Diabetes

[kirsty]

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I was just wondering if any of you have any advice you could give on dogs with diabetes? My friend in Leeds took her collie bitch to the vet last week as she had noticed her dog had been losing weight over the last four weeks. After a few tests the vet said the dog has diabetes. She now has been at the vet every day this week getting the dogs levels checked to get the correct insulin intake. The vet had advised to cut the dogs food intake dramatically and the dog is now ALWAYS starving and she was never a greedy dog just grazed at her biscuits and got some chewees and snacks. Also the vet advised for the dog to go in next week to be spayed as this will help as well with the levels, as with her not been spayed it makes the diabetes more difficult to treat with wavering hormone levels. My friend is worried about this as the dog is 11yrs old. Any advise from any of you with diabetic dogs would be most appreciated.

Kirsty

 

[posh totty]

sorry to hear that news , good luck to your friend, :luck:

there is an article in one of the monthly dog mags i saw it yesterday, think it was our dogs or dogs today? maybe your friend could have a look in there and there may be some support and further advice in there? :thumbsup:

 

[kirsty]

sorry to hear that news , good luck to your friend,  :luck:
there is an article in one of the monthly dog mags i saw it yesterday, think it was our dogs or dogs today? maybe your friend could have a look in there and there may be some support and further advice in there?  :thumbsup:

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Thanks I will tell her to go have a look :thumbsup:

 

[FeeFee]

Sending lots of good thoughts for your friend's dog. The good news is that once they get all the levels stabilised and work out the correct insulin dosage canine diabetes can be very well controlled. :thumbsup:

Diabetes often makes dogs very hungry because they can't store fat and proteins properly. That should settle down as they get the condition stablilised.

 

[kirsty]

Sending lots of good thoughts for your friend's dog.  The good news is that once they get all the levels stabilised and work out the correct insulin dosage canine diabetes can be very well controlled.  :thumbsup:
Diabetes often makes dogs very hungry because they can't store fat and proteins properly.  That should settle down as they get the condition stablilised.

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Thanks Fee Fee,

She is just worried as well that she has to get her spayed with her being 11yrs old but if it will help the diabetes be controlled then she will do it. I think she is worried about comlpications during the spaying with her having the diabetes. she isn't against spaying as such :- "

 

[FeeFee]

I know, it's horrible having to put older dogs through operations. I was in enough of a state when my old girl had to have a dental this week.

The vet obviously feels the benefits will outweight the risks, but it is a big decision to make. If she's not sure maybe she should go back to the vet for a chat and go through it all?

Everything crossed it all goes well for her.

 

[clairej810]

I don't know about diabetes in dogs, but my cat has had diabetes for the last two years. :unsure: I'm not sure why the vet is saying reduce the food? Unless the dog is very over weight to begin with they should still be feeding normally as the dog has already lost weight through having diabetes - any less food and it will starve! Unless the vet is worried about sugar contact in which case he should have recommended something like the canince equivalent of "Feline m/d" (I think it's hills or science plan) which is a specific diabetes food - but be warned you can't claim it on your insurance!!

The eating should stabilise as they get the correct insulin levels, I know with dogs it is very precise from collecting urine - with my cat we have to "guess" and do blood tests.

Spaying should help with the hormone levels, if she is worried about the length of anaesthetic she could ask for fluid therapy to help flush the anaesthetic out through the kidneys.

Good luck!! :luck:

 

[kirsty]

I don't know about diabetes in dogs, but my cat has had diabetes for the last two years.  :unsure: I'm not sure why the vet is saying reduce the food?  Unless the dog is very over weight to begin with they should still be feeding normally as the dog has already lost weight through having diabetes - any less food and it will starve!  Unless the vet is worried about sugar contact in which case he should have recommended something like the canince equivalent of "Feline m/d" (I think it's hills or science plan) which is a specific diabetes food - but be warned you can't claim it on your insurance!!
The eating should stabilise as they get the correct insulin levels, I know with dogs it is very precise from collecting urine - with my cat we have to "guess" and do blood tests.

Spaying should help with the hormone levels, if she is worried about the length of anaesthetic she could ask for fluid therapy to help flush the anaesthetic out through the kidneys.

Good luck!! :luck:

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No, Rosie has never been over weight at all and is fading away with now the lack of food Not sure why the vet said to reduce her food.

Thanks for your advice I shall pass it on :thumbsup: Think she goes into get spayed this coming Tuesday, bless her.

 

[clairej810]

I don't know about diabetes in dogs, but my cat has had diabetes for the last two years.   :unsure: I'm not sure why the vet is saying reduce the food?  Unless the dog is very over weight to begin with they should still be feeding normally as the dog has already lost weight through having diabetes - any less food and it will starve!  Unless the vet is worried about sugar contact in which case he should have recommended something like the canince equivalent of "Feline m/d" (I think it's hills or science plan) which is a specific diabetes food - but be warned you can't claim it on your insurance!!
The eating should stabilise as they get the correct insulin levels, I know with dogs it is very precise from collecting urine - with my cat we have to "guess" and do blood tests.

Spaying should help with the hormone levels, if she is worried about the length of anaesthetic she could ask for fluid therapy to help flush the anaesthetic out through the kidneys.

Good luck!! :luck:

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No, Rosie has never been over weight at all and is fading away with now the lack of food Not sure why the vet said to reduce her food.

Thanks for your advice I shall pass it on :thumbsup: Think she goes into get spayed this coming Tuesday, bless her.

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I wouldn't reduce Rosie's food then! Tell your friend to think about getting a second opinion - I'm not saying it's not diabetes, it probably is, but I can't understand why he's said reduce the food. My vet said to feed my cat normal amounts, and she gradually put the weight back on. Certainly the diabetic food contains less sugar and is more suited to a diabetic (although my non diabetic cat also eats the dried food and that is fine!)