What Factors Affect a Diabetic Dog's Glucose Readings?

If your dog has diabetes, routine blood glucose monitoring is essential to keep it in good health. Periodically testing the glucose levels ensure that the amount of insulin your dog receives is correct and that its body is responding appropriately to the insulin. Unfortunately, a few factors can change the results, including your dog's stress level and the last time it exercised.

  1. Stress

    • Stress at the time of the blood draw can alter the results, states the Canine Diabetes website. If your dog is nervous, anxious or struggling during venipuncture, the stress can cause the glucose levels to become higher than normal. An inaccurately high blood glucose can mislead the veterinarian as to the health of the dog. To prevent a stress-induced false reading, relax the dog as much as possible prior to drawing blood. If your dog gets upset at the veterinarian's office, ask about at-home testing. Pet your dog and speak to it softly and reassuringly to help keep it calm during the blood draw.

    Food

    • If your dog ate a meal just before it has blood drawn for a glucose test, the results can be inaccurate. Dogs that don't fast before their glucose tests will often have high glucose readings. If the veterinarian isn't aware the dog ate before the test, he may alter the dog's level of insulin, which could cause serious problems. Therefore, always fast your dog before having its blood drawn---as long as your veterinarian approves doing so---and tell the vet the last time the dog ate. Doing so will produce accurate results and will help you and your vet get a better understanding of your dog's health.

    Exercise

    • According to the Canine Diabetes website, exercise is another factor that alters the results of a blood glucose test. Exercise has the same effect stress does on blood glucose levels---it elevates them. Keep your dog relaxed for at least an hour before its levels are tested to provide the most accurate results possible. If you cannot do so, either reschedule the drawing or consult with your veterinarian about what she thinks you should do. The doctor may take exercise into consideration when interpreting the results.