New to the site in Canine Diabetes Forum

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lablover	New to the site	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1294 (01/05/10 04:43 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None Hi there My name is Penny and just recently found out that my almost 13 year old yellow lab has diabetes. A few days before Christmas Eve Aspen was taking to a neurologist, at the suggetion of my vet thinking that it was neurological, only to find out that her glucose levels were in the 600's. There were a couple of other tests that were needing to be run, a possible mass in her chest and her thyroid levels were low, so we were sent home with no other instructions but to wait. Aspen crashed on the night before Christmas Eve and was taking to the emergeny clinic where her levels were above 700 and she was very critical. Aspen was able to come home on Saturday after Christmas and is doing better as far as eating but my concern is she is still not able to walk on her own and was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this. The neurologist told us that it could take up to 3 to 4 months before she was walking around which I am willing to help her for this long I just wanted to know if anyone else has dealt with this before. Thanks for you time
Johanna13		#1	[-]
Administrator Posts: 7207 (01/05/10 04:52 PM) Administrator & Owner Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hello Penny and welcome... So sorry you have to go through this ..... we all here have and will help you the best we can.... First of all is your dog ( whats his name)? is she on Insulin? and if so what kind and how much... Also If you can post back with as many of these questions that you can answer we will be able to help so much better.. How long has your dog been Diabetic-- December 2009 How much does your dog weigh?---She weighs 75lbs. How much insulin are you using?---16 units twice a day. What type of insulin are you using?---Humulin (spelling?) What times are you giving insulin?----6:00am and around 6 to 7:00 pm What are you feeding your dog?--- Purina Pro plan 1 cup dry and 1/2 can of moist How often and how much are you feeding? every 12 hrs What type of dog do you have?------Yellow lab. Do you home test?....... not yet. Last Edited By: Johanna13 01/15/10 06:52 PM. Edited 3 times.
lablover		#2	[-]
Posts: 1294 (01/05/10 05:03 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Her name is Aspen. Shes on the Humulin (spelling?) and is on 16 units twice a day. As far as how long, the neurologist said she thought it had been coming on for awhile and that we mistook it for arthritis. She only stopped walking on her own the day before Christmas Eve. She weighs 75lbs. She gets her insulin at 6:00am and around 6 to 7:00 pm depending on when I get home. I feed her Purina Pro plan 1 cup dry and 1/2 can of moist at the vets recommendation. Shes a yellow lab. As far as home testing not yet, I'm still really new at all this and want to make sure what ever I do for her helps. I know there are ways of home testing, just getting more educated for her sake.
Johanna13		#3	[-]
Administrator Posts: 7207 (01/05/10 05:19 PM) Administrator & Owner Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Aspen is a big girl so I'm going to assume that she will have callous on her elbows. That will be a lifesaver if you plan on home testing ( I hope you do). I'm also going to assume that that 16 units of insulin will go up to a higher amount... Did your vet say if Aspen had Ketoacidosis? and was she put on IV fluids at the emergency hospital? Is she drinking a lot of water? For now I would ask my vet for can prescription food till Aspen settles out.. I would recommend WD can for now... I know there is better food out there but for now its a start ... I would skip the dry for now ( carbs and she is running very high on to low a insulin dosage).. So the amount of insulin your giving is not covering the food.... Is the insulin your using Novelin N? if so we can tell you how to get it way cheaper then the vets office.... I would strongly advise you to look at Aspens front legs and see if she has callous on her elbows... If she does You need to start testing asap... this will help us to help you get that BG level down... We will help you through this... I'm also confused why you were told... The neurologist told us that it could take up to 3 to 4 months before she was walking around If this is diabetes there is no reasion why Aspen should have trouble walking ...
lablover		#4	[-]
Posts: 1294 (01/05/10 05:30 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Shes got plenty of callouses so no worries there. She did have Ketoacidosis when she was admitted to the hospital so she was on an IV. They didnt start her on the insulin until late Christmas Day. Okay I will keep her on the wet food for now and get her a better kind. The insulin is Humulin, I think thats how you spell it. As far as water, when I'm around she drinks about as much as she did before I knew she had diabetes but not a whole lot. Usually a bowl at night and maybe a little in the am. This is where my confusion comes into play as well. When we were at the neurologist and she determined that Aspen was diabetic, she made the comment that a Doberman had come into her clinic and wasnt able to walk at all and within 3 to 4 months the dogs was walking. I feel like I'm not getting all the answers up front. At one point they were talking about steroids because the neurolgist thought she might by hyper thyroid and the vet said she was fine. The next thing I know the doctors have decided to just treat her diabetes.
Brandy mom		#5	[-]
Administrator Posts: 3837 (01/05/10 05:55 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I am a little concered about the thyroid being low. Are you treating this with thyroid medication? With a lot of our dogs low thyroid and diabetes are hand in hand. Aspen will need to be on thyroid medication this will help her use the insulin proper. Brandy was first dignosed with diabetes and had hind end weakness it got a little better after a month or so of taking insulin. Once we got her blood sugar down. Then it got worse again she didn't want to stand at all. She would eat laying down just walking was a huge effort. This is when we found out her thyroid was also low. It took a while to find the right dose of thyroid medication. The hind end weakness just disappeared until arthritis started about a year later. So it does get better I think it harder on large dogs more weight to move. Steroids are not given for thyroid medication and a diabetic should avoid Steroids. Steroids will raise the glucose levels. Has the vet told you what Aspen BG (blood glucose) is at now? When does the vet want to recheck Aspen BG levels? It can take a little while to find the right amount of insulin. Hang in there it will get easier I promise. Dawn and the girls, Brandy is the diabetic and hypothyroid. Doberman 70 pounds. Born 06/04/2000 DX 06/04/2006. She is on a combination of regular insulin and N insulin and Soloxine. She eat California Natural Herring and Sweet Potato. Penny Non diabetic and hypothyroid. Doberman Lab mix 57 pounds. Born 07/04/1996. Is on Soloxine and eats Fromm Salamon Ala Vegetable.
Johanna13		#6	[-]
Administrator Posts: 7207 (01/05/10 05:59 PM) Administrator & Owner Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Ok I hate to say this but I must... GET A NEW VET !!! If all your dog has is diabetes I have NEVER heard of a dog not being able to walk .. ever !!! Now If your dogs Blood sugar levels are still to high, ( I'm thinking it is) that would make the dog Lethargic and stumble when trying to walk. That also tells me that maybe your dog was released to soon from the emergency Hospital... JMO... with BG readings as high as your dogs were she should not have come home till she was more stable... How bold are you feeling ? are you able to perchase a meter asap? If you can and we can get you to test her we will know what her sugar level is and take it from there??
lablover		#7	[-]
Posts: 1294 (01/05/10 06:10 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	As far as treating her with thyroid medication they decided not to and just treat her diabetes. I think your right in getting the new vet. I'm really glad I found this site because I have been feeling a little leary about all this and it wasnt clicking very well. As far as where her glucose levels are, the vet just asks how shes doing and then tells me he wants to check her in 3 weeks which is another week and a half now. When I left the vets office her levels were at 230 to 250 which was the day after Christmas. I think I'm going to be a real expert at this by the time you guys are done helping me out:) I will be purchasing a meter right away so I can feel more comfortable about what is going on. Shes more alert than she was so I think me checking on her is a very good idea. Okay just got off the phone with the neurologist so apparently the diabetes is the first thing and once shes stable then they want to do an MRI for the neurological part, I really hate when people dont tell me everything! Okay enough venting. so when home testing how often should this be done?
Brandy mom		#8	[-]
Administrator Posts: 3837 (01/05/10 06:21 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Boy do I agree with Johanna on this one. You need a new vet and fast. Waiting 3 weeks to test the BG level is way to long. Getting diabetes under control with a low thyroid can be impossable. You need to be on insulin and thyroid medication. A good place to start home testing would be fasting (before food and insulin). Once you are more sure of yourself with home testing you will need to do a curve. This is simple you test the BG every two hours including fasting for 12 hours. This is going to tell us how Aspen is using her food and insulin. Do you have a vet school near you?? If you tell us were you are maybe we have a member that is close and can recomend a vet. Dawn
Johanna13		#9	[-]
Administrator Posts: 7207 (01/05/10 06:24 PM) Administrator & Owner Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	You can test today if you had the meter... lets see if you can become a pro in 50 seconds !! Get the meter and some strips and post back when you get it and we will walk you through/ I got mine ay Rite Aid or Wallmart... I used the one touch ultra.... But there are many to chose from...
lablover		#10	[-]
Posts: 1294 (01/05/10 06:26 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Unfortunately the vet school that I am aware of is really far away from where I live. I'm in Commerce City Colorado off of 104th and Chambers Road, basically in the middle of nowhere. So if I am understanding you right take her levels before she eats and I give her the insulin, correct? If you have any recommendations on a vet let me know, I need to find someone who better understands diabetes and will help me take care of her, I feel like I'm letting her down and thats definitely not what I want to do! Thanks for your help!
lablover		#11	[-]
Posts: 1294 (01/05/10 06:28 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Okay I'm at work right now, so as soon as I get the meter and strips I will get back to you guys and be the pro:)
Brandy mom		#12	[-]
Administrator Posts: 3837 (01/05/10 06:30 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It isn't to hard and I am sure we can walk you through it. I wouldn't wait to long I have a feeling Aspen sugar are high again. If you want to help the weakness is her legs the best way is to get the BG lower and I do mean now before any damage is done. I don't mean to scare you but high BG can do a lot of damage. Johanna tested Killie on a callus and I use the inner lip and Brandy. It doesn't hurt them at all. Dawn
lablover		#13	[-]
Posts: 1294 (01/05/10 06:35 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Okay I will get back on as soon as I get home and am all ready Thanks
Johanna13		#14	[-]
Administrator Posts: 7207 (01/05/10 06:39 PM) Administrator & Owner Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	If you get the meter we would want you to try to test immediately so we can see where her BG is now.... Dont worry , we will help you...
pug.petswithdiabetes		#15	[-]
Posts: 2894 (01/05/10 06:50 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hello Penny & Aspen, You have come to the right place for help with your baby. The people here are very knowledgable, and they know what they are talking about. When my dog was diagnosed with diabetes a yr ago, she also had ketoacidosis, and her glucose level was just under 500. Vet put her on IV fluids to get rid of the ketones. When her levels came down she took the IV off, it was the same time frame as yours, about 24 hrs. It was not long enough, and a few days later, she was back on IV for several more days. Vet said she had taken it off too soon, and I am thinking your vet might have done the same thing. Aspen will have to get rid of the ketones before she will feel normal at all, and that might be contributing to the inability to walk. Don't feel bad, none of us recognize the signs of diabetes until we go through it. All of us have survived it, and just as important, so have our dogs. You are starting testing tonight, and that is great! You will know exactly where you are then. I will leave the more experienced ones here to advise you on getting started, but just wanted to mention about Aspen's food. If you are changing to canned W/D, her amt will have to increse to about 3-4 cans per day. If you have the bag from the kibble you are feeding now, you can figure out the calories from the one cup you are feeding, and then translate that to the same amt of calroies with the canned. If you let me know what you are feeding (Brand and amt), I can figure that out for you, while you are learning to test and do the insulin. Prayers and hugs Joan
mzizgayle		#16	[-]
Moderator Posts: 2957 (01/05/10 07:34 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Welcome to the group Penny and of course Aspen...I am Gayle the human diabetic of the group..Human diabetes and canine diabetes pretty much are the same as far as symptoms, problems etc. So ask away, any questions you have - the other members can help with the doggies since they have been there done that, and I can do the speaking for the doggies ROFL and we can all talk ya thru monitoring the bg of Aspen, when you are ready (there is another post where one asked the importance of monitoring/testing) and soon you will become a chartered member of the human pin cushion club !! Don't worry you can ask the same questions again, keep on asking until you understand, no question is the wrong question. So sit back take a deep breath in slowly, and let it out slowly, tell your self you can do this, and soon you will be able to look at your baby and read her to the point of recognizing if she is not feeling well, etc. Diabetes is not the end of world, but it is a new way of life...And it is ok to 'fire' a doctor/vet if you feel they will not listen to you, will help you understand, will not explain, etc. I have fired two and now have a great sweetheart of a youngin lol...
lablover		#17	[-]
Posts: 1294 (01/05/10 08:11 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	wow the response to my urgency makes me want to cry. Thank you all for helping me thru this helpless time I am having. And to think I had to pay a vet when support was there for us. As far as the brand I was feeding her a cup of purina proplan and a 1/2 can of the purina proplan as well so if you could help me with the diet while I get her test ready that would be great Thanks!
Johanna13		#18	[-]
Administrator Posts: 7207 (01/05/10 08:27 PM) Administrator & Owner Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Did you get a meter already?? Your post sounded as if you did... If so that was really fast !!
lablover		#19	[-]
Posts: 1294 (01/05/10 08:32 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Okay I ran the test and shes at 417
Brandy mom		#20	[-]
Administrator Posts: 3837 (01/05/10 08:48 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	That is what I thought. Human meter are not perfect and will be off some points. But we can talk about that later. CONGRULATIONS ON GETTING A BG READING. good job Penny way to go. Ok have you feed Aspen yet? If yes how long ago? Dawn

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