Your Guide to Monitoring Pet Blood Sugar Levels

**Affiliate disclosure – I may receive a commission from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. However, I only post products I have actually bought, used, and love.

Introduction:

I vividly recall the day my dog was diagnosed with diabetes, as if it were yesterday. Upon receiving the news, a flurry of questions inundated my mind: How long will she live? What steps should I take? And perhaps most dauntingly, can I afford the treatment for my pet’s diabetes?

Fortunately, I’m here to reassure you that the answer is a resounding yes.

As conscientious pet owners, safeguarding the health of our furry companions is paramount, particularly when faced with conditions like diabetes. If your dog or cat has received a diabetes diagnosis, prioritizing regular monitoring of their blood sugar levels and knowing their glucose curves is absolutely imperative. Luckily, there are plenty of affordable Blood Glucose Monitors for Diabetic Pets.

How Monitoring Blood Glucose Curves Can Get Expensive.

My vet originally offered me two options to manage my dog’s blood sugar.

Option 1: A Vet Visit for Blood Glucose Curve

• Cost: $150-$500 per visit
• Pros:
  • Professional oversight and guidance from your veterinarian.
  • Opportunity for in-person consultation and adjustments to the treatment plan.
• Cons:
  • Vets typically only monitor for 1 day which isn’t enough data to draw a conclusion.
  • Expensive

Option 2: A Freestyle Libre Device

• Cost: $80 for a bi-weekly 24/7 Bluetooth-enabled monitor that is embedded into your dog ($160/month)
• Pros:
  • Continuous monitoring for accurate blood sugar readings that you can share directly with your vet
  • Seamless Bluetooth connectivity – You can see your dog’s blood sugar in real-time on your phone!
• Cons:
  • Requires shaving a section of your dog’s fur to place the monitor.
  • Risk of the dog attempting to remove the blood sugar monitor by rolling around, rough play, etc.
  • Requires a prescription from your veterinarian.
  • Vets may charge for interpreting results and placing the monitor.

Why Monitoring Your Diabetic Dog’s Blood Sugar is Important:

Effective management of your dog’s blood sugar levels is crucial for several reasons:

1. Preventing Complications: Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to a range of serious health complications in dogs, including kidney disease, nerve damage, and vision problems.
2. Avoiding Hypoglycemia: Monitoring blood sugar levels allows you to detect and prevent episodes of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, which can be life-threatening if left untreated.
3. Optimizing Treatment: Regular blood sugar monitoring enables you and your veterinarian to assess the effectiveness of your dog’s diabetes treatment plan. By tracking fluctuations in blood sugar levels over time, you can make informed adjustments to medication dosages and dietary management, ensuring optimal control of your dog’s condition.

By managing blood sugar levels, you can reduce the risk of these complications and help your dog enjoy a higher quality of life. In this guide, we’ll explore affordable blood glucose monitors designed specifically for dogs, providing accurate readings and peace of mind for pet parent

But Don’t Worry – There are Affordable Blood Glucose Monitors for Dogs and Cats! Here’s How You Can Monitor Your Pet’s Blood Sugar At Home

My guide will help you find a affordable and reliable blood glucose monitor for your canine or feline companion. If you’re new to blood glucose monitors for dogs and cats (trust me, I had no idea what I was doing at first!), you’ve come to the right place. In order to test your pet’s blood sugar, you will need to purchase the following:

One Time Purchases (Typically sold together in Kits):

1. Glucose Meter: Measures blood sugar levels in real-time. (One Time Purchase)
2. Lancing Device: Collects blood samples comfortably from your pet’s ear, gums, or elbows. (One Time Purchase)

Recurring Purchases:

1. Test Strips: React with blood to provide glucose readings. (Recurring Purchase – every time you test your dog’s blood sugar, you need to use a new test strip).
2. Lancets: Sterile needles used in the Lancing Device for blood sample collection. (Every time you test your dog’s blood sugar, you need to use a new lancet).

Affordable Blood Sugar Monitors for Cats and Dogs – Ranked from Most $$ to Most Affordable

Most Expensive, but Most Recommended By Vets: AlphaTRAK 3 Blood Glucose Monitoring System:

AlphaTRAK 3 Blood Glucose Monitoring System: Specifically designed for dogs and cats, the AlphaTRAK 3 provides accurate readings within seconds. Its compact size and user-friendly interface make it ideal for at-home use. It is the #1 veterinarian recommended brand for blood glucose monitoring in the clinic.

• Cost: $75 Upfront + $55/Month for Test Strips + ($3- $17)/Month for Lancets
• One Time Set Up Cost: $75 (Kit includes Glucose Meter, Batteries, 50 Test Strips, Lancing Device, and 30 Lancets)
• Test Strip Refills : $55 for 50 Strips (~$1.10 per Strip)
• Lancet Refills: $17 for 50 Lancets (~$.34 each)
  • **You can typically find “knock-off” lancets for this device that are cheaper like these ones that are $.07 each**
• Pros: Recommended by Veterinarians. Syncs to collect data for phone.
• Cons: Expensive Monthly Cost

A Cheaper Alternative to the AlphaTrak 3: PetTest Blood Glucose Monitoring System

With its simple operation and affordable price point, the PetTest system is an excellent choice for pet owners on a budget. It delivers accurate results quickly, allowing for timely adjustments to your dog or cat’s treatment plan. I personally found this incredibly easy to use. Although you don’t get the phone connection like the AlphaTrak 3 offers, the price point is much easier to swallow.

• Cost: $40 Upfront + $37/Month for Test Strips + $8/Month for Lancets
• One Time Set Up Cost: $40 (Kit includes Glucose Meter, Batteries, 25 Test Strips, Lancing Device, and 25 Lancets)
• Test Strip Refills : $37 for 50 Strips (~$.74 per Strip)
• Lancet Refills: $8 for 50 Lancets (~$.15 each)
• Pros: Affordable test strips and a monitoring device exclusively designed for pets. Test strips are significantly cheaper compared to the AlphaTrak 3.
• Cons: Lack of Bluetooth capability – cannot connect it to a phone to collect data.

The Most Affordable & My Recommendation: Contour Next Blood Glucose Monitoring Kit

Yes, I understand it lacks the term “Pet” in its name. However, that’s EXACTLY why I recommend this affordable blood glucose monitor for diabetic pets. Canine and feline diabetes closely resemble human diabetes, making a human blood sugar monitor suitable for our furry companions. And trust me, it performs just as effectively as the branded pet monitors I mentioned earlier. While I appreciate devices like the Alpha Trak 3 (mostly the Bluetooth Connection) and PetTest, they offer no distinct advantage in process or technology compared to this economical option

• Cost: $35 Upfront + $20/ Month for Test Strips + <$1 for Lancets
• One Time Set Up Cost: $35 (Kit includes Glucose Meter, Batteries, 55 Test Strips, Lancing Device, and 10 Lancets)
• Test Strip Refills : $27 for 70 Strips (~$.39 per Strip)
• Lancet Refills: $8 for 350 Lancets (~$.02 each)
• Pros: Affordable Strips. Monitoring device is also made exclusively for pets. Test strips are a good bit cheaper than the AlphaTrak 3.
• Cons: Does not hook up to Phone to collect Data. Need to buy lancets when you purchase .

Conclusion:

Keeping a close eye on your pet’s blood sugar levels is crucial for managing diabetes and maintaining their health. Fortunately, there are budget-friendly blood glucose monitors designed for at-home use, enabling you to monitor your pet’s well-being conveniently.

When my dog was diagnosed with diabetes, I wanted to try everything in order to best treat my dog’s diabetes by monitoring her blood sugar. After trying all of the blood sugar monitors above, I would highly recommend purchasing the monitor you can afford, given the technology is mostly the same (and the prices are not).

By investing in one of these monitors, you not only save on frequent vet visits but also gain valuable insights into your pet’s blood sugar trends. Managing your pet’s diabetes shouldn’t break the bank, and with these affordable options, it doesn’t have to! Good luck with your pet’s diabetes journey!