• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Man what a week with the veternarian...anyone have a diabetic dog?

alkemyst

alkemyst

No Lifer
My wife took in a little black fluffy one-eyed kitten that just recently stopped nursing (named him Capt. Jack) and was very dehydrated and about half the weight of his siblings. It was a long shot to save him, but we tried...his infection was too much and his lungs started bleeding. At least he died a bit more comfortable than if he was outside in our recent storms.

My 12 year old three-legged dog I inherited when my grandmother passed away about 6 months ago or so recently developed cancer and we needed to have her spleen removed. She's been doing good on that front.

This past week she started eating less and less and drinking more and more. She was constipated so we began adding fiber. We thought it was related to that and backed off the fiber to see if it would change anything.

When she didn't eat last night at all and turned down a piece of doggie bacon this morning while proceeding to down a large bowl of water enough to barf 1/2 it up, we took her in.

Severe anemia (could be cancer-related if it got into the bone marrow) and glucose off the chart. Insulin brought her appetite back, hopefully in two weeks things look better.

With ultrasound (to detect if there was internal bleeding) and trying to save that little kitten I almost dinged four figures. Insulin is going to be about $75-80 a month + syringes.

The biggest issue is set feeding times for her and no treats. We didn't give her a ton of them but after her walk and when we got home she looked forward to one. Her weight became much better once we got her (she's only about 1-2lbs overweight now, she was about 7-8lbs prior) for a 12 year old that's pretty good.

We are putting her on Royal Canin's DHF 18 which she ate well tonight (1 3/4 cups) and started with 10 units of U-100 insulin.

Anyone know any diabetic-friendly treats (I have googled and found many, looking for actual experiences rather than links I have already seen)?

Thanks
 
Never a dog but we had a diabetic cat and he lived with the disease for 7 years. We would give him the shot while he was eating and he never really paid much attention to it.
 
Yes. We took my MILs dog when she passed and the dog developed Diabetes. Insulin injections twice a day are a real pain in the ass ( for me and the dog ). She developed circulation issues about a year later and passed away ( 14 years old ). It is a hard way to go. I feel for you and your dog.
 
Linflas said:
Never a dog but we had a diabetic cat and he lived with the disease for 7 years. We would give him the shot while he was eating and he never really paid much attention to it.
Click to expand...

I had a diabetic cat too. He needed two shots everyday. The insulin had to be kept in the fridge and it was pretty expensive. I will never get an all white cat again. My mom did not keep up with the shots and he went into diabetic shock and died.
 
We had a diabetic cat for over two years. He died a couple months ago from other problems. He was food centered enough that it was fairly simple to give him the twice daily shots...just wait until his face was in the food bowl.
 
IronWing said:
We had a diabetic cat for over two years. He died a couple months ago from other problems. He was food centered enough that it was fairly simple to give him the twice daily shots...just wait until his face was in the food bowl.
Click to expand...

How did you keep him from eating out of it between injections? Sounds like you kept the food down.
 
12 y/o 3-legged cancer survivor diabetic dog without a spleen? I'm with CRXican on this one; i'd euthanize it for everyone's sake.
 
ADDAvenger said:
12 y/o 3-legged cancer survivor diabetic dog without a spleen? I'm with CRXican on this one; i'd euthanize it for everyone's sake.
Click to expand...

Don't forget the severe anemia. I'm going to agree with you both. I wouldn't put an elderly dog through all of that. I don't like to see animals suffer.
 
The dog is not suffering though...the dog is acting fine and playful still. No doubt in a few more days if we let it go not eating it wouldn't be, but we tend to notice behavioral changes since we spend a lot of them with our pets.

Should we put people to sleep instead of managing their glucose levels with insulin now? Most pets don't even notice the injections.
 
alke, i have a diabetic dog. going on three years now. it was overwhelming at first, but we've fallen into a very effective and easy routine now.

she also began drinking a lot and then peeing a lot... like all over and she couldn't control it. at first i thought she had a uti or something. a trip to the vet told different. my dog was only 5 years old when this all happened.

You are giving your dog insulin 2x/day? My dog gets 6 units at 7am and then again at 7pm.

I have a lot of pointers and things to share with you whereby you could benefit from my experience in this. Maybe you want to PM me any questions?

To anyone who thinks they would never give insulin shots to a dog, that it's not worth your time, that it's "absurd". Screw you. You should never get a pet. You aren't worthy.


edit: I had made a thread about my dog having diabetes some time ago and just searched for it. for some reason it's not showing up. ???
 
Last edited:
My son has two cats with diabetes. He's treating them with Glipizide in pill form. He found it to be a more convenient treatment for him and a much more effective treatment for them. They both became normal weight, now urinate normally, and their coats improved. They have been on Glipizide for about two years now since they were 10.


Jim
 
moshquerade said:
alke, i have a diabetic dog. going on three years now. it was overwhelming at first, but we've fallen into a very effective and easy routine now.

she also began drinking a lot and then peeing a lot... like all over and she couldn't control it. at first i thought she had a uti or something. a trip to the vet told different. my dog was only 5 years old when this all happened.

You are giving your dog insulin 2x/day? My dog gets 6 units at 7am and then again at 7pm.

I have a lot of pointers and things to share with you whereby you could benefit from my experience in this. Maybe you want to PM me any questions?

To anyone who thinks they would never give insulin shots to a dog, that it's not worth your time, that it's "absurd". Screw you. You should never get a pet. You aren't worthy.


edit: I had made a thread about my dog having diabetes some time ago and just searched for it. for some reason it's not showing up. ???
Click to expand...

2x a day, 20 units of U-100. Dog insulin is almost impossible to get again since the last company making it just stopped production.

Today we had a spot sugar test and she was at 70...vet thought she'd still be over 100 so that is good.

We are cutting it back to 18 units 2x a day, she gets a full 'sugar' test next Friday.
 
My dog only needs 4 units 15 min after each meal, morning and night.

She is the best dog it could have ever happened to...as soon as I flick the needle, she runs over excited, because she knows that right after she gets the shot, she gets 1/2 of a diabetes-friendly biscuit. Positive association with the shot = win.
 
Last edited:
xgsound said:
My son has two cats with diabetes. He's treating them with Glipizide in pill form. He found it to be a more convenient treatment for him and a much more effective treatment for them. They both became normal weight, now urinate normally, and their coats improved. They have been on Glipizide for about two years now since they were 10.


Jim
Click to expand...

Thanks, with dogs (like in mine) it's almost always Type I diabetes. Some cats have Type II and do respond very well to Glipizide. It's much more convenient than dealing with syringes and proper disposal of them.
 
Wow, its been a long time since I've seen you actually post something friendly, Chris 😛

Respect other users' privacy and do not post personal or private information of any other user without their express permission, regardless of the source.

admin allisolm
 
Last edited:
xgsound said:
My son has two cats with diabetes. He's treating them with Glipizide in pill form. He found it to be a more convenient treatment for him and a much more effective treatment for them. They both became normal weight, now urinate normally, and their coats improved. They have been on Glipizide for about two years now since they were 10.


Jim
Click to expand...
This interests me, thanks. I was unaware of a pill form. It's tough giving injections twice a day. Not for me, but more for having to stick the dog. I probably mind it more than she does, but still...

I will mention this to my vet and see what she/he has to say.
 
OCGuy said:
My dog only needs 4 units 15 min after each meal, morning and night.

She is the best dog it could have ever happened to...as soon as I flick the needle, she runs over excited, because she knows that right after she gets the shot, she gets 1/2 of a diabetes-friendly biscuit. Positive association with the shot = win.
Click to expand...
it becomes a routine for them. my dog does the same thing. she eats and then comes to me automatically for her shot. all i do is praise her and pet her and she finds that reward enough i guess.
 
alkemyst said:
2x a day, 20 units of U-100. Dog insulin is almost impossible to get again since the last company making it just stopped production.

Today we had a spot sugar test and she was at 70...vet thought she'd still be over 100 so that is good.

We are cutting it back to 18 units 2x a day, she gets a full 'sugar' test next Friday.
Click to expand...
well, in lieu of questions by PM, 😛
i was going to tell you that you can save money by getting the humulin at walmart. i went to my local drug store and they charged me $75 for one vial. which was outrageous! i even pleaded to them that this was for a pet which i had no insurance for and they wouldn't budge on the price. so the next refill time i went to walmart and they cut the price by about a 1/3rd. I paid around $25 for the same exact stuff. They also had cheaper syringes with friendler thinner/shorter needles which a dog that weighs about 20 lbs can use.

my dog used to use the vetsulin. when they discontinued that we had to go back to square one and retesting until we got her to the correct dose of the synthetic human insulin.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top