If you’re a pet owner, you may be familiar with the challenges of managing your pet’s health. This can be especially true if your pet has a health condition that requires regular monitoring, such as diabetes. While many dedicated pet glucose meters are available to help with this, you may be wondering if you can use a human glucose meter on your pet. This blog post will look at the use of human glucose meters for dogs and provide important information for pet owners. We’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using a human glucose meter on a dog, in addition to providing tips on how to use them safely and accurately. With the right care and attention, pet owners can benefit from using a human glucose meter on their dog to better manage their pet’s health.
Five human glucose meters misdiagnosed up to 39% of the pet blood glucose levels in a study where results were categorized as normal, low, or high. The choice of whether to increase or decrease the insulin dose will be incorrect if the results are so unreliable that they fall into the incorrect diagnostic category, endangering the pet’s life.
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A: My cat Jasper receives insulin injections for his diabetes, and his veterinarian wants me to use an AlphaTrak veterinary glucose meter to check his blood sugar levels at home. The AlphaTrak, which I can borrow from a family member, is said to provide more accurate results with cat blood than a human glucose meter does. Should I really invest in a veterinary glucose meter?
Home glucose testing is especially helpful in cats, as many exhibit stress hyperglycemia—abnormally high blood sugar levels induced by stress—when they’re tested at the animal hospital. For information on how to check Jasper’s blood sugar at home, go to veterinarypartner.com and search “monitoring glucose.”
Top Picks: The Best Glucometers for Dogs Today
We determined that the AlphaTRAK 2 Blood Glucose Monitoring Starter Kit was the best option after reviewing all pet glucometers.
The monitor’s user-friendliness is one of its best features. Only a small amount of your pet’s blood needs to be drawn. Thus, they won’t experience as much pain or stress during the testing process.
Additionally, the glucometer is extremely accurate, which is crucial when deciding on your dog’s treatment and dosage with your veterinarian. The gadget is configured to function with both dogs and cats.
Additionally, it keeps track of earlier glucose readings, which could be useful for monitoring your pet’s blood glucose over time.
When you buy this kit, you’ll get everything you need to keep an eye on your dog’s blood sugar levels. The meter comes with 50 test strips/tips, 30 lancets, a lancing device, and a control solution. Additionally, every purchase includes a handy carrying case that ensures that your dog’s testing supplies are always available. When you run out, AlphaTRAK provides replacement testing tips, lancets, and control solutions.
This kit comes highly recommended by verified Amazon customers, and it seems to be accurate and simple to use. If you carefully read and adhere to the instructions, you should have reliable results in a short period of time.
There were a few issues with the lance that some users ran into. You and your pet might need to adjust to the range of settings in order to consistently get the lance settings right. Be aware that there are a few different places on your pet’s body where you can collect samples if you want to.
Additionally, you can calibrate the device yourself or with assistance from your veterinarian to get the most precise results.
How to Choose the Best Glucometers for Dogs
The right monitoring tool is necessary to keep tabs on your dog’s blood glucose levels. Accurate readings are essential to managing and treating their diabetes. You must consider a few important factors in order to choose the best glucometer.
It’s important to take into account these four key factors when selecting the best glucometers for your dog:
We will delve deeper into each of these elements in the section that follows:
Accuracy should be the primary consideration when selecting the best glucometer for dogs. If the glucose meter for your dog doesn’t provide accurate readings, it won’t be much use. Your veterinarian will be informed of the results of your readings so that your puppy can be treated and dosed appropriately.
You can verify accuracy by reading user reviews or seeking advice from your veterinarian. Additionally, it’s critical to select a product from a reputable company.
Consider the user-friendliness of each monitoring device next. Additionally to being simpler to use, handheld models are also less expensive and bulky. By reading the instructions for the various starter kits and handheld devices you’re considering, you can get a sense of how user-friendly they are. Any displays, settings, or buttons should be simple for you to use.
Additionally, check to see if the meter includes useful test strips, tips, and lancets. To reduce stress and discomfort, you want to avoid making extra pricks or drawing more blood than is necessary. Additionally, you don’t want to have to spend money on replacement supplies because of flaws, user error, or other problems.
Consider your budget as well. It’s crucial to consider both the initial outlay for the starter kit, handheld meter, or other equipment, as well as ongoing costs associated with testing your dog. For each monitor you are considering, you should research the cost of compatible test strips or tips to make sure they won’t be prohibitively expensive.
FAQ
What is the difference between a human glucose meter and a dog glucose meter?
While meters made for cats and dogs are calibrated for pet plasma, meters made for humans are calibrated for human plasma, providing accurate results. Use a glucose meter calibrated for pets in order to get precise glucose readings for your cats and dogs.
What is the difference between human and animal glucose meter?
Compared to dogs and other domestic animals, humans have a significantly higher ratio of intracellular glucose (glycosylated hemoglobin) to plasma glucose. For example, the cell:plasma glucose ratio (×100) is 67. 1 in humans and 34. 2 in canines.
Are dogs sugar levels the same as humans?
Dogs and cats’ normal blood glucose levels are similar to human levels, ranging from 80 to 120 mg/dl (4 4-6. 6 mmol/L). Animals with blood sugar levels in this range will appear and behave normally.
What is normal glucose level for a dog?
Healthy dogs should have blood glucose levels between 80 and 120 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). Most dogs can tolerate levels up to 250 without experiencing too many negative effects. Some dogs may typically increase to 400 after meals, but that effect only lasts for a short time.