Diabetes

[northern lad 2,292]

Had him back to the vets on Friday to get his bloods done,its still 23+so had to up his insulin from 8 units a day to 12...the initial improvement it seems was down to the antibiotics clearing his water infection up...Back again on Thursday to check it all again and see if the higher dose is working,hes still lethargic,but I don't think hes suffering as such,just tired.Hes fed 12 hourly,same amount both feeds and only has a very short walk now,I would have thought if the higher dose was working we would have seen an obvious improvement fairly quickly?? Dave

[LaraCroft 863]

It can be difficult to get the balance - especially if the dog had an infection to start with that was altering the dogs system - I personally found it easier to feed smaller amounts 4 times a day than just twice, so you don't get such a swing between high levels of sugar after a meal, and lower levels just before the next meal - not always easy to work into a day, but may be an option. If the sugar is still high ( and the dog is happy to do so ) then a longer walk would be fine to help use up more excess sugar in the blood. Slower, steady exercise for longer is better than a short burst of energy. Without repeated ( expensive ! ) visits to the vets for blood checks, you are left with keeping a close eye on drinking, lethargy/energy levels and general "how does he seem ? " monitoring - which is as unscientific and inaccurate as it sounds, but can give a ball-park guide. The type of insulin used also varies - some act within minutes and are gone from the system in an hour or so - some are designed to be slower in action, lasting for many hours. If you are feeding when there is little insulin in the dogs system, it won't be being as effective.

[BOLSTER 808]

Raw diet no dry foods, might sound mad but hemp thc/cbd works wonders for dogs as well as humans .

[northern lad 2,292]

Thanks for the info guys The insulin hes on is Caninsulin,didnt know there was different types tbh The vet and manufacturer say its to be given straight after his meals,but what you said Lara makes sense to me I will speak to the vet thurs When I said about seeing some improvement I think I worded it badly...hes been on insulin for a fortnight nearly and there doesn't seem to be much improvement at all with lethargy/drinking ,as I said ,the initial improvement was the infection clearing up...if Im honest Im starting to question my judgement regarding PTS....If this is as good as its going to get,as much as I think of him ,I wont allow it to go on,if theres a chance of better quality of life with a higher dose then Ill carry on with the treatment,time and money aren't an issue where my dogs are concerned....Bolster...are you suggesting getting him stoned (would suit him actually,hes called Hendrix after Jimi )He was on RAW/gain maintenance but had to put him on tinned food(,the dry was making his thirst even worse) as he has to have the exact same meal size twice daily at the same,its just easier if I happen to be out somewhere my youngest will feed him Cheers ,Dave

[LaraCroft 863]

It is worth trying a higher dose - the caninsulin is a medium acting one, so it won't be starting to do much for the first hour or so after injection. The normal reason for saying jab after food is so you know the dog has eaten before having insulin - if you jab the dog, then it refuses to eat, you have insulin in the system with nothing to work on. The same insulin can ( on vet advice obviously ) be given twice daily in a smaller dose, which can again make the sugar/insulin/food/exercise balance easier to control, but obviously the downside is having to double the amount of jabs, and who is around to do so.

 

If things don't improve, you have done all you can and given him every chance - thats all you can do.

[northern lad 2,292]

Thanks Lara,will see what the vet says tommorow,will speak to them about 4 jabs rather than 2 daily,I look after the wife full time ,so I can do that no problem

[BOLSTER 808]

Yes that's the stuff give it a go small amounts, your pancreas secretes insulin when sugars/carbs have been eaten, raw foods have none of it in and will bring the blood sugars down.

[northern lad 2,292]

Not been on for a while so I thought Id post an update for those who pmd etc...In march the constant water infections were taking their toll on him,despite his blood sugar being stable,so further tests were done to no avail....Id felt for a while there was an underlying problem that hadnt yet manifested ,and the vet agreed.By this stage he no longer wanted to go for a walk much and was just lying around looking exhausted.I felt it was his time and had him PTS....had dogs all my life and done this before,but this one wasthe hardest,always new it would be....choking up now ,three months later....miss the little shite every day...RIP Hendrix..

[LaraCroft 863]

So sorry to hear this, but it sounds like you did the right thing - you did all you could, and if diabetes is a symptom of an underlying problem elsewhere, then you are right, and it was his time. It is the pits, and it is tough, and even if you give the same fabulous love, care and attention to each and every dog you own, there are alwasy some that get under the skin more than others. It doesn't mean you treated the others any less, just that some touch a nerve more. Time will go by, and the memories are not of the dog laying around looking unwell and tired, but the dog you knew in his full health, and you'll smile.

[mattyg 1,862]

That dog was part of the fixtures and fittings I'm guessing?

You did the right thing and if he could, old Hendrix would thank you..... Long term illness eventually takes its toll, he did his best by you,you did your best by him.

Chin up mate,

Matt

[northern lad 2,292]

Cheers guys,yep Matty he lived in,he did a bit of ratting ,other than that he was a pet in every sense of the word....everywhere I went he followed,but was just allways there if you see what I mean,he wasnt a dog that needed constant attention and fussing.Loved being out and about and friends with the world...It was awful ,I knew I was doing the right thing but at the sametime felt I was betraying him....Its a strange one ,but when I gave him his injections morning and night I often felt he was thinking " I know your doing your best...but you are going to have to let me go" can still feel the weight of his head sagging into the crook of my arm as he went...gutted,,,

[mattyg 1,862]

I know that feeling mate, the better memories will outweigh the crap ones.

Don't wanna become the support group for berieved dog owners but there are some mutts that make their mark!

They're all gonna go before most of us, just give the best you can while they are around!

Matt