What are alternative ways to give dogs insulin?

When a cute dog at home is diagnosed with diabetes, pet owners are often worried and confused. Insulin therapy is a key means of controlling diabetes in dogs. Although the traditional subcutaneous injection method is generally effective, many pet owners feel sorry for the pain of the dog being pricked by the needle and are worried that their improper technique will affect the treatment effect. Fortunately, with the advancement of pet medical technology, there are now a variety of alternative methods, bringing new hope to dogs and pet owners. ​

As the most common way to administer insulin, subcutaneous injection has been the main means of controlling diabetes in dogs for a long time. This method is relatively simple to operate, and pet owners can inject their dogs at home after professional training. However, many dogs are afraid of needles. Every time they are injected, they will instinctively resist, and even struggle and avoid, which not only increases the difficulty of injection, but also makes pet owners feel very distressed. Some pet owners are hesitant when injecting because they can't bear to see their dogs suffer, resulting in inaccurate injection dosage, which in turn affects the treatment effect.​

In order to alleviate the pain of dogs and solve the troubles of pet owners, oral insulin administration came into being. Oral insulin preparations use special packaging technology to protect insulin from being destroyed by gastric acid when passing through the stomach, ensuring that it can smoothly reach the intestines and be absorbed. The biggest advantage of this method is that it avoids the pain of needle pricks on dogs and makes the administration process easier. For pet owners, there is no need to worry about preparing syringes and finding suitable injection sites. Just mix the medicine into the dog's food to complete the administration. However, this method is not perfect. Due to the large individual differences in intestinal absorption, the absorption effect of different dogs on the medicine may be different. Pet owners need to pay close attention to the changes in the dog's blood sugar and adjust the dosage in time. In addition, the price of oral insulin preparations is relatively high, which also increases the cost of treatment. ​

In addition to oral administration, transdermal drug delivery systems have opened up new ways for the delivery of insulin. Transdermal patches use the permeability of the skin to allow insulin to slowly enter the blood circulation through the skin. Compared with subcutaneous injections, transdermal patches do not cause obvious pain to dogs, and can continuously and stably release insulin, reducing the risk of blood sugar fluctuations. When using transdermal patches, pet owners only need to stick the patches on the thinner and less hairy parts of the dog's skin, such as the ears and abdomen. The operation is simple and convenient. However, some dogs may be allergic to the ingredients in the patches, and experience discomfort symptoms such as skin redness and itching. Therefore, before using transdermal patches, pet owners are advised to try them on a small area of ​​the dog's skin to observe whether there is an allergic reaction. ​

Spray insulin administration is also favored by many pet owners. This administration method uses a special spray device to spray insulin directly into the dog's nasal cavity or mouth, and the drug is quickly absorbed into the blood circulation through the mucous membrane. Spray administration not only avoids the pain of injection, but also has a fast absorption rate and can work in a short time. However, the dosage control of spray insulin is relatively difficult, and pet owners need to strictly follow the doctor's instructions to ensure that the dog can accurately inhale the right amount of medicine. In addition, the cleaning and maintenance of the spray device is also very important. If it is not cleaned in time, it may breed bacteria and affect the quality and safety of the drug. ​

In the process of exploring new insulin administration methods, the emotional care of pet owners is also indispensable. When facing sick dogs, pet owners should give them more patience and care, so that the dogs can feel the company and support of their owners. Each time you give the dog medication, you can gently soothe the dog, stroke its head, and relieve its tension. At the same time, pet owners also need to pay close attention to the dog's diet, exercise and mental state, take the dog to the pet hospital for regular check-ups, and adjust the treatment plan according to the doctor's advice. ​

Alternative methods of injecting insulin into dogs provide pet owners with more options and allow dogs to suffer less pain during treatment. However, each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Pet owners should choose the most suitable medication method for dogs based on the specific situation of the dog and under the guidance of a veterinarian. I hope that through scientific treatment and the careful care of pet owners, every sick dog can recover.