My elderly mothers terrier has been diagnosed with diabetes.......the vet (and me) are most concerned that due to her blindness shes unable to draw and administrate the correct insulin doses, so as yet hes not being treated. I wondered if anyone had ever tried the humn pen type of syringe, that gives a pre determined dose (I could set that or the vet could) Any ideas?

There have been no insulin pens (and cartridges) licensed for animal use as far as I am aware. These are the syringes which give a pre determined dose.

The only thing I can think is to pre-fill standard syringes for her. You would need to check with the vet about this though as I am not sure if this will alter the suspension or if some brands will be more suitable than others for this.

Dealing with insulin is not particularly easy especially at first when you feel all fingers and thumbs. It seems ridiculous to me that there would be no system which would make it easier for pet owners who might have issues with sight, or hand dexterity etc.

have discussed pre filling syringes but her vet felt it wasnt viable due to degeneration of the insulin once drawn :(

Just a idea, is there anybody who could draw up the Insulin for your mother, or do a weekly batch???

well the vet can do weekly, but he reckons it degenerates and so not feasible.  there really isnt anyone who can be 100% relied on, with the sort of reliability needed for insulin, to do it foe her. the vet lives next door to her but hes often away for 4 or 5 days at a time.

There isn't a Uni doing a Veterinary medicine/Nursing course anywhere near that would have students who would do it for her? Maybe they would be able to do some project research into using an insulin pump for dogs?

When my dog needed daily injections I enlisted the help of a retired nurse ( not veterinary) that lived locally, I paid just a small fee to her, just enough that I didn't mind asking and not enough to embarrass her as she wanted nothing for doing this. Maybe there is either a retired nurse or a student nurse that could help, it doesn't need to be veterinary for this type of jab, or even a St Johns trained person

Which part of the country does she live in Sam? Maybe one of us lives close by.
Aileen

shes in devon (south devon) but I know shes worried to involve anyone else incase they have to let her down (maybe go ill or have an emergency or somehting) and then shes really stuck........for the moment shes resisting all commencement of insulin

I would have thought that insulin could be drawn into normal srynges and stored in the fridge, but maybe the vet knows differently. How about tablet control ? many humans are tablet controlled is that a possibility? what a worry for you all. What is really needed is a doggie community nurse but they do not exsist. We have a firm local to us who have a team of dog walkers/sitters who visit homes every day and also run a vet transport service. I feel sure they also take on medication administeing for those who are not at home maybe you have something similar, paying someone to pop in every day would be a possibility but cost may be prohibited of course.
Let us know how you get on.
Aileen

Not sure how far they go into Devon but this is the web site Sam
http://somersetse.animalsathome.co.uk/
Aileen

thanks aileen...cost not an issue but access and reliability bearing in mind shes out in the sticks, is a problem and the vet has warned her that once treatment starts there is no going back, so for the moment shes doing nothing, which is not ideal in my view :(  oh and ps on an unrelated thing......your BMD has been chosen for the international calendar!!! :)

OOH!! thats great news Sam...nothing to do with my Berns...more your excellent photography I expect ! Amy chance of a look at the piccy?
Hope you can sort something out for your Mum though Sam, have you tried the local dog sitter/walkers? may be someone who will do it, and if it's a paid job then it should be more reliable.
Aileen

Is this anything that the Cinammon Trust could perhaps help with?

M.