When did your journey with diabetes first begin?
September 20, 2022.
How did you first notice something was wrong with your dog?
He was getting me up at night three, four, then five times a night — I was exhausted.
What was it like receiving the diagnosis? What thoughts were running through your mind?
Frightening. I felt numb and scared he wouldn’t be with us much longer.
What did you already know about diabetes at the time?
None — I didn’t even know dogs could get diabetes.
What kind of information and support was offered to you in making decisions around diabetes management?
Support was almost nil, and we felt the vet inferred that at 13.5 years old, Hairy didn’t have much hope. We were leaving the day after diagnosis for a 10-day road trip, and our vet told us not to start insulin until we returned. Three days into the trip Hairy was losing weight daily and his fur was falling out. We stopped at a vet in Napier who told us we needed to get back immediately. We turned around, got home that night, and booked in for the next morning. That vet gave us the wrong vial — she’d put a sticker with Hairy’s dose over the label. My wife, out of habit from working in a lab, peeled off the sticker and saw it wasn’t even insulin. If we hadn’t turned around or checked, he wouldn’t be with us now.
How did you make the decision to pursue treating your dog’s diabetes versus euthanising?
There was no question — we were going to do whatever it took to save our boy. I got Hairy when I was in a bad place, and he helped me through it. I owed it to him to do whatever we could
What were your main concerns?
How to manage his diabetes — we knew nothing about food management or what ketoacidosis or hypoglycemia were. We never knew his blood glucose levels and he kept losing weight. We weren’t given any useful information, and it was costing us a fortune. After changing vets three times, another diabetic dog owner recommended her vet — best move we made!
What has it been like settling into a routine?
Hairy was a nightmare at first. He hated injections, fought us hard, and literally screamed. It took both of us, and it was awful. As he lost weight, his skin tightened and tenting became harder. We were emotional wrecks, losing hope, and not getting help from our first vets. Finally, we decided we had to take control of everything diabetes-related. I threw myself into learning as much as I could, joined canine diabetic groups, asked questions, and found someone who took me under their wing.
How long did it take to get settled?
After learning how to manage diabetes, getting the right tools, and putting Hairy on Gabapentin, we started to see progress — it took around nine months. Another breakthrough came when I made a sling so one of us could handle testing and injections alone. That gave us our lives back after more than a year from diagnosis.
How does life with your dog now compare to pre-diagnosis?
We plan ahead, stay prepared, and take Hairy everywhere. We’ve done three road trips, the longest over 10 days, with a full travel kit — meds, syringes, test kits, and a folding sling. We even bought a car fridge for the insulin and food. Staying in motels with a dog is easy these days, and we’re far less stressed now. We know what to do if something goes wrong, and our friends and family have been incredibly supportive.
How well did the reality of managing diabetes align with what you were expecting at the start?
We had no expectations — and maybe that helped. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. It feels like it was meant to be. I’ve learned so much, met amazing people, helped other diabetic pet parents, brought diabetic testing equipment into New Zealand, and continue advocating for better diabetes management. It’s given me a purpose I never imagined.
What was easier than you expected?
Once you have the right support and tools, managing diabetes isn’t that hard. Knowledge and community make all the difference — I owe everything to the support network that guided us, and that’s why I now give back.
What was more challenging than you expected?
Support from the veterinary profession — we felt abandoned, alone, and financially drained without meaningful help.
What have you learned that you would most like to share with other owners of newly diagnosed animals?
Any other tips, advice, or suggestions?
Advancing Animal Care through Shared Learning