Boarding option for a diabetic dog?

Posted by LilAngelfxck@reddit | Dallas | View on Reddit | 36 comments

Basically the title! Looking for some pet boarding options for my girl. She’s 9 and needs two shots of insulin per day. I have to leave for a work trip (first one since her diagnosis) and my partner isn’t able to inject her by himself. I think putting her in boarding with trained professionals would be the least stressful option for all three of us.

Any recommendations?

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itsthrowaway91422@reddit

I’m sorry. Its stressful. Its expensive but board at your vet. My dog is 11.5 and was boarded a couple times already as a diabetic. He was stressed AF the whole weekend (end of March) and his blood sugar went through the roof. I was happy he was at the vet so he could be given insulin, a med to eat, and blood sugar monitoring.

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sportsarestressful@reddit

If your own vet charges ridiculous fees (I had one that charged like $20 per injection), I've never had a problem boarding with City Vet. I used to board my diabetic cat with them (they were also our vet) They have a whole bunch of branches, and they are all kind of like franchises, but I haven't had a problem with any of then.

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Dangerous-Mind9463@reddit

Call Texas K9 Rehab. I know the owner and his wife from school. He is an amazing dog trainer and takes a limited number of dogs at a time. Plus my dogs come back better trained because his ‘pack’ is so well behaved. Only catch is he is out in the country, so it’s only worth the drive if it’s multiple night trip. My anxious dogs love going there.

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Witty_Names@reddit

Frisco Emergency Pet Care does medical boarding. Just need vx/medical records.

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cristabelita@reddit

We used a rover sitter but we’d be using them for a while and thankfully it all worked out.

I’d suggest looking for a vet who boards.

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tayloreep@reddit

I would highly recommend medical boarding with your veterinarian, especially since this is the first time leaving since her diagnosis.

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klamaire@reddit

Can Roxies pet sitting. I think they have a person trained to give injections.

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wawa310@reddit

Check out City Vet. I think they might be able to do this! Was recommended to me to my vet.

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Napervillian@reddit

The veterinarian who manages the diabetes can board the dog, most likely

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LilAngelfxck@reddit (OP)

Unfortunately my vet is a small family owned clinic and does not offer boarding

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C_Lineatus@reddit

Ask your vet if they have a recommendation. Plenty of techs and reception staff I worked with also did pet sitting independently from the clinic, so could check and see if that is a possibility.

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big-dal-tex@reddit

Visit the vet with your partner and have them give him a lesson on giving the insulin to your dog.

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thirdcoastpost@reddit

Best option, it really should to be a team effort imho unless your partner is working a schedule that conflicts with them getting the dosage

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bionica@reddit

Hubby and I had a diabetic dog. No boarding facilities would take him as they refused to give the dog injections. They were fine providing medication if it were in pill form, but they won’t take the liability of injections. We would have to board our dog with our vet. Your best resolution is to have your partner figure out how to give the dog its insulin by themselves. If they refuse to figure it out, then boarding with your vet is your only option.

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ironsheik84@reddit

I have no idea where you live, but if you try to board them at a “normal” boarding place like Pet Suites, they WILL NOT administer shots. As many people have stated some vets will board and give meds, but the trade off is they usually don’t do pet playtime, have swimming pools, and whatnot.

I previously used East Plano Murphy Pet Hospital for my wonderful dachshund that crossed the rainbow bridge a few years ago and had a wonderful experience with them. They took very good care of her when I was gone for the weekend, made her as comfortable as possible, and gave her insulin shots without issue.

627 W FM 544 Murphy, TX 75094

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w6750@reddit

This dog is me right now

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allysuneee@reddit

Like a previous commenter mentioned, some vets may not take the risk of administering shots. My dog needed allergy shots and I asked a few if they would be willing to just help hold my dog and give him treats while I gave it, most said no. It doesn’t hurt to call and inquire though.

I would also see if a pet sitter on rover would be willing to help out.

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sjsmith074@reddit

Maybe paw lofts? I remember them saying that a vet tech administered meds, so maybe they could do shots.

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Asleep-Ad-4822@reddit

I don't have a recommendation, but we found out on Thursday that our littlest pup has diabetes and also needs two insulin shots per day. We are still adjusting to the news. Hope your pup is doing well!

Our vet wrote a prescription for one of the Libre blood glucose monitoring devices. Do you use that with your dog?

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LilAngelfxck@reddit (OP)

I do. This entire diagnosis has been a rollercoaster but we are slowly adjusting and have a system to administer her shots that’s worked for us so far, but unfortunately requires two people (one to distract with high reward treats and one two inject.) you’ll figure things out and get used to it, as will your pup. My sugar baby has had such an improvement since her diagnosis and consistent insulin shots! I’m so happy to see her healthy again despite the increase in cost.

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Asleep-Ad-4822@reddit

Do you mind if I ask where you got your Libre, and if you had any issues? I'm happy to DM if you prefer. Thanks!

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LilAngelfxck@reddit (OP)

My mistake! I actually have the AlphaTrak system for my dog. Not sure what the difference is, but we purchased this one through Chewy for around $80 I think

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Andnopink@reddit

Commented below too, but sounds like the current routine takes two people. I can’t tell from the picture but is your dog small? I’ve seen a lot of people buy grooming slings and restrain their pet briefly like that, you can also do a lick mat then too to distract. Our dog’s was about 15lbs and we rigged a box that was just wide enough for him to walk in with a towel on top covering half. we’d put a little tray of green beans at the end so he walked in, then inject while he was in there eating green beans. (he bit my leg a few times during injections so I wanted a way where he couldn’t go forward and couldn’t get out super fast) and that worked super well for us.

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LilAngelfxck@reddit (OP)

The box idea is brilliant lol. I’ve tried muzzling her but she fights and wiggles so much it’s not safe for me or her to inject her that way. She seems most comfortable with us tag teaming her with the treat distraction. I need to get her a lick mat and try that out! I know the shots don’t hurt her, she’s just a lil dramatic.

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KariaFelWell@reddit

I wish I could offer my services to you. I could properly care for your pet. I used to work as a personal assistant to a woman with a diabetic Shnowzer(wow, I'm butchering this. Sorry, my brain won't let me spell that.) for two years. But I have two cats that probably wouldn't enjoy a dog over. I walked the Ivy dog twice a day(sometimes four times depending on how much she feels like she needs to go), monitored poops, made her food, (not the dietary dry food but a wet food compound that was a bit more healthy for her), and gave her insulin shots and monitored her blood sugar throughout the day.

I hope you can find a boarding place that can help out and care for her well.

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Andnopink@reddit

I can’t recommend enough joining one of the Facebook groups (I loved Canine Diabetes Support and Information) to help. If you can learn to do spot checks with a meter on your own it’s much cheaper and more accurate, but a Libre can be a good place to start at first when it’s all super overwhelming.

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DirectionFearless303@reddit

I recommend you use Solostar insulin shots. My cat went into remission using it. Good luck to you

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Andnopink@reddit

When we had a diabetic dog we used a pet sitter who came by our home twice a day to do blood sugar checks and injections. When our usual sitter (who used to be a vet tech) wasn’t available, we found someone on Rover and had the over a couple times to practice/train first.

Since their blood sugar can drop or increase a lot from stress, unless your dog enjoys and is used to boarding, I personally would not recommend that.

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