When our spaniel girl was 8 yrs old I noticed her acting lethargic when the kids came home from school one day. It was just out of the blue - no other signs
of drinking or urinating YET! Off to the vet we went. Of course while we're there - she is acting like she is perfectly fine - all bouncy and nutso. My
vet did a simple blood test which confirmed that her blood sugar was out of range. Then came the urine test to confirm the dx. He explained everything to me
in detail and said he'd show me how to give her an injection. I called it my diabetes 101 class - since I knew ZIP about this disease. My hand was
shaking like a leaf and I will never forget him holding my hand guiding me to give her that first shot. Taffy didn't even flinch - thank you good girl!
He said to me you can give her injections twice a day - or have her put to sleep. Thank you Doctor O for putting things in perspective.
I started researching canine diabetes and low and behold I found the CDMB - I was dumbfounded that there were others just like me going NUTS about how to keep their dog alive with diabetes. I was astounded that there were that many other dogs with this same condition. I met so many kind gals and have now established forever friends. I have even met a couple of them in person and how cool is that?
Taffy had other issues later on in life and I can honestly say that the diabetes was the least of our worries. She eventually went blind, then deaf, then had a lens luxate in her eye, had her eye removed, then it was her kidneys failing. She was 13 yrs old and she had lived a good life with her pack who loved her to death. No dog could ask for more! I miss her each and every day.
If I can do diabetes I say that anyone can. I am as far from a nurse as I can be, but boy don't mess with my dog. I did it. I eventually started testing her blood sugar at home with a human meter (freestyle flash) and I bought my test strips on ebay. Thank goodness for the internet - it literally saved her life and my sanity. My kids were great helpers and they have learned that when our pets come into our home - they are here for life. They are not disposable or dumped or heaven forbid put to sleep.
I started researching canine diabetes and low and behold I found the CDMB - I was dumbfounded that there were others just like me going NUTS about how to keep their dog alive with diabetes. I was astounded that there were that many other dogs with this same condition. I met so many kind gals and have now established forever friends. I have even met a couple of them in person and how cool is that?
Taffy had other issues later on in life and I can honestly say that the diabetes was the least of our worries. She eventually went blind, then deaf, then had a lens luxate in her eye, had her eye removed, then it was her kidneys failing. She was 13 yrs old and she had lived a good life with her pack who loved her to death. No dog could ask for more! I miss her each and every day.
If I can do diabetes I say that anyone can. I am as far from a nurse as I can be, but boy don't mess with my dog. I did it. I eventually started testing her blood sugar at home with a human meter (freestyle flash) and I bought my test strips on ebay. Thank goodness for the internet - it literally saved her life and my sanity. My kids were great helpers and they have learned that when our pets come into our home - they are here for life. They are not disposable or dumped or heaven forbid put to sleep.
