Discussion
anyone else?
Always been a very fit and healthy dog, well exercised everday, generally a lovely happy dog.
We noticed he was drinking alot more than normal and had lost a bit of weight(11yo westie)
Vet took blood and urine samples and has put him on insulin injections twice a day after food, and has specified royal cannin dry and wet food.
That is all good, he seems to like the food , the jabs not so much.
He has to go in for a day next week to have his levels observed over a day.
Anyway my question is does anyone else have experiance and or tips for the future.
Always been a very fit and healthy dog, well exercised everday, generally a lovely happy dog.
We noticed he was drinking alot more than normal and had lost a bit of weight(11yo westie)
Vet took blood and urine samples and has put him on insulin injections twice a day after food, and has specified royal cannin dry and wet food.
That is all good, he seems to like the food , the jabs not so much.
He has to go in for a day next week to have his levels observed over a day.
Anyway my question is does anyone else have experiance and or tips for the future.
richhead said:
anyone else?
Always been a very fit and healthy dog, well exercised everday, generally a lovely happy dog.
We noticed he was drinking alot more than normal and had lost a bit of weight(11yo westie)
Vet took blood and urine samples and has put him on insulin injections twice a day after food, and has specified royal cannin dry and wet food.
That is all good, he seems to like the food , the jabs not so much.
He has to go in for a day next week to have his levels observed over a day.
Anyway my question is does anyone else have experiance and or tips for the future.
Yes, our Reginald was diagnosed with diabetes several months ago.Always been a very fit and healthy dog, well exercised everday, generally a lovely happy dog.
We noticed he was drinking alot more than normal and had lost a bit of weight(11yo westie)
Vet took blood and urine samples and has put him on insulin injections twice a day after food, and has specified royal cannin dry and wet food.
That is all good, he seems to like the food , the jabs not so much.
He has to go in for a day next week to have his levels observed over a day.
Anyway my question is does anyone else have experiance and or tips for the future.
Things can be difficult until the correct level of insulin is reached. It has to be stepped up gradually. Reggie had two trips to the hospital during this time, when he'd gone into Diabetic Ketoacidosis.
Also, Reg was losing his sight, and the specialist predicted he'd be fully blind in just a few weeks. He had cataract surgery yesterday and should get full vision back. That was $9,000.
The good news is that with the appropriate insulin dosage, it's possible for a dog to function normally, basically.
I wish you and the little fellow all the best.
paulguitar said:
Yes, our Reginald was diagnosed with diabetes several months ago.
Things can be difficult until the correct level of insulin is reached. It has to be stepped up gradually. Reggie had two trips to the hospital during this time, when he'd gone into Diabetic Ketoacidosis.
Also, Reg was losing his sight, and the specialist predicted he'd be fully blind in just a few weeks. He had cataract surgery yesterday and should get full vision back. That was $9,000.
The good news is that with the appropriate insulin dosage, it's possible for a dog to function normally, basically.
I wish you and the little fellow all the best.
Thanks for the good wishes, and sorry to hear of your dogs troubles, thankfully it seems its been caught early and it would appear his sight is ok, touch wood, will see what happens in the next few weeks.Things can be difficult until the correct level of insulin is reached. It has to be stepped up gradually. Reggie had two trips to the hospital during this time, when he'd gone into Diabetic Ketoacidosis.
Also, Reg was losing his sight, and the specialist predicted he'd be fully blind in just a few weeks. He had cataract surgery yesterday and should get full vision back. That was $9,000.
The good news is that with the appropriate insulin dosage, it's possible for a dog to function normally, basically.
I wish you and the little fellow all the best.
Our old pug/jack Russell cross - a jug - became diabetic at about 10 years old. Like your boy he had been drinking a lot more and it came after a severe bout of pancreatitis.
He was on insulin twice a day after food like your boy.
He lived about another 3 years and died of unconnected issues.
My tips as follows
1.make sure you follow the dosage and keep the times regular whatever the circumstances. No missing doses or varying times. We used to get a nurse from the vet to inject him if we were away and he was staying with my mother.
2. As above for the food - consistent amounts and frequency. Watch out for treats etc putting balance out. Exercise also needs to be consistent. Always have a reserve way of getting food into him so he can have his insulin even if he refuses his normal food.
3. We were told he would go blind and it could happen quickly. Keeping to 1 and 2 helped avoid this but his sight did deteriorate especially in the dark. Provide a light in dark to help him. I recommend a “pup light” from Amazon which fits like a collar and enabled him to see in the dark.
Our boy was too old/infirm for cataract surgery so there was a real threat of probable blindness. I wanted to do all I could for him to try to avoid this so as well as 1and 2 he also had Ocu Glo tablets every day - which are specifically made to avoid the build up of the stuff that causes cataracts. I don’t know if they worked but he didn’t go blind and I’m happy that we did all we could to help him avoid that.
It does take extra work and commitment but they are worth it of course.
Good luck. Let me know if I can help further.
He was on insulin twice a day after food like your boy.
He lived about another 3 years and died of unconnected issues.
My tips as follows
1.make sure you follow the dosage and keep the times regular whatever the circumstances. No missing doses or varying times. We used to get a nurse from the vet to inject him if we were away and he was staying with my mother.
2. As above for the food - consistent amounts and frequency. Watch out for treats etc putting balance out. Exercise also needs to be consistent. Always have a reserve way of getting food into him so he can have his insulin even if he refuses his normal food.
3. We were told he would go blind and it could happen quickly. Keeping to 1 and 2 helped avoid this but his sight did deteriorate especially in the dark. Provide a light in dark to help him. I recommend a “pup light” from Amazon which fits like a collar and enabled him to see in the dark.
Our boy was too old/infirm for cataract surgery so there was a real threat of probable blindness. I wanted to do all I could for him to try to avoid this so as well as 1and 2 he also had Ocu Glo tablets every day - which are specifically made to avoid the build up of the stuff that causes cataracts. I don’t know if they worked but he didn’t go blind and I’m happy that we did all we could to help him avoid that.
It does take extra work and commitment but they are worth it of course.
Good luck. Let me know if I can help further.
undred orse said:
Our old pug/jack Russell cross - a jug - became diabetic at about 10 years old. Like your boy he had been drinking a lot more and it came after a severe bout of pancreatitis.
He was on insulin twice a day after food like your boy.
He lived about another 3 years and died of unconnected issues.
My tips as follows
1.make sure you follow the dosage and keep the times regular whatever the circumstances. No missing doses or varying times. We used to get a nurse from the vet to inject him if we were away and he was staying with my mother.
2. As above for the food - consistent amounts and frequency. Watch out for treats etc putting balance out. Exercise also needs to be consistent. Always have a reserve way of getting food into him so he can have his insulin even if he refuses his normal food.
3. We were told he would go blind and it could happen quickly. Keeping to 1 and 2 helped avoid this but his sight did deteriorate especially in the dark. Provide a light in dark to help him. I recommend a pup light from Amazon which fits like a collar and enabled him to see in the dark.
Our boy was too old/infirm for cataract surgery so there was a real threat of probable blindness. I wanted to do all I could for him to try to avoid this so as well as 1and 2 he also had Ocu Glo tablets every day - which are specifically made to avoid the build up of the stuff that causes cataracts. I don t know if they worked but he didn t go blind and I m happy that we did all we could to help him avoid that.
It does take extra work and commitment but they are worth it of course.
Good luck. Let me know if I can help further.
Thank, all good tips, will look into those eye pillsHe was on insulin twice a day after food like your boy.
He lived about another 3 years and died of unconnected issues.
My tips as follows
1.make sure you follow the dosage and keep the times regular whatever the circumstances. No missing doses or varying times. We used to get a nurse from the vet to inject him if we were away and he was staying with my mother.
2. As above for the food - consistent amounts and frequency. Watch out for treats etc putting balance out. Exercise also needs to be consistent. Always have a reserve way of getting food into him so he can have his insulin even if he refuses his normal food.
3. We were told he would go blind and it could happen quickly. Keeping to 1 and 2 helped avoid this but his sight did deteriorate especially in the dark. Provide a light in dark to help him. I recommend a pup light from Amazon which fits like a collar and enabled him to see in the dark.
Our boy was too old/infirm for cataract surgery so there was a real threat of probable blindness. I wanted to do all I could for him to try to avoid this so as well as 1and 2 he also had Ocu Glo tablets every day - which are specifically made to avoid the build up of the stuff that causes cataracts. I don t know if they worked but he didn t go blind and I m happy that we did all we could to help him avoid that.
It does take extra work and commitment but they are worth it of course.
Good luck. Let me know if I can help further.
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