If you’ve seen a Rottweiler in a t-shirt lately, it might’ve been Sampson! When Sampson first came to us, he was fearful of procedures, like many other pets during their visits to the vet. To avoid further escalation of his fear level, we utilized sedation to perform his annual preventative care. However, in December 2023, we discovered Sampson is diabetic. Managing diabetes in pets can include routine, invasive procedures, such as pricking the ears or foot pads, insulin administration, and more. To help Sampson feel comfortable with his new daily routine needed to monitor and manage his diabetes, his owner worked with our team to help him adjust by using fear free techniques. She used treats and petting to help distract him during his insulin injections, and she found that acting calm and making the injections “no big deal” helped Sampson a lot.
In clinic, we desensitized him to having an area of fur shaved to apply a flash blood glucose sensor, called FreeStyle Libre, by slowly introducing him to the clippers and sensor and rewarding him with treats and petting as we made progress.
Today, Sampson routinely receives his insulin injections at home, and he takes pre-visit prescriptions to help manage his anxiety and fear level before he comes to the clinic for his sensor applications. With this medications and training on board, Sampson, his owner, and our team have been able to successfully provide him the care he needs. He’s even discovered a new passion for fashion, as he wears fun t-shirts to help protect his sensor! Pets like Sampson are the reason why we stand by our fear free practices. By utilizing these techniques, we are able to help many pets overcome fear and anxiety in and out of the clinic.
FreeStyle Libre flash blood glucose sensors are a tool that allows pet owners and Veterinarians to quickly and easily monitor a pet’s diabetes. Though designed for humans, these sensors can be applied to a pet’s bare skin and scanned with a smart phone while using the associated app. They provide a way to easily attain a pet’s glucose level reading at home or on-the-go without having to prick the animal for a blood sample. The sensors themselves are only about the size of a quarter, and take readings by implanting a small sampling catheter beneath the pet’s skin, rather than gathering a reading from the blood.