Diabetes In Dogs

[weathergirls]

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Annie my 10 year old non-ped whippet was kept in the vets overnight and put on a drip she has been diagnosed as having diabetes, she will be started on twice daily insulin injections this morning which I will have to do when she is allowed home ( dreading that bit)

As anyone else had this in their dogs and how did they cope, what is the outlook for her

 

[whipwat]

Chin up Annie should feel really great once the correct dose of insulin, exercise routine and diet are established. My first whippet SNAP developed type 1 diabetes in 1992 at 11 years of age. Snap had one injection a day in the scruff of the neck and she would be waiting on the chair at the kitchen table each day for her insulin dose and never flinched. Back then we monitored her blood sugar by collecting urine and testin for ketones and glucose levels with a ketodiastix dipped in the urine. Monitoring has come a long way since the '90s so you may be sent home with a blood glucose monitor machine that detects levels via blood rather than urine which gives a more up todate result. The urine tests relay how the body was 2 hours earlier.

The worst bit was when Snap had hypoglycaemic attacks and needed to be given liquid glucose to elevate her blood sugar levels. Snap would start to be incoherent and staggery but would come round really quickly with a dose of glucose. This attack only happened a couple of times in our presence. It was very important that she ate at regular times to conincide with the insulin.

The insulins have improved so much that Annie may not need such a rigorous meal plan as Snap, Snap's injected insulin used to peak and food at that time was a must, some of the long acting insulins these days keep at the same plateau.

My Snap went on happily living with diabetes for another 3 years but was sadly taken by a secondary aggressive mammary cancer at 14 years of age.

Best wishes with Annie she should do fine and diabetic management is so much better than when I had to deal with. It can be very expensive, it wasn't for me as Snap had the vials I had for myself that were close to expiry.

:luck: :luck:

 

[em21]

Hi there, i'm afraid I can be of no help here But I wash you and Annie all the best. Like whipwat (sorry, don't know your name :b ) said, medicines are so advanced now.

Whipwat (again, sorry don't know your name ) was just wondering... you mentioned it is expensive... Would some pet insurance policies cover this treatment for life? Is there a policy that covers these types of conditions?

Emma xxx

 

[fallenangel]

my sisters scruffy old grot bag has diabets for 8 years. the one thing we did notice was if hes blood suger ws a bit high he would be grumpy and bad temperd and actuly tonys the same if his blod suger is high aswell. my sister did have to get his weight down and that helped reduce the amout of insulin he was on he swaped his doggy biscuts for carrots and it didnt bother him at all.

A frend of mines dog had it aswell and if she was a bit skint her dad who was allso diabetic used to send up some of his insuline as it was the same stuff. I am sure you will manedge her diet and injections well the diet your used to with haveing tilly racing and the injections are so fine most dogs dont notice. the blood test is actuly slightly more uncomfortabel then the insulin itself.

sorry I cannot be of more help I am better with humans with it livling with tony as most of his family are type one diabetic

:huggles: to Annie

wendy

 

[weathergirls]

thanks for your help and well wishes Annie is still in the vets visited her last night wasn't prepared for the shock she looks so ill. just hope there is a light at the end of this long dark tunnel, can't see one yet. The house seems so empty without her she's a dog thats allways in your face so to speak all 58lb of her she loves everybody,

 

[whipwat]

Hi there, i'm afraid I can be of no help here    But I wash you and Annie all the best. Like whipwat (sorry, don't know your name  :b ) said, medicines are so advanced now.
Whipwat (again, sorry don't know your name ) was just wondering... you mentioned it is expensive... Would some pet insurance policies cover this treatment for life? Is there a policy that covers these types of conditions?

Emma xxx

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Hi Emma, whipwat alias Noelene

I didn't have pet insurance but it would certainly be worth asking the k9 insurance companies, probably they would cover any condition that was not existing at time of taking out the policy, just a guess. There are so many type 1 diabetics you could probably find someone that could save you some to help with costs. However there are long acting, short acting, mixed short and long acting so be very careful you use the correct insulin as advised by the vet.

Best wishes, the needles are very fine and shouldn't bother Annie, you will probably squirm the first few times and Annie won't even notice what you are doing :luck: :luck:

 

[Bedlingtonwoman]

Annie my 10 year old non-ped whippet was kept in the vets overnight and put on a drip she has been diagnosed as having diabetes,  she will be started on twice daily insulin injections this morning which I will have to do when she is allowed home ( dreading that bit)As anyone else had this in their dogs and how did they cope, what is the outlook for her

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I dont know about diabetes in dogs but im an insulin dependent diabetic i inject myself 4 times a day and have to finger prick(Blood Test) myself about 10 times a day.

Treating Diabetes is all about get the mix of eating, insulin and excercise right, it was all a big shock to me as i was only diagnosed about a year ago but im getting into my routine now and its not as hard to deal with as it was.

Im sure its the same as treating a dog, you just need to get the balance right. Have you a nurse friend who could supervise you the first few times you inject your dog, having a vet/vet nurse watching you is very off putting.

If you lived near me id give you some help.

Good luck any way

Bernadette

 

[shamrock lady]

A s a diabetic myself. 7 years now, just be carefull your dog dont burn off the glucose to much. the reason i say that is dogs are more energetic than us. Balance is te key. :luck:

 

[em21]

Hi there, i'm afraid I can be of no help here    But I wash you and Annie all the best. Like whipwat (sorry, don't know your name  :b ) said, medicines are so advanced now.
Whipwat (again, sorry don't know your name ) was just wondering... you mentioned it is expensive... Would some pet insurance policies cover this treatment for life? Is there a policy that covers these types of conditions?

Emma xxx

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Hi Emma, whipwat alias Noelene

I didn't have pet insurance but it would certainly be worth asking the k9 insurance companies, probably they would cover any condition that was not existing at time of taking out the policy, just a guess. There are so many type 1 diabetics you could probably find someone that could save you some to help with costs. However there are long acting, short acting, mixed short and long acting so be very careful you use the correct insulin as advised by the vet.

Best wishes, the needles are very fine and shouldn't bother Annie, you will probably squirm the first few times and Annie won't even notice what you are doing :luck: :luck:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Haha hello Noelene!! :lol:

Thanks for that advice

Emma xxx

 

[em21]

Annie my 10 year old non-ped whippet was kept in the vets overnight and put on a drip she has been diagnosed as having diabetes,  she will be started on twice daily insulin injections this morning which I will have to do when she is allowed home ( dreading that bit)As anyone else had this in their dogs and how did they cope, what is the outlook for her

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Bernadette is right, there really is nothing to an insulin injection (especially if your giving it to someone else (w00t) ) I have a slight phobia of needles, i'm terrified of having injections myself and don't think I could ever inject myself! (well done to all of you that can and do!) However I have absolutely no problem injecting my patients... i've done loads of subcutaneous injections now (that's just under the skin in the fat layer which is what Annies injection will be I would have thought... The vet will have or will tell you this i'm sure) The needle is no bigger than 2cm so you can't hurt her ) You'll be fine hun :thumbsup: Let us know how you get on won't you?

Emma xxx

 

[clairej810]

:luck: Don't worry, it's a doddle. My cat had diabetes and had insulin injections twice a day until she died (of a brain tumour not diabetes), and it just got part of the routine. The needles are really small and don't hurt. You may have to do a urine test but that's no big deal.

Your pet insurance ought to cover it - I had Petplan at the time and they were really good about it.

The first week is the worst because you feel a bit shaky and like you're going to hurt them, but it really is easy after that. xx :huggles: Don't forget to keep your insulin in the fridge though! :thumbsup: :luck:

 

[Bedlingtonwoman]

Annie my 10 year old non-ped whippet was kept in the vets overnight and put on a drip she has been diagnosed as having diabetes,   she will be started on twice daily insulin injections this morning which I will have to do when she is allowed home ( dreading that bit)As anyone else had this in their dogs and how did they cope, what is the outlook for her

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Bernadette is right, there really is nothing to an insulin injection (especially if your giving it to someone else (w00t) ) I have a slight phobia of needles, i'm terrified of having injections myself and don't think I could ever inject myself! (well done to all of you that can and do!) However I have absolutely no problem injecting my patients... i've done loads of subcutaneous injections now (that's just under the skin in the fat layer which is what Annies injection will be I would have thought... The vet will have or will tell you this i'm sure) The needle is no bigger than 2cm so you can't hurt her ) You'll be fine hun :thumbsup: Let us know how you get on won't you?

Emma xxx

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Most of my diabetic friends use them injection pens, i dont know much about them but it looks like a thick pen with an insulin cartridge in you just aim and press the button and it injects you with Insulin.

Im too much of a wimp to use something like that so i use and old fashioned syringe with a needle on, after 2 C sections i cant feel much so the needle goes there.

Im not sure if they test the blood levels by urine or blood in animals, but blood is better as it gives a better reading.

Diabetes in animals is something ive never thought of,do they have the same symptons as humans

 

[Bedlingtonwoman]

Annie my 10 year old non-ped whippet was kept in the vets overnight and put on a drip she has been diagnosed as having diabetes,   she will be started on twice daily insulin injections this morning which I will have to do when she is allowed home ( dreading that bit)As anyone else had this in their dogs and how did they cope, what is the outlook for her

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Bernadette is right, there really is nothing to an insulin injection (especially if your giving it to someone else (w00t) ) I have a slight phobia of needles, i'm terrified of having injections myself and don't think I could ever inject myself! (well done to all of you that can and do!) However I have absolutely no problem injecting my patients... i've done loads of subcutaneous injections now (that's just under the skin in the fat layer which is what Annies injection will be I would have thought... The vet will have or will tell you this i'm sure) The needle is no bigger than 2cm so you can't hurt her ) You'll be fine hun :thumbsup: Let us know how you get on won't you?

Emma xxx

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Most of my diabetic friends use them injection pens, i dont know much about them but it looks like a thick pen with an insulin cartridge in you just aim and press the button and it injects you with Insulin.

Im too much of a wimp to use something like that so i use and old fashioned syringe with a needle on, after 2 C sections i cant feel much so the needle goes there.

Im not sure if they test the blood levels by urine or blood in animals, but blood is better as it gives a better reading.

Diabetes in animals is something ive never thought of,do they have the same symptons as humans

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

That last bit should have been glucose levels not blood levels

 

[jinnyfizz]

I'm sure Annie will be fine once she's stabilised and on the correct dose of insulin. It can take a while to ascertain exactly what dose she will need but the vet should monitor her over a 2 weeks period by asking you to take sample glucose levels every day.

The vet practice should also let you practice injecting with a soft rubbery ball first so that you get the feel of it before injecting Annie :thumbsup: I used to work for an animal health company and we supplied all the training bits and pieces free of charge with the insulin order.

Good luck :luck: :luck: and let us know how she goes on :thumbsup: :huggles:

.......... PS I insure my whips with Argos who seem to be one of the few who pay out for life

 

[weathergirls]

thanks for all your advice visited Annie last night she looked a lot better than the day before, she is having regular blood and urine tests ( when they can get her to pass one)but as yet her levels are still very unstable the vet wants to spay her tomorrow as she is post season and thinks this may be a factor in her condition and it could possibly reverse the onset of the diabetes I'M NOT SURE about this operation but having never had a dog with this before don't feel I should refuse it.

ANNIE has allways had regular normal seasons every 7 months she has had 1 litter of pups 4 years ago by c section. The other thing is the vet treating Annie is not my regular vet she may be excellent but I don't know her my vet is away until Tuesday, although he has kept in contact with me by phone theres not much he can do from the the other side of the globe, so I don't want to keep disturbing his holiday.

Annie isn't insured unfortunately one of those things we never got round to going to be a hefty bill but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it

 

[whipwat]

Hi Linda,

It does take a little while for the vets to work out the correct dose for each individual case and to stabilise the patient. I have type 1 diabetes along with my past whippet Snap. The nurses taught me how to give my first injection by watching me inject an orange to perfect the technique before trying it out on myself (we practiced with water rather than insulin a lot cheaper) (w00t) Back then I used the syringe and needle to draw up my dose, most important not to have any air bubbles in syringe. These days I use the pen which contains a cartridge, once again 2 units are expelled with the needle turned to the ceiling then the required dose dialed.

You and Annie will be fine, the injection site will probably be the top of the neck area, try and rotate the injection site in the advised area or the skin will thicken over time, I know my tummy has since commencing in 1974 and I am on 5 a day.

:luck: :luck:

 

[Evie]

I'm sorry to hear about your dog's diabetes. This link may be of help to you;

http://www.caninediabetes.org/

 

[weathergirls]

:cheers: thanks saved that for future reference too much to take in at present but I'll get my head round it soon I hope

 

[*Lesley*]

Get well soon Annie :huggles: :huggles:

Sorry I have no advice I didnt even know dogs could get diabetes :unsure: :b

Lots of good wishes for her op and I hope it makes everything back to normal :luck: :luck: :luck:

Sienna says good luck :huggles: and my mams skint too but we're worth it :sweating:

 

[weathergirls]

well I'm really glad I didn't agree to Annie being spayed when she first went in as yesterday the vets had contacted the university of veterinary medicine because of her eye condition and they said she shouldn't have that operation whilst she is so unstable and there is some underlying problem so further blood tests were sent over to the university results came back last night Annie has an infected pancreas