Dog has Diabetes

[NY10]

Today my dog was diagnosed with diabetes. For the last few weeks I knew something was very wrong but was just hoping it wasn't real or it would go away. She had all the signs so today we took her to the vet and her levels were outrageous. 677

We now have to give her insulin shots twice a day for the rest of her life and she has a whole new diet and routine ahead of her, tonight I gave her the first shot and she took it so well, we all did really. She's 8 which is still young but the vet said she can still have a healthy good life span and everything will be okay.

She also seemed to have cataracts in one eye which is what really made me know it was diabetes but the vet said it wasn't, he ruled out a few other options and said we should bring her to an eye specialist and see what it is but now we're talking serious money and possible surgery which can run upwards of $4500 or more. Of course if I need to it's not a question of what I would do for my dog but the other eye is still good and I know dogs that are blind and manage to due well.

I was just wondering if anyone else here has an experience with dogs with diabetes and how they handled. So far things seems to be good here. I did the shot and it was easy she seems to be good tonight. I still have to wait a few days to see if this dosage is right for her or we have to up the dosage. I am a little sad that my dog has to go through this but like the vet told me, she will be able to go on and live a long happy normal life and if she's going to get any type of disease at least it's something we can treat and mange.

 

[SheLikesKitties]

Poor doggie.
I would recommend that if the diabetes is being controlled and the other eye is functioning well, do not opt for surgery.

 

[Faith]

Today my dog was diagnosed with diabetes. For the last few weeks I knew something was very wrong but was just hoping it wasn't real or it would go away. She had all the signs

I'm so sorry.

What were the signs? You might help other readers and their doggies if you could give us the details.

 

[whiterose]

I haven't personally had that experience but my mother had a cat with diabetes. She had to give him insulin twice a day. It wasn't easy. She couldn't just go on trips unless she had someone willing to give him the insulin. But she took good care of him and he lived a very long life with no major complications once they got it under control.

 

[NY10]

Poor doggie.
I would recommend that if the diabetes is being controlled and the other eye is functioning well, do not opt for surgery.

That has been my thought as well. She seems to be doing fine and adjusting great so we are going to leave things alone for right now and see what happens.

I'm so sorry.

What were the signs? You might help other readers and their doggies if you could give us the details.

The sings were basic, urinating a lot, drinking more water than ever before, it was getting to the point where we would have to fill her bowl 3 times an hour, the urinating was taking place everywhere and anywhere which was odd for her, she's house trained but was breaking all the rules, her eye glazed over and it looked like cataracts so that was when right away I knew. She also began to loose weight but was eating the same amount or more. I also found out that diabetes in dogs is very similar with it in humans which is easy for it to be treated.

I haven't personally had that experience but my mother had a cat with diabetes. She had to give him insulin twice a day. It wasn't easy. She couldn't just go on trips unless she had someone willing to give him the insulin. But she took good care of him and he lived a very long life with no major complications once they got it under control.

Thank you WR.

She is doing fine, the hardest part is monitoring her meals and not over feeding her. She loves her new dog food and snacks and giving the shots twice a day is very simple. Of course this came one month before me and my boyfriend are taking a romantic trip to the Bahamas but my cousin who is a nurse will take the dog for the days we are gone and give her, her medicine.

We are all adjusting well and getting used to this new lifestyle.

As long as she is not in pain and happy that's all I care about.

She has also been urinating much much less. Yesterday I believe maybe 3 or 4 times as opposed to her 3-4 times an hour or more. It seems to be helping. I do have to test the urine with the test strips, last test Friday night it was very high but I knew it would be I haven't had a chance to do it again yet but hopefully soon.

 

[pinkunicorn]

Not a dog, but a cat.

Echo was diagnosed a few months ago. At first, he was just peeing everywhere. Not even on purpose. He would just be sitting on the bed, chair, floor, or whatever and when he got up there was a puddle.

Then we noticed he was drinking more than usual. He was drinking a LOT.

Finally, we noticed that "fat cat" wasn't fat anymore, even though he was constantly eating and asking for treats. He went from a stocky 15 pounds to 9.

So we took him in, and his blood sugar levels were almost off the charts. The vet remarked that he was doing quite well for having such high blood sugar.

He's on 6 mL of insulin twice a day. I think he knows when it's "shot time," too because he disappears! The vet hasn't had us change his diet or anything like that yet. So far the insulin shots seem to be all he needs. He's put weight back on and is around 12 lbs now. Although he's started to leak a little bit again here and there, so I might need to make an appointment to get his blood sugar levels re-checked.

He's 15 years old, btw.

 

[NY10]

All of those same changes were what I noticed as well. The shots started off very easy and well but oh boy have things changed. Yesterday she actually bit me (no broken skin but still a mark) she has been very hard to get. The vet increased her dosage now to 8 units twice a day, yesterday we could only give one and today she's only had one so far. We ordered a muzzle online which I hope makes things easier but I just don't know. I don't want to make this more traumatizing for her but we also can't be fighting with her and going insane twice a day. I switch off sides because I know one side might be getting sore. The other day while fighting with her I even stuck myself with the needle

I wish she could be easy to get to like the first couple of days but right now we are just trying to get a routine down. She's going to have to get used to this she has no choice and neither do we.

 

[Faith]

Give her a super-yummy treat immediately before and after her shot. She will quickly learn to tolerate it happily. Accompany with lots of praise... "Such a good girl!"...etc.

I've used the treat method countless times for a variety of unpleasant pet procedures, for both dogs and cats... from meds to shots to clipping nails. It works like a charm. Sometimes I give 2 treats afterward, to signal that it's all over. Plus heaps of praise.

Don't make things worse with a muzzle. Seriously, don't.

 

[NY10]

Give her a super-yummy treat immediately before and after her shot. She will quickly learn to tolerate it happily. Accompany with lots of praise... "Such a good girl!"...etc.

I've used the treat method countless times for a variety of unpleasant pet procedures, for both dogs and cats... from meds to shots to clipping nails. It works like a charm. Sometimes I give 2 treats afterward, to signal that it's all over. Plus heaps of praise.

Don't make things worse with a muzzle. Seriously, don't.

That was my thoughts as well. We put treats out for her before the shot she eats them we try she snaps, yesterday I was able it give her both and she was fantastic lots of kisses and praise right after. This morning was a struggle again but this is still new so she will get used to the new routine. She loves music so when we play music she is relaxed and comfortable and that helps too.

I also think when we're more relaxed she is as well, I think a few times I was extra nervous after getting bit and stabbing myself lol.

We're all still learning.

This might be the only time I ever say this, those two times a day I wish she was more of a lap dog instead of a Doberman pincher.

 

[theREALTrish]

That was my thoughts as well. We put treats out for her before the shot she eats them we try she snaps, yesterday I was able it give her both and she was fantastic lots of kisses and praise right after. This morning was a struggle again but this is still new so she will get used to the new routine. She loves music so when we play music she is relaxed and comfortable and that helps too.

I also think when we're more relaxed she is as well, I think a few times I was extra nervous after getting bit and stabbing myself lol.

We're all still learning.

This might be the only time I ever say this, those two times a day I wish she was more of a lap dog instead of a Doberman pincher.

Awwww! I'm sorry you and your dog are going through this. As far as her being a lap dog, I'm not sure if that would make it any easier. We have a Cockapoo, who weighs all of about 18 pounds, and I know he would not ever be cooperative getting two shots a day. He won't even let us clip his nails.

I hope things get easier for all of you.

 

[NY10]

Awwww! I'm sorry you and your dog are going through this. As far as her being a lap dog, I'm not sure if that would make it any easier. We have a Cockapoo, who weighs all of about 18 pounds, and I know he would not ever be cooperative getting two shots a day. He won't even let us clip his nails.

I hope things get easier for all of you.

LOL thank you Trish. It's just so sad, first hearing the news then having to face the truth and NOW having to get my poor baby to be good and for US to actually find a routine that works. I know that time will work itself out and we all will get the hang of it but right now it's all over the place, the first few days were so simple and I think that is what is making me and my boyfriend so frustrated, we started off so well and she was fine twice a day no big deal and than all of sudden we are having trouble.

It's funny because when we do manage to get a shot done we both high five each other like woo we did it, then we realize that this is going to be like this every day twice a day hopefully for many many more years....I will just take each shot at a time and she will get the used to it and so will we.