Emergency — phone the vet now Within hours

Diabetic emergency in dogs

Vomiting, weakness, fast or laboured breathing in a diabetic dog can be ketoacidosis or hypoglycaemia — phone the vet now.

Dog

Recognise the signs

Hypoglycaemia (low sugar): wobbliness, weakness, tremors, seizures, collapse — minutes onset
DKA (high sugar with ketones): vomiting, lethargy, fast breathing, sweet/acetone breath, collapse — hours-days onset

First aid steps

For suspected hypoglycaemia: smear honey/syrup on gums (see dog-low-blood-sugar) and phone the vet.
For suspected DKA: phone the vet and head to the practice with the insulin and recent feeding/dose log.

Do NOT

Do not give insulin without vet input in an emergency.
Do not assume ketoacidosis is just gastroenteritis.

While transporting to the vet

Bring insulin product and dose history.

When to phone the vet immediately

Any collapse, seizure, persistent vomiting in diabetic
Acetone breath
Refusing food in a diabetic dog (24+ hours)

Common causes

Hypoglycaemia: too much insulin, missed meal, intense exercise
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): missed insulin, infection, illness, stress

What the vet will need to know

Insulin name, dose, last given time
Last meal time
Recent activity
Other current medications/illness

Aftercare

Hospitalisation, IV fluids, insulin and electrolyte management.
Insulin dose review.
Owner education on home monitoring.

Prevention

Strict feeding-and-insulin schedule.
Vet review at any food refusal.
Glucose meter at home for monitoring (vet-trained).

Breed-specific notes

Higher risk: Samoyed, Tibetan Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Schnauzer.

Frequently asked questions

How do I tell hypo from DKA?

Hypo is fast onset (minutes), wobbly, sometimes seizing. DKA is slower (hours-days), vomiting, fast breathing, distinctive breath. Treatment differs sharply — phone the vet.

Should I skip insulin if my dog hasn't eaten?

Speak to your vet — usually a reduced or skipped dose is appropriate, never give a full dose to a non-eating diabetic.

Can diabetes be cured?

Not in dogs typically — lifelong insulin and management. Excellent quality of life is achievable.