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Bad news today - Diabetes!

   
Dexter

15379		 
 
Barked: Fri Jun 19, '09 7:46pm PST 
The worst of my fears were confirmed today when I found out that Dexter, my 8 year old Blue Heeler had acute pancreatitis and Diabetes with DKA. We had to take him back to the vet today because in spite of his excessive drinking, he was dehydrated. The parmacy also din't fill his scrip for insulin so we have to wait another day for the vet to call them back.
As a healthcare professional, I understand the gravity of this situation and it really scares me. Dexter is my baby and I love him so much!
David
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Becka

987067		 
 
Barked: Wed Jun 24, '09 8:35am PST 
I'm sorry to here the news. I hope this can be controlled. Good Luck. I will keep you in my thoughts.
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Dexter

15379		 
 
Barked: Fri Jun 26, '09 6:11pm PST 
We got some good news today! Dexters blood sugar is almost controlled on the 15 units of insulin 2x day. He went for his insulin curve test today and peaked at 300. We have to increase one of his doses to 16 units and do another curve in about a month. We're still having difficulty getting used to the shots and as all you Blue Heeler owners know, htese are some smart dogs and he has figured out how to out think us every time when it comes to giving him his shot. He will even stand beside me while I'm getting it ready, go lay daown when we tell him to, but the moment I get ready to give the dhot, he bucks like a raging bronco or runs and hides.
We tried the peanut butter on the plate trick and he will lap up as much as he can as quick as he can adn then runs. We're working on it though. Everyone tells me that he will get used to it.

The best news though is that his pancreatitis was an acute case, not a chronic one. His enzymes have dropped from over 5000 to just over 1000 in one week! While still high, the special ($$$) diet and exercise, as well as the antibiotics, really made a difference. The vet feels that within a month all his liver function and pancreatic enzymes should return to normal. However, he will be diabetic for the rest of his life...which according to the vet should be a normal long life for him.

David
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Dexter

15379		 
 
Barked: Sat Jul 4, '09 5:20pm PST 
Well, a little bad news. Went for the second insulin curve and Dexters blood sugar is still hoovering in the mid 300 range. His pancreatic and liver enzymes continue to improve but his glucose is still not controlled.

We're now at 17 units of insulin (Humalin N100) twice a day. We're also using smaller needles but its still and major ordeal to give Dexter his shots. Im serious, he learns a new evasive trick every time.

We have yet another insulin curve to do next week and hope that things will be settled down.

At least he's more active and playful now. We actually even wrestled last night. Dex won.

David - Dexters Dad
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Annie (in- memorium)

56846		 
 
Barked: Thu Sep 10, '09 8:21am PST 
Was interested because Cattle Dogs are routinely pretty disease free. I took a beautiful red heeler from a local shelter a year ago - she was in terrible shape - having been used as a bait dog in dog fighting - lots of badly healed broken bones, big scars etc and also agresive toward any dog who came near her (of course!). The shelter did not want to let me have her as I already had three dogs but since I had space to separate her if necessary she came and got on fine with my well trained doggies. Soon discovered she was ill and went to the vet and found out she had diabetes. She has been on humilin N for a year and is doing very well. As I got used to the routine of diabetes discovered she had probably been treated for it for years from needle marks etc on her. She had had so many blood tests the vet could not get blood out of her very often to check her levels (though he still charged 140 dollars to have her in for the day!). I left the vet and have been following her with Diastixx urine testing twice a day - it is not very accurate but because it is daily I really get on with it better than the blood tests coupled with just watching how she is feeling in general, how much water she is drinking, etc. Her diet is Veterinary Formula (VF) dry dog food. She is five years old but I give her Senior food as it is less fatty and better for diabetics. She also gets green beans and plain canned pumpkin with both meals. She has plumped up enough to hide a lot of her scars and her coat is beautifully shiny. I was lucky as she had evidently had shots most of her life and she comes to me when I say "shot." Sometimes when we first started I would forget her shot and she would come and nose me at the appropriate time to do it. She gets a small liverwurst treat after the shot which could have a lot to do with the cooperation. I wrap a benadryl tablet in the liverwurst as she has the terrible diabetic itching problem. The vet said to give her as much benadryl as she needed to be itch free but I just give her two a day as benadryl is pretty bad stuff. So we are doing very well - so hang in there - it all gets pretty routine and you will have a happy, sweet doggie as well!
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