For a person new to diabetes that "Diabetes" diagnosis can be very frightening.
We often post the same information over and over again and a new person has to read through many threads to find their answers not that this is a bad idea its just time consuming and a new person often needs answers now.
Feel free to add to the topic.
Navigating this site.
At the top of the page if you click on the graphic of the dog and cat you will be taken to our home page. There is a wealth of information posted there.
http://www.indulgedfurries.com/petdiabetes/ href="http://www.indulgedfurries.com/petdiabetes/" target=_blank>Our website's Home Page
EXTREMELY rare is the dog that is regulated on one shot of insulin a day. Usually the insulin used once a day is Ultralente and that insulin is best used for cats.
Insulin
http://www.indulgedfurrie.../petdiabetes/insulin.html
Needles:
There is a debate over brand but not over gauge. I used the BD Ultra-Fine II short needles - 30 gauge - the ones that hold no more than 30 units or less of insulin. Some say the brand does not make a difference. Human diabetics have told me that they feel the difference when using a cheaper needle. If you are having trouble giving your dog a shot you might think of trying the more expensive BD needles. The gauge IS important. The 30 gauge needles are the smallest/thinnest on the market. If you have a large dog you may want to check with the pharmacist or your vet (often they dont know) if you are able to use the smaller needle. A large dogs skin may be tougher. Those of you with large dogs do you have any suggestions? Are you able to use the 30 gauge needles?
Update:
We have a 100+ dog whose owner can use the 30 gauge needles on him. I understand there is now a 31 gauge needle. The higher the number the finer the gague.
Update 28 Nov. 2003
It appears that the 30 gauge needles are now 31 gauge Ultra-Fine II needles.
Should you reuse a needle?
Eating incentives:
1. Boiled shredded chicken breast (small amount).
2. The broth from the chicken breast.
3. Tuna fish, water packed.
4. Tuna water
5. Low-fat or non-fat cottage cheese
6. Parmesan cheese, small amount sprinkled on food.
7. Garlic water, warm water with small amount of garlic powder added.
Diabetic dog foods and their fiber source
1. Hills w/d (peanut hulls)
2. Purina DCO (beet pulp)
3. Purina OM (soybean hulls)
4. Eukanuba Eukanuba Optimum Weight Control (beet pup)
A fill-out form for your vet
Questions to ask your vet
Insulin:
Be sure to warm the insulin before injecting. Dont leave the bottle of insulin out on the counter. Warm just the insulin filled syringe. I used to warm Missies insulin by placing the filled syringe under my arm pit for a few minutes.
Store the insulin on its side in the refrigerator. This makes for easier mixing.
Tips for comfortable injections.
For those of you who live outside the United States
Blood Glucose Conversion Chart
Urine testing
What to do in case of hypoglycemia very important!
Hypoglycemia (called having a hypo low blood sugar)
Everyone that has a diabetic dog needs to know how to treat a hypo. Hypoglycemia can kill.
If your dog is experiencing a hypo you will need to give your dog a quick acting source of sugar/carbohydrates like Karo or pancake syrup and then feed a small meal. If you dog is unable to lap up the syrup ( due to seizure) you will need to rub the syrup on his gums.
When adjusting an insulin dose you should wait 3 days to a week before another change. This is not the case if you have your dog on a large dose of insulin once a day then go to another vet who tells you to decrease the dose by about 50% and inject twice a day. It will take your dogs body time to adjust to the new dose.
Home blood glucose testing is not for everyone but in case you are thinking of using this method for home testing:
Tips for blood glucose testing:
1. Use a warm washcloth wrapped in a plastic bag.
2. Massage the area prior to the stick.
3. Pull the skin taunt.
4. Prior to the test rub Vaseline over the area.
5. Wait a second before milking the area. If you dont obtain enough blood wait two more seconds and try again.
Be sure to take compare your monitor with your vet's monitor and if possible to a blood test from the lab your vet sends a sample of your dog's blood to.
Tail sticking method
Lip sticking method
Ear Prick (some report limited success)
For the bigger guys you might try a callus stick.
A diabetic dog needs insulin and cannot be regulated on diet, exercise or pills. If you withhold insulin your dog will experience diabetic ketoacidosis. (See below)
KETOACIDOSIS
Ketoacidosis occurs when there is insufficient insulin to help glucose into the cells. In such cases, the body secretes cortisol to break down muscle tissue and body fat into glucose. This protective mechanism, known as catabolism or lypolsis, attempts to feed starving cells
The byproducts of these processes are ketone acids or, simply, ketones. Ketone acids are eliminated from the body through the urine and pulmonary activity (breathing). Urinary output increases to flush them out. As these waste products build up, they can be measured in the urine. The increased urination can cause severe dehydration and alter the bodys metabolic balance
If ketones are present, immediately report this to your vet. He will likely instruct you to increase the insulin dosage, and by what amount.
If left untreated, ketoacidosis can progress to a life-threatening stage. Dogs that are severely ketoacidotic require hospitalization for intravenous hydration, short acting insulin to quickly transport glucose into the cells, electrolytes supplements, and continuing blood work.
Dogs, Diet, and Disease
It is just about impossible to regulate an intact female dog. You need to spay as soon as your dogs blood glucose level are relative stable.
Not injecting the full amount of insulin if your dog moves during a shot and some of the insulin ends up in the fur dont try to guess how much insulin was not injected and administer more.
NEVER withhold water from a diabetic animal.
Diabetes is treatable! It is NOT a death sentence!
We have other forums:
Feline Diabetes
General Pet Health
Frolic in the Fun Zone
and more
Forums
If you register as an ezMember Register at ezBoard it is much easier to post and you can edit your posts. Its best if you resister a global account.
Also as a registered member you will get an ezInbox. Handy if you want to contact other registered members and do not know their email address.
Your personal ezInbox show in several places.
1. As you log on to a main forum just under the link New Topic you will see the words Logged in as Helen58 and next to that is your ezInbox link. This like will have a number before it if you have new messages.
2. If you click on your underlined blue name in a post you will be taken to your Bio page where you can also check your ezInbox.
Helen
We often post the same information over and over again and a new person has to read through many threads to find their answers not that this is a bad idea its just time consuming and a new person often needs answers now.
Feel free to add to the topic.
Navigating this site.
At the top of the page if you click on the graphic of the dog and cat you will be taken to our home page. There is a wealth of information posted there.
http://www.indulgedfurries.com/petdiabetes/ href="http://www.indulgedfurries.com/petdiabetes/" target=_blank>Our website's Home Page
EXTREMELY rare is the dog that is regulated on one shot of insulin a day. Usually the insulin used once a day is Ultralente and that insulin is best used for cats.
Insulin
http://www.indulgedfurrie.../petdiabetes/insulin.html
Needles:
There is a debate over brand but not over gauge. I used the BD Ultra-Fine II short needles - 30 gauge - the ones that hold no more than 30 units or less of insulin. Some say the brand does not make a difference. Human diabetics have told me that they feel the difference when using a cheaper needle. If you are having trouble giving your dog a shot you might think of trying the more expensive BD needles. The gauge IS important. The 30 gauge needles are the smallest/thinnest on the market. If you have a large dog you may want to check with the pharmacist or your vet (often they dont know) if you are able to use the smaller needle. A large dogs skin may be tougher. Those of you with large dogs do you have any suggestions? Are you able to use the 30 gauge needles?
Update:
We have a 100+ dog whose owner can use the 30 gauge needles on him. I understand there is now a 31 gauge needle. The higher the number the finer the gague.
Update 28 Nov. 2003
It appears that the 30 gauge needles are now 31 gauge Ultra-Fine II needles.
Should you reuse a needle?
Eating incentives:
1. Boiled shredded chicken breast (small amount).
2. The broth from the chicken breast.
3. Tuna fish, water packed.
4. Tuna water
5. Low-fat or non-fat cottage cheese
6. Parmesan cheese, small amount sprinkled on food.
7. Garlic water, warm water with small amount of garlic powder added.
Diabetic dog foods and their fiber source
1. Hills w/d (peanut hulls)
2. Purina DCO (beet pulp)
3. Purina OM (soybean hulls)
4. Eukanuba Eukanuba Optimum Weight Control (beet pup)
A fill-out form for your vet
Questions to ask your vet
Insulin:
Be sure to warm the insulin before injecting. Dont leave the bottle of insulin out on the counter. Warm just the insulin filled syringe. I used to warm Missies insulin by placing the filled syringe under my arm pit for a few minutes.
Store the insulin on its side in the refrigerator. This makes for easier mixing.
Tips for comfortable injections.
For those of you who live outside the United States
Blood Glucose Conversion Chart
Urine testing
What to do in case of hypoglycemia very important!
Hypoglycemia (called having a hypo low blood sugar)
Everyone that has a diabetic dog needs to know how to treat a hypo. Hypoglycemia can kill.
If your dog is experiencing a hypo you will need to give your dog a quick acting source of sugar/carbohydrates like Karo or pancake syrup and then feed a small meal. If you dog is unable to lap up the syrup ( due to seizure) you will need to rub the syrup on his gums.
When adjusting an insulin dose you should wait 3 days to a week before another change. This is not the case if you have your dog on a large dose of insulin once a day then go to another vet who tells you to decrease the dose by about 50% and inject twice a day. It will take your dogs body time to adjust to the new dose.
Home blood glucose testing is not for everyone but in case you are thinking of using this method for home testing:
Tips for blood glucose testing:
1. Use a warm washcloth wrapped in a plastic bag.
2. Massage the area prior to the stick.
3. Pull the skin taunt.
4. Prior to the test rub Vaseline over the area.
5. Wait a second before milking the area. If you dont obtain enough blood wait two more seconds and try again.
Be sure to take compare your monitor with your vet's monitor and if possible to a blood test from the lab your vet sends a sample of your dog's blood to.
Tail sticking method
Lip sticking method
Ear Prick (some report limited success)
For the bigger guys you might try a callus stick.
A diabetic dog needs insulin and cannot be regulated on diet, exercise or pills. If you withhold insulin your dog will experience diabetic ketoacidosis. (See below)
KETOACIDOSIS
Ketoacidosis occurs when there is insufficient insulin to help glucose into the cells. In such cases, the body secretes cortisol to break down muscle tissue and body fat into glucose. This protective mechanism, known as catabolism or lypolsis, attempts to feed starving cells
The byproducts of these processes are ketone acids or, simply, ketones. Ketone acids are eliminated from the body through the urine and pulmonary activity (breathing). Urinary output increases to flush them out. As these waste products build up, they can be measured in the urine. The increased urination can cause severe dehydration and alter the bodys metabolic balance
If ketones are present, immediately report this to your vet. He will likely instruct you to increase the insulin dosage, and by what amount.
If left untreated, ketoacidosis can progress to a life-threatening stage. Dogs that are severely ketoacidotic require hospitalization for intravenous hydration, short acting insulin to quickly transport glucose into the cells, electrolytes supplements, and continuing blood work.
Dogs, Diet, and Disease
It is just about impossible to regulate an intact female dog. You need to spay as soon as your dogs blood glucose level are relative stable.
Not injecting the full amount of insulin if your dog moves during a shot and some of the insulin ends up in the fur dont try to guess how much insulin was not injected and administer more.
NEVER withhold water from a diabetic animal.
Diabetes is treatable! It is NOT a death sentence!
We have other forums:
Feline Diabetes
General Pet Health
Frolic in the Fun Zone
and more
Forums
If you register as an ezMember Register at ezBoard it is much easier to post and you can edit your posts. Its best if you resister a global account.
Also as a registered member you will get an ezInbox. Handy if you want to contact other registered members and do not know their email address.
Your personal ezInbox show in several places.
1. As you log on to a main forum just under the link New Topic you will see the words Logged in as Helen58 and next to that is your ezInbox link. This like will have a number before it if you have new messages.
2. If you click on your underlined blue name in a post you will be taken to your Bio page where you can also check your ezInbox.
Helen
