amount of timeJesse-26 lbs - 16.5 years old ,11 years diabetic, one meal a day homemade and a vitabone snack . 3 shots of Novolin( under the Relion name ) a day . Total insulin for a 24 hour period is 6.5 units of NPH insulin .
Jesse earned her wings on 6/21/2021
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I think this goes back to our favorite saying of every dog is different. I've read on this forum that some does can go for 2 or 3 mile hikes and it doesn't affect their blood sugar much at all. My Bazzle dog, on the other hand, will drop 120 or more points by just going on a 15 min walk around the block. If Bazz and I are planning on a longer walk or a hike, I'll take his testing stuff with us as well as some small milk bones and some karo syrup. We take as many breaks as he needs, and if he starts dragging his feet I'll test him, then intervene if needed.
I completely agree with starting out slow and testing often, but there's no reason you and your pup can't do the things you love to do. Best of luck to youBazzle - My sweet German Shepherd Chow Chow boy, born approximately 6/7/2002, adopted 8/7/2002, diagnosed with diabetes 12/28/2012, lived happy and healthy on Novilin 70/30 and Hill's Science Diet WD... Continued his journey into the next life on 5/15/2016. I miss you baby boy; you'll stay in my heart forever.
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Re: Exercising your diabetic dog
He just got diagnosed yesterday so I am waiting for the glucometer so I can start testing. I've always kept him active and he wasn't showing signs of diabetes till he got a blood draw with his annual check up. I don't know if this matters that maybe his diabetes isn't as bad as some? I am still very new to this, like I said it's day 2 for me.
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Re: Exercising your diabetic dog
Hello and welcome
Day 2. It gets better. I remember our first week I was a nervous wreck
The key to regulated your dog is consistency with everything
Same food insulin same time. At first less exercise
Glad your getting a meter you,all be in control of your dogs blood sugar.
Testing before, during and after walks will tell you how much exercise making sure he doesn't go low
Testing at fasting before meals and injecting is important.
There's lots to learn. Were here.Riliey . aka Ralphy, Alice, Big Boy
20 lb male. 5 1/2 nph insulin. 1/2 cup fromms. black cockapoo, dx Apr 2012 . 5 1\2 yrs diabetic. 2000 to 2017
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Re: Exercising your diabetic dog
Diabetes in dogs is all the "same" as in type 1 so there generally isn't degrees of diabetes - no worse or better. The body's ability to produce insulin is pretty much gone, unlike in humans with type 2 who can modify their diet and exercise and regain control. With the exception of a rare unspayed female, diabetes with dogs is permanent.
You can maintain an active life style but you will have to test to know his tendencies, and have treats and syrup just in case. He will still be the same dog who likes to run and play - you just have to be more aware than before.
It is a learning curve but always feel free to ask. Nobody came in to this knowing all the details. Most of us were pretty blindsided. The great thing is this forum has a wealth of experience to draw from and any problem that arises probably has been experienced by someone here.Maggie - 15 1/2 y/o JRT diagnosed 9/2007, Angel status on 6/20/16. Her mantra was never give up but her body couldn't keep up with her spirit. Someday, baby.......
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Re: Exercising your diabetic dog
A handy source of sugar to carry with you on walks, etc. is a little honey packet that you can get as dipping sauce when you order chicken nuggets (McDonalds is where I got mine). They are easy to tuck in a pocket with a few biscuits for a 'safety kit' on your outings. If you're able to test, you can also bring along the meter - but any signs of low BG can be remedied by a biscuit dipped in honey. The honey will give a quick rise, and the biscuit will give a longer lasting boost from the carbs.Grayson - 95lb black lab, 10yrs old, diagnosed 3/22/14 - Novolin N (27units) and Merrick Grain Free Buffalo and Sweet Potato dry food - Novox 100mg twice daily & a Cosequin supplement - Alphatrak2 & One Touch Mini
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Re: Exercising your diabetic dog
In regards to exercise for my dog,Mile, I let him decide.
Mile walks around our yard for 10-15 minutes before evening insulin and at lunch.
He cannot go for a walk around the block yet but he has improved from when he was
first diagnosed.
I know at first he was not wanting to exercise much because he had health issues and insulin was not working for him.
Now he is on a new insulin,new diet,he has more energy.Since he feels better he is exercising more everyday.
Sometimes, he may have a lower glucose after walking around in the yard for 10 -15 minutes so I check blood glucose after exercising or watch behavior for signs of too low glucose.
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Re: Exercising your diabetic dog
We've done many many pre-walk and post-walk tests to see how the walks affect him. With spirit, we use walks as a tool to give him less insulin. He drops on the low end 49-50 pts and on the high end 90-140 pts. It depends on the length and activity of the walk and also what time he is in his insulin cycle.
I've always wanted to keep his life as normal as possible so hikes and walks are a part of that. As others have said I keep a few biscuits and a vile of Karo syrup with me and if we hike I take his meter. Almost 4 years diabetic now and he seems happy and healthy.Jim/Marijane & Spirit, Newfoundland, born Dec 22, 2007, 115lbs. DX Oct. 2011, 18.5 units Humulin 2x per day. Hills WD kibble, Hills WD can made into gravy, boiled chicken. Spirit passed on June 9, 2016 and it had nothing to do with diabetes.....farewell my buddy.
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Re: Exercising your diabetic dog
Originally posted by kt44 View PostMy vet was not much help when I asked about taking my dog for walks/runs or anything exercise, she just kept focusing on the timing of feeding. Does anyone having recommendations on exercising a diabetic dog? Should I not do things like hikes and just keep it basic like short runs and walks?
Well, she did climb Mt. Mitchell with me, while being diabetic. In my backpack, I carried honey, treats with some grains in them, my meter, along with some testing strips. I was ready for anything.... and I tested her along the way.
She had wonderful blood sugar readings during the hike, but I did notice that the insulin seem to run out before the 12 hour mark. But it was well worth it.
I suppose what I am saying, is that if they thoroughly enjoy excercising, walking, hiking.... we can make concessions. Let them live a normal life, and enjoy the life they have.
Good luck on this journey.
BarbBarb & Abby 12/24/1999-12/31/2013 ~ dx 5/10/2011 ~ Forever in my heart ~
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Re: Exercising your diabetic dog
pretty much as humans, we need the exercise, it helps to lower the numbers but one thing to remember if we humans are high (over 200), no heavy duty exercising since we can crash very quickly, I would assume in dogs it might be the same way...just keep an eye on Abby when hiking, which sounds like you are doing a great job
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