My dogs 8th vet visit tonight - wish him luck

buddys_mum

Hi Marshallka,

Buddy was diagnosed with diabetes last December 8th. We are doing brilliantly now, but we did have a rather rocky 6 months to start with. Buddy was admitted for an overnight stay when they wanted to start him off on the insulin, they had to flush him through to rid of all the ketones in his bladder. They then slowly started to administer the insulin and monitored him closely to get the right dosage for him.

Buddy takes absolutley no notice what so ever of the injection that i give to him, so hope yours does too.

We were making regluar visits to the vets almost every 10 - 14 days as he didnt settle into the insulin, so they changed it too caninsulin and he is great on this one. I was given some advice here about what glucose meter to use, as there arent any for pets in the country for ordinary people like us to buy. The one i bought is the freedom freestyle lite and i got it from boots, it will be better for you to monitor him at home. Do take the moniot to the vets with you and tell them what you got, they can show you how to use it and compare the results from theirs to yours. Mine reads 4 less than what the vet uses.

You will get used to giving injections in no time at all.

I also feed Buddy 12 hrs apart at 6.30am and then again at 6.30pm giving him his insulin half an hour after at 7am & 7pm.

marshallka

Thanks for that Buddys mum. He has had blood tests today for ketones. After reading up on this he has so many other things like a red eye and its his eyesight I am worried about. He is hyperactive anyway and wakes in the night to play. He has been weeing in the house for a few weeks and drinking like there is no tomorrow and I thought just an infection and it would clear as he was tested last year for it but unfortunately it is not. I am worried to say the least as he is a very difficult dog at the vets at the best of times. I could not leave him there as he needs to be muzzled cause he really is nervous. He is fine around us at home but he growls at the vets and they will not treat without a muzzle. He actually pulled it off today too. In fact been googling tonight and it seems until they are actually well adjusted there may be lots of vets visits and he "could" have to stay. God knows how we would be able to do that. I am just so sad that he went through hell last year with his eyes and not healing corneal ulcers and now it could all be undone with this.

Do you have to do blood tests from the ears? How often do you give him jabs? So many questions and I know that his bloods should be back tomorrow so I will have to write them all down and take notes. I have been given a DVD on how to treat him but no insulin as yet. Has your dog got cateracts from it as it says on the sites about doggie diabetes that most dogs develop them? I am insured but it will only be for a year. Did you claim on the insurance and if you did, did they pay the lot for the treatment as in syringes etc or do you have to buy all that lot. I have a fridge magnet thing that I am supposed to set that bleeps when his next jab is due but cannot understand why they have not started treatment today. They said the bloods should be back tomorrow or even Monday. Just hope its tomorrow as my hubby has to go back work next week and he is the only one who can handle him at the vets. Sorry to go on. Just need as much info as possible so I know what I am dealing with. I will deal with it but its the vets visits that bother me. He is so growly and I dare say they cannot sedate him to do any treatments as that would mess up the results.

buddys_mum

Do you have to do blood tests from the ears?

I pr1ck Buddys ears with the lancet that you get with the glucose monitor kit and i assure you it is that smallest amount of blood (honest) and i do 1 blood test per day either just before breakfast, tea or in the middle of the day to make sure his glucose is at a right level.

How often do you give him jabs?

I give Buddy his insulin twice a day 12 hrs apart, some insulin only requires for you to administer once per day. Your vet will sort out what is best for your dog.

Has your dog got cateracts from it as it says on the sites about doggie diabetes that most dogs develop them?

Buddy's eyes have began to 'mist' over and i have wondered whether or not his sight is any good, and then he see's someone across the field and get he waggs his tail. I know that they will worse.

Did you claim on the insurance and if you did, did they pay the lot for the treatment as in syringes etc or do you have to buy all that lot?

Ive claimed thousands from insurance, they have paid out for all the cost of treatment, visits, insulin, syringes and sharps box also managed to get £200 costs towards the food as it was perscription.

They wont start him on the insulin untill the are 100% that he is diabetic.

Whats your dogs name?

marshallka

Hiya Buddys mum. My dog is nicknamed wippie for some reason.

I have not heard back from the vets yet (only early I know!!) so I will get more info later. I have been reading up more and more on this condition and wondered how far £2500 will go in terms of cost of treatment of this disease. We are insured and hopefully as he was tested last year and it came back negative they will pay out but I know how insurance works and they will do anything not to pay. I will argue it and argue it if they do not honour our claim. Our vet did ask about insurance and said he would get some info for us also but I did not go to the vets (my hubby and son did) cause I hate seeing my matey being restled like a croc and showing his teeth at the vet. He managed to get his muzzle off yesterday and the vet asked my husband if he would actually bite and we had to say in all honesty we did not know. He has NEVER bitten anyone but he does growl and it can sound very aggressive. If he has to stay over (which I am dreading) they will have trouble doing anything with him TBH. I will have to learn quick about jabs and ear pricks I think.

I am just thinking and hoping and praying they are wrong with the urine test. I asked my hubby again and again if they said it was diabetes and he said the vet said it could be one of three things. A kidney problem, diabetes, and cushings. He then took the urine (I did two samples) and came back and said "just I suspected, he is diabetic". He then took the blood from his jugular of all places and said he would be in touch when the bloods came back and he could definately confirm it. I just hope he is wrong now as only both tests can confirm so fingers crossed. I know that this is most probably wishful thinking but we can but wish can't we.

Was your Buddy wobbly for a while and unsteady on his legs when rising? My dog is but he is 11 and very active and buzzing. They have him down as "difficult to treat" and also "hyper".:o I will need a straight jacket for him for his jabs I think.

Will post back later when the vet has been in touch.

Thanks again.

buddys_mum

Buddy is 5 ½ yrs , he wasnt really wobbly, but did wet his bed a couple of times just before i had him tested. Poor Buddy was so upset that he had done it, his ears wrinkled up and his head was held low. Since he was flushed through he hasnt wet himself at all (touch wood). Buddy also has had blood tests taken from his jugular.

My vet (who is brilliant) said that the costs will be approx £1000 - £1500 per year, but because Buddy didnt do very well for the first 4 ½ months the costs were alot more.
Best try and get what you can off the internet, but there are a few things to get off the vet.

Sharps bin 0.6ltr cost me £3.53 and i filled it up within weeks so i persuaded them to give a 4ltr box costing £4.70 im still using it after 3 months and no-where near filling it up yet. Also i use the syringes twice, morning then again at night.

Costs

Food (burns high oats) £37.42 x 12months = £449.04
Syringes £8.11 x 12months = £97.32
Insulin £16.03 x 12months = £384.72
Total = £931.08

+ any other vet fees

It would be worth asking for printed reciepts giving brief detail treatment and costs you have incurred, a excellent way of keeping track of what is spent on the diabeties and allowing you to look up correct syringes etc.

I use viovet for Buddys food, syringes and keto diastix.

marshallka

Well the vet has definately confirmed my doggies diagnosis as diabetes. He said his fructosamine level was 530 and it should be between 200 and 400. His liver is also showing signs of damage. He had sugar in his urine yesterday and something else. We has to go thursday next week for insulin and for us to learn how to do it and also a good talk. I asked about him going blind and get cateracts he did say that it is inevitable which I have read on the internet today:sad:. I asked for an evening appointment and they are open late on mondays and thursdays and that is the only two nights and they have nothing on Monday evening. I asked if he would be OK until thursday and he said if he vomits or does not eat get him there in an emergency.

I must admit now it has hit me I have cried and cried. I feel so sorry for him going through all this when he went through so much last year for his eyes. I asked about the insurance we took out and they said that it should definately cover us as they have it on their records from last year that he did not have diabetes. He has had for some time but not that long and we have caught the symptoms earlier than a lot. I just hope that he will cope with it all. He gets very stressed and I am trying for his sake not to get upset in front of him. His kidneys are fine but just his liver up to yet. His poops are normal though. I asked about his wobbliness too and they said it could well be arthritis but they will take a look. He is fine when he is up but getting up he is slow and wobbly. He is still eating and drinking like a fish and also playing ball. I have cut up carrots for treats and both my dogs love them. No more doggie biscuits although he has never been over weight. He is too hyper for that. Phew.... I know he will fine and I have to be strong about it. I have decided to ring them tomorrow morning to see if they have any appointments for then rather than wait until thursday as I wonder just how quick this disease is to take hold. If they cannot get us in then we will have to wait but its frightening doing that.

Thanks for taking the time to respond Buddys mum. Will post up again when we have seen the vet as I may need some support.

buddys_mum

Im so sorry that Wippie has been conformed diabetic, i will try and support you as much as i can. Ask at the vets if they have any other diabetics, and see if the owners are willing to talk to you and share their experiences. I hope all goes well when you ring at the vets, but did they indicate to you if and how long he has to stay in the surgery for? To be honest, waiting till Thursday seems a along time but really its not. Wippie will be alright, and if they flush his kidneys though he will stop drinking so much water straight away. He will be like bringing a new dog home.

Have alook at this site http://www.cat-dog-diabetes.com/dogs-diabetes-mellitus.asp

I know you have said that you need to muzzel him, have you tried the soft muzzels for him?

Thinking of you.

marshallka

buddys_mum wrote: »

Im so sorry that Wippie has been conformed diabetic, i will try and support you as much as i can. Ask at the vets if they have any other diabetics, and see if the owners are willing to talk to you and share their experiences. I hope all goes well when you ring at the vets, but did they indicate to you if and how long he has to stay in the surgery for? To be honest, waiting till Thursday seems a along time but really its not. Wippie will be alright, and if they flush his kidneys though he will stop drinking so much water straight away. He will be like bringing a new dog home.

Have alook at this site http://www.cat-dog-diabetes.com/dogs-diabetes-mellitus.asp

I know you have said that you need to muzzel him, have you tried the soft muzzels for him?

Thinking of you.

Hi again, I asked if he had to stay and they said we should be OK bringing him home. We are having a half hour appointment and we have to learn from there. We were given the information pack and dvd yesterday.

They know are Wippie well and no-one really likes to treat him cause he is so difficult to treat and we have got the soft nose muzzle but he paws it off. The times we have had at the vets whereby he has had to stay he has been sedated but I assume they cannot sedate him for this treatment if he does have trouble adjusting. This is our problem really. The diabetes if not a problem for the "normal" dog but he is aggressive at the vets and really hyper too and struggles like mad. I just wish he would see that we are trying to help him. What i worry about is with him being hyper and if he goes blind will he cope? Will he stop the darting about cause he is like a steamtrain and if he is like he is now he will damage himself. He really is hyper as well and the vets know that. So many questions to ask but only time will tell I dare say. Thanks again Buddys mum.

Just another question, can you use the insulin pens on dogs? Are they too expensive and would the insurance cover them?

buddys_mum

Just another question, can you use the insulin pens on dogs? Are they too expensive and would the insurance cover them?

I have only heard of them for humans, quickly googles your question and it comes up with american site.The Americans seem to be far more advanced in pet diabetes than we are.

Poor wippie, he is really going to have to get used to being handled. I think the sooner you get the glucose monitor the better then you can start testing him yourself - then he has less visits to the vets. Make sure you dont say that the monitor is for a animal, they wont sell you one.

teachergirl

marshallka sending you big hugs:grouphug:.

I know it's all difficult right now but you will cope and whippie will enjoy his life whatever happens because it is with you and he loves you. My girls haven't got diabetes but they both have serious heart conditions and need masses of medication. My oldest girl is a grade 5(grade 6 being the absolute worst before.....) I have charts for their meds and we tick when each dog has had whatever pill or tablet it is. It did take awhile to get used to but we've coped. The thing is apart from the fact she is slowing down considerably you would not know there is anything wrong. She barks at the squirrels but running after them is too much effort. I asked the vet if there was anything else I could do , and he said no it was inevitable but just let her enjoy the things she enjoys so that her life is good. (they are both rescue dogs)

Just wanted to let you know I am thinking of you.