February 15

Caring for a diabetic dog is a very complex undertaking (as I've talked about here, here, here, and here). Between giving shots, managing diet, and carefully watching your dog's behavior for signs of blood sugar that's too high or too low, you make the transition from pet care to health care.

I love Pogo, and I'm glad to do everything I can to keep him healthy and improve his quality of life for the time that we have remaining with him. It can be a little overwhelming, though, keeping track of everything you have to do for him. Shots twice a day are bad enough, but we cook for Pogo now, having discovered his appetite is much better than when he was getting kibble twice a day. Additionally, since taking him off processed dry dog food, the insulin dose he's required has gone down from 26 units a day to 18 units a day -- a substantial reduction.

So, in my usual manner of coping, I've been making notes about Pogo's health care needs. The list above is the latest printout; it is clipped on my refrigerator door, where Boyfriend and I can both reference it while caring for Pogo. It keeps us on the same page and helps ensure we're consistent in caring for our puppy dog.

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