Diabetes

[mruffruff]

Bandit is such a pretty boy!

I know what you mean about their being less active. Bear sleeps a lot now, but I suspect that's partly because he's blind. When I ask him if he wants to go somewhere, he's certainly ready. We used to go places a lot together, but not so much anymore.

How has Bandit been doing on his food? Until I was sure he was a Border Collie mix, I was concerned about the 20 units of insulin. But it's within the normal range for a dog that size. If there is such a thing.

Bear weighed 29 pounds when he was diagnosed; now he's about 18. He lost slowly but steadily until the vet said he was just right. Of course, he loses a pound every time I give him a haircut!

I'm glad the vets are addressing diabetes as a disease to treat rather than a death sentence. I hope we have several more years with our boys.

Mary

[boscibo]

Thanks! Bandit weighs about 88 pounds - he's a big boy. When he was more mobile he stayed trim and healthy (so did I), but with his problems getting around we had to cut way back on his walks. He's about 10 pounds over his old (ideal) weight. I don't think he has lost any weight through this.

We're still waiting on the Cushing's test, I did get the dry w/d and some more canned w/d and will switch him over to that food - now that I know he will eat it. It is such a relief that he is eating again - he's whimpering and whining before mealtimes again, almost like his old self. He hasn't vomited for a few days now, that's a relief (now that I 've said that he'll do it tonight).

It is amazing you've been dealing with this three years. That is a long time. How old is Bear? On the diabetes board I was shocked at how young some of the diabetic dogs are. I'm glad this is a treatable disease.

How do you deal if you can't give an insulin shot on time? I haven't had to deal with this yet but it is sure to come up.

[tatsxxx11]

Bandit is simply precious! What a heartwarming story of how he came to be with you. What a wonderful friend he's been to you these many years and you to him I'm so happy to hear that he continues to do so well on the new food...even whimpering at mealtime to "hurry up, mom!" Keep up the good work, sweet Bandit

[mruffruff]

Bear turned 13 in April.

At dinnertime, Bear sits in his spot and barks when I'm preparing the food for 4. He can hear the dry food being stirred with the yogurt and the hot water running over the frozen veggies. He can also tell when I take the lettuce or carrots out of the refrigerator. Must be a special crinkle

When I know ahead of time that he can't get his shot on time, I try to adjust the one before by a half hour. If I can't adjust ahead of time, I let the shot be late, up to an hour and a half. It's better to have high sugar than low; low can kill. On Saturdays, my sister and I go to dinner at 6 or 6:30 and I wait until I'm back to give him 7PM shot, even if it's 8PM. Sometimes on Sunday morning I have to fight to get him to eat, but I that's only ocassionally.

I've been told that I'm lucky he was so easy to regulate and stays that way. I'd rather think it has more to do with being consistent with diet and insulin, a good vet that knows what she's doing and learning as much as possible from the diabetes board.

As long as Bandit eats the prescribed amount of WD twice a day, he will lose weight, too, but slowly. Bear prefers the dry, with something on it. I try to keep the toppings to a minimum, but varied. For a real treat, I mix canned dog food with water until it's soupy and spoon on a 1/4c. with a sprinkle of garlic powder and mix. He likes anything that crunches--lettuce, watermelon, carrots, cucumbers. Of course he only gets a little of these, and not often.

I would guess that Bandit gets about 3 cups of dry per meal or a couple of cans. Bear is a quarter his weight and gets a level cup at each meal. The WD costs $27 for a 20# bag, canned is even more expensive.

As they will tell you on the diabetes board, it gets easier as you get more comfortable with the routine.

Mary

P.S. I don't use a meter to test BG as some do.

[boscibo]

The Cushing's test came back slightly abnormal.

I'll have to bring him in again for further testing. He's been really good still with the eating, but he is still drinking quite a bit. He's shown some increased energy in the last few days, the last few weeks he's been so lethargic so I can really tell a difference.

When I feed him (mix the canned and dry) I give him mostly dry with chunks of the wet mixed in, I let him eat what he can until he stops, usually about ten minutes. He has always been a huge appetite dog so I want to keep an eye on that.

I have three weeks free now, so I can spend all day with him and hopefully get him regulated. It has been so hard juggling classes, homework, and him not eating.

[mruffruff]

Most vets will tell you that the amount of food your dog eats will have a direct impact on how much insulin he needs. Also, if his thyroid is at all sluggish, he will require more insulin.

Bear went from 14 units to 10 units after he started Thyrosyn.
Has Bandit had a T4 test?

Mary

[boscibo]

I don't even know what a t4 test is. He's going in later this week for the all day thing, but has been doing well on the 20 units. He's been eating like a champ, although he clearly prefers the canned w/d over the dry. Since he's been on the w/d his poops are so dry - I compare it to horse poop. Must be the fiber?

[mruffruff]

It probably is the fiber. As long as he's not having a problem, I wouldn't worry about it.

A T4 test checks out how the thyroid is working. If the thyroid is sluggish, the insulin doesn't work as well. There are a few different meds that will help. Bear gets 4ml of Thyrosyn in a pill once a day. I put a bit of peanut butter on a spoon handle, touch it to the pill and stick it under his nose. He thinks it's a treat.

If his thyroid isn't producing enough hormones, it could affect the Cushings test. Not to say it did.

Hopefully the all-day testing will give you the info you need to regulate Bandit.

How much is he eating of the W/D for each meal? Is he on 2 shots a day?

Mary

[boscibo]

I'd say about 2 - 2 1/2 cups w/d canned and dry mixed morning and night. Sometimes he will leave some of the dry, so I try and give him a larger proportion of canned. He's not getting anything else except 1/3 hot dog (I give the other dogs some as a treat) twice a day. He is getting 20 units twice a day.

[mruffruff]

The amount seems right to me, but I'm not a vet. If he keeps on that schedule, he should drop a few pounds and need less insulin.

Can you switch the treat to something with less preservatives? Bear and two of my other dogs like baby carrots, but Bella won't touch them so she gets a small biscuit. It's tough when you have more fur kids to feed.

I'll be anxious to hear the result of the further tests. Looks like you're on the right path.

(Is it getting any easier yet?)

Mary

[boscibo]

I could easily skip the treats in Bandit's case, I know hot dogs aren't the right choice. But they're easy! And easy to hide pills in.

He was still high today. They upped his insulin to 25 units twice a day, and testing again next week. I thought he was doing so much better, but I guess not.

[mruffruff]

How high is high?

The increase in insulin isn't too bad, although most vets go up only 2 units at a time. Bandit is a big enough dog to handle an additional 5 units, especially if his blood glucose is over 300.

I've gotten complacent; I have no idea what Bear's BG is. I just know that he feels good and the vet is happy with whatever it is. Time to get him in for a check up!

Mary

[boscibo]

Over 400, although I don't know the exact numbers. The good thing is he is acting like he's feeling better, eating well, and not puking!

[mruffruff]

Sounds like you're doing all the right things. Now it should be a matter of adjusting his insulin. It might take a while, but you'll get there!

Mary

[boscibo]

Bandit went back in today...they kept him all day this time. His numbers were still high - 416 in the AM and 5xx (can't remember exactly) in the PM. The vet feels that we are making progress, but upped his insulin to 28 units 2x daily. We got a weight on him and he has went from 88 lbs in May (teeth cleaning appointment) to 79 lbs today. April 2003 he was 80 lbs, so he's getting back to normal. He is continuing to be great about eating his w/d, once in awhile he'll leave a few crumbs of the dry, but it isn't much and it doesn't happen often. No vomiting, and he has a much better attitude and livliness about him. I bring him back the beginning of July. We might switch his insulin from the N type to the L type.