thanks John for the reply. The time away from home would be a max of about 8 hours. I did hear about using a cool box but would it be possible do you think to draw up a syringe full because if a bottle of insulin got destoyed it would be very expensive.

I don’t think I would like to carry a filled syringe around. Using the throw away syringes and the sealed insulin bottle all is sterilised but once the syringe has been taken out of the wrapper it has lost that sterilisation. Incidentally, on the odd occasions when I could not get to the vets for replacements I did boil a used one for re-use. But if you do, give it a good boiling and also try it out while you still have a spare. The ones when I was using them did not melt but today, who knows! For 8 hours I would have thought a cool box would be no problem.

Do you still use the Clinitest tablets to test the urine these days?

Regards, John

John the old method for sterilising needles was metyhalated spirits . All syringes were left to soak after each use untill next time needed. Is is very cheap and bought in chemist.
Just dont go in yourself now or they will think your out of malt lol :D :D

Especially if he has his zimmer with him :D

thanks again john. take your point but I my syringes are not sealed as such just have an orange cover on and have been told by the vet I can use them 3 to 4 times. To test the urine I use clinistrips just the same as the human ones. I have 2 friend are diabetic and the have epipens which they can just carry around and they dispense the correct amount of insulin awhich doesn't have to be refridgerated anymore could do with a similar sort of thing for misty. you never know dogs may follow shortly.

Ellie, take no notice of these people they are trying to destroy my reputation. I only drink malt until I have had enough and I always know when that time is! I fall over!

John HIC pardon!!!

Do you mind me butting in? My hubby is diabetic and has to carry insulin around - he has four injections a day. We have been told that the refridgeration of insulin is to preserve its shelflife ie. while the phialls are still full. Once you have started a phiall, the insulin will be used quickly and so this no longer stands, although it is preferable to keep it cool if poss. My hubby keeps his with him at room temp. without any problems - even in summer. If it ever gets hot (in this country :) ) you can get a small cool bag which carries cans and put a cool block into it. That will keep the insulin cool for the whole day. Hope this info is of some help.
Joan

Of course you can butt in Joan, it's always good to get the input of others.

Very best wishes, John

Hi all, sorry to butt in, but when I had to give my dog injections I had a new needle for each one & vet said only use them once & in emergency could reuse one but after I sterilised it first. Just wandering now for future reference.
Christine, Spain.

I have a diabetic dog, and I only inject her once a day, in the morning, I don't know why some need 2 and others need 1 injection, but perhaps your vet could sort it for 1 injection, this might help.
Jaffa

When my hubby used syringes (before pens were brought in) he used needles 3 or 4 times himself. After that they got a bit blunt :) He kept them in a container to stop any contamination and never suffered any ill effect - even the hospital said this was ok as our local authority at the time would only allow you so many a month free and they said it wasn't worth paying.
Joan
PS. I know this isn't from canine experience, but the management of diabetes is pretty much the same regardless of species :)

I give my dog 2 injections per day, and I clean the tip of the syringe with alcohol and cap it. I can then use the syringe for about 4 days before it gets dull. The vet gave me this tip and it seem to work fine.
rileyvan

My parents had a diabetic cocker spaniel and for 6yrs my parents kept the insulin in the cupboard if the phials weren't open and in the fridge if they were.

The unopened vials and the syringes were kept in an old margarine tub that was kept closed with an elastic band, in the cupboard and the syringe that was in use was kept under the elastic band for easy identification.

The syringes were each used 3 times and the dog was injected twice a day. Mum tested the urine twice a day using a small plant pot saucer slipped under the dog when she squatted and clinistrips from Boots - they were cheaper than the vets ones!!

If mum and dad were out for the whole day with the dog and would need to give her an injection whilst they were out they took a brand new vial and syringe with them and kept them in a babies bottle cool bag.

HTH,

Fiona
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