Caring for a diabetic dog can be expensive in part because they need regular blood tests and insulin treatments to manage their condition. They also could be at risk for emergency crises if their blood sugar is unstable or they develop other medical conditions because of their diabetes. And when that happens, their need for financial assistance often grows.

The cost of caring for a diabetic dog can also pre-date their diagnosis. Often, a dog will need to have bloodwork performed to see if diabetes is the culprit for excessive drinking and urination (two common signs of diabetes in dogs). A vet may also order a complete blood cell count, bloodwork to evaluate internal organ function, and a urinalysis to rule out other medical causes. Such diagnostics may generally cost anywhere from $136 to $245, with treatment plan costs totaling between $214 to $348. So, even before a dog's diabetes diagnosis has been confirmed, the combined costs may range from around $350 to $600. And while these are just estimates on the costs, you can start to see how quickly the bills add up.

We hope the chart above helps further illustrate why caring for a diabetic dog can be so expensive, and why donations to programs like Liam’s Fund, through which Phinney's has given advice and financially supported the pet parents of diabetic dogs, mean so much. Michelle Goldthwaite established Liam's Fund in 2016 through the Deirdre Dickinson Memorial Fund, in honor and memory of her sister. Generous donations made to the fund ever since have meant the world to Phinney’s because contributions help ensure that we are continuously able to help diabetic dogs whose pet parents couldn’t afford their expensive treatments on their own.


























 

Recently, Michelle Goldthwaite, through her sister’s Deirdre Dickinson Memorial Fund, donated $10,000 to Liam’s Fund at Phinney's, which she helped create and capitalize. Since its inception in 2016, Liam's Fund has helped seven amazing dogs with diabetes — Demetrius, Emperor Ojii, Jackson, Lilly, Haze, Baby, and Rocky.
 
“It’s important for me and my children to keep this fund going in honor and memory of my sister,” Michelle said. “When my son was just 8 years old, he was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. It changed our lives, and one day while waiting to see his doctor at Children’s Hospital, I saw something online about a diabetic dog who needed a foster,” she explained. “That got me thinking how hard it must be for people to pay for the care their diabetic dogs need.”
 
Shortly after this, Michelle approached Phinney's president, Daniela Caride. Michelle was moved by Phinney’s mission of helping people so they don’t have to surrender or euthanize their pets because they can’t afford their care.
 
“I used to do rescue work in California and saw so many diabetic dogs surrendered. I also fostered a diabetic dog,” said Michelle, a doting dog mom to four Yorkies — Brooklyn, Lily, Teddy, and Lucy. “It’s heartbreaking to think someone would have to give up their dog just because of a sudden and random diabetes diagnosis,” she added. “Knowing how much my sister loved animals and her nephew Liam, it just made sense to establish this fund."
 
Michelle’s contribution is a godsend because it means Phinney’s can continue to provide diabetic dogs like Rocky, a Mini Pinscher, with the essential help they need to live their best lives. Recently, Rocky, who has benefited from Liam’s Fund for five years and counting, developed kidney issues as a result of his diabetes. With Michelle’s contribution, we’re confident we’ll be able to provide his pet parent, Linda, with the help she needs for his continued medical tests, medications, and other treatments.
 
Dogs like Rocky would have no chance of survival if it weren’t for the dedication of their pet parents, their vets, and people like Michelle who generously give. And, through Michelle’s support, Liam’s Fund proved to be a literal lifeline for Demetrius, Emperor Ojii, Jackson, Lilly, Haze, and Baby, who, on average, lived a whole year longer because of this support.
 
“I think my sister would be very happy,” Michelle said, reflecting on the positive outcomes the Liam’s Fund dogs have experienced.

On May 23, 2021, Phinney’s hosted Kibbles & Nibbles, an online cooking class led by seasoned Cordon Bleu-trained chef Mika McDonald and “starring” her adorable taste testers Queen and Disco!

The pooches did a great job in their supporting roles, gobbling down yummy parmesan cheese crisps and oat cakes. Mika had plenty of samples after showing everyone on the Google Meet how to make them. And her husband Ryan supported the event by capturing every doggie chomp with a system of three alternating cameras.

But Queen and Disco weren’t the only dogs in attendance! Instagram stars Mack and Olaf played sous chefs to their dog moms’ as they followed Mika’s step-by-step tutorial for making these delicious nuggets.

Mika also shared baking tips with the audience. For instance, she recommended: 

• investing in a silicon baking sheet, which she said virtually guarantees that cookie dough doesn’t burn.
  
  
• choosing recipes with easy-to-find pantry ingredients if you are a beginner.
  
  
• not to worry if your measurements are a little off or if you omit certain ingredients -- they’ll still hold together and be tasty.
  
  
• not being afraid to omit ingredients not suitable for vegetarians or to comply with other dietary restrictions. For instance, a vegetarian could omit the gelatin in the oat cakes (added to give the dog treats some more depth) because the treats were just as tasty for people without that ingredient.
  
  
• always double check what you’re putting into dog treats isn't toxic to your pet--things like onions, which are often found in cooking broths, can be toxic to dogs.
  
  

We also learned there are a bunch of tasty herbs that dogs can eat, including rosemary, sage, and basil! Using herbs can be a great way to create robust and dog-friendly treats they’ll woof and wag over.

“The class was entertaining and practical,” said Dana Scott, a cat dad with a general curiosity about cooking for pets. He also said he’s more motivated to try and make some treats for his boys after seeing Mika do it.

"Wow, Mika explains things so well and is so funny and warm. This class felt like I was in her kitchen keeping her company," added Daniela Caride, Phinney's President.

Because of the generosity of Phinney’s supporters for Kibbles & Nibbles, we raised $500, and that’s an amazing accomplishment to chew on!

We look forward to planning another Kibbles & Nibbles class next year. We want to again extend our sincere thanks to Mika for sharing her expertise and donating her time to help Phinney’s raise funds to support people and pets in need. And, of course we want to thank her dogs, as well as her husband Ryan, who did an amazing job behind the scenes producing this class live from Mika’s kitchen!

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