My Dog Niki with Canine Diabetes
Niki (Nikita) Update 2009
Niki was diagnosed in October of 2002, she weighed 55 lbs, she is a Border Collie/Blue Heeler cross.
I never knew any signs of canine diabetes, looking back now that I have learned so much as of this date, I can recall some of the earlier events that took place back in late 2001-2002.
I had noticed Niki was walking with her back hunched up, we went to vet, found she was constipated, vet did an enema and a prescription, (I would bet a steroid type drug now)
Awhile after this she had started leaking urine, small spots on the floor, I took her to the vet, tests negative for high glucose (my pet was very active) the vet then prescribed Detrol for urinary incontinence, now I can wonder why being she was only 5 yrs at the time.
We go along for a year, with giving her the detrol, she starts to leak more urine, you could see a small puddle of urine from where she was laying on the kitchen floor, really heavy noticeable panting and a medicinal smell to her breath.
I go to another vet who diagnosed her with canine diabetes October 2002 she never needed to be on the Detrol.
The vet had started her out on Purina DCO dogfood 2 Cups with an insulin starting dose of NPH Insulin 4 units AM 3 units PM, as each week went by we went to the vet, who did one blood draw, the blood glucose was high, the vet increases dose to 6 units AM 4 units PM, this continued everyweek for about 8 weeks until the vet had Niki up to 18 units AM and 14 units PM, a few days later Niki went into shock, she had a seizure where her body started jerking all over, I gave her syrup followed by some food, the vet told me not to give evening insulin and to feed her, the next day at the vet her blood glucose was at 70, the insulin was still working from all the units she had been giving over the previous weeks. ( A bulid up of Insulin)
Her dose was then decreased to 12 units AM 10 units PM, time went by and the blood glucose was still in the 300's, still some urine leakage and heavy panting.
After some time she developed an ear infection stemming from high blood glucose as the ears make a warm environment for yeast to grow, the vet had applied a liquid to inside her ears, sent me home with a bottle of this and a rinse also, her ear infection cleared up.
Time went by and she had another ear infection, this time I caught it and used the ear medicine I had from the vet.
By this time it was 2003 I searched for answers, I found a new vet who wanted Niki on 11 units AM and 11 units PM of NPH insulin and to switch to Eukenuba Weight Control food bought at the vet.
Time goes by Niki's blood glucose is still in the 300's.
I then learn I can test Niki's blood glucose myself using a pet blood glucose meter, now I have some information and a picture of how Niki's body is processing food and insulin.
I decide to take Niki's health in my own hands, I had enough of advise from the vets, what they were telling me to do was not working with Niki. I had to get a handle on this myself, it was my dogs life.
I started to decrease the Purina DCO food and added chopped broccoli or chopped green beans to her diet, also some cooked turkey or chicken, her blood glucose is finally coming down.
I had found her blood glucose would drop at 2-3 hours and I needed to give her a small treat before the drop, which at that time was a 1/2 of a soda cracker.
What was happening was Niki had been prescribed too much insulin, the first vet had never done a blood glucose curve on Niki and based her adjustments of insulin by only one blood draw each week. That is something I cannot figure about the vet to this day, was she unaware of doing a blood glucose curve, did my Niki have to go into shock to get her insulin dose decreased, this could have all been avoided. If I would not have been home that day I really don't know if Niki would be alive. At the vet the day after her seizure and the reading of 70 the vet had said "now we have a starting point" what was this? put my pet thru shock to figure this out. That is what I think was the vets reasoning here.
It took some time after July 2003 to find a diet and insulin dose that would work for Niki, we still used broccoli and green beans with her dogfoods, I had tried the expensive ones such as Evo, Canidae, some I had to have shipped to me. I finally found the Nutro brand and Nutro Light and Nutro Senior were the ones that worked for us along with adding the vegetables and turkey to her food. I never had a problem with getting Niki to eat. I have since switched to using Orijen Dry food, there are no grains in this.
She has had curves done, I've been told by vets her insulin seems to quit working after 7 hours I have learned the insulin does not quit working, the food and insulin need to match
Niki has been diabetic for over 6 yrs now. When diagnosed I was scared, I cried, as time went by I learned about this disease, research all you can, if I would not have done my research on this disease my Niki would not be here with me today. Niki has been blind for almost 3 yrs now, I never saw the blindness coming until she jumped up on a deck she thought was our front steps, she has adapted well, she is active, she plays soccer now, her hearing is much sharper, she can jump in and out of my truck, I cannot believe how well a dog can handle blindness, could we say that of we humans who could once see, and our doggies can't even talk. She is truly a miracle
Niki had lost weight over the past summer of 2008, I needed to increase her food and insulin a bit, she has gained her weight back.
Her current diet is 1/2 C of Orijen Dry Food, 1/2 C cooked ground turkey, 2/3 C chopped raw broccoli and 1/2 capsule of flaxseed oil with evening meal.
In my studies of this disease with Border Collies and Heelers they tend to use less insulin than other dogs, it could be how their bodies metabolize the food and insulin, Niki has always been active, she is blind now but that does not stop her from playing and running room to room for going for walks and going for rides in the car.
Niki will be 12 years old this August 2009 and has been a diabetic half of her life.
One thing to consider about Insulin is double check your vet when changing an insulin, with Vetsulin the dose will be higher with different syringes U40's when you switch to NPH the dose will be lower or a more conservative dose with different syringes U100's. I have seen some problems with this switch in some of the pets, Vetsulin and NPH are different insulins they do not work the same. Keep an eye on your pet and learn to test your pets blood glucose with a meter especially if your vet keeps increasing the insulin dose.
With diabetes and ear infections I have found trimming some of the fur around Niki's ears near the front and trimming some of the hair on the insides of her ears has helped, this lets some air into the ears,she has not had an ear infection since 2004, I always check her ears and clean them and never let any hair I trim fall into her ears.
I urge any newly diagnosed pet to join one of the canine diabetes forums, information and support is there in plain english.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (22)
at 18:45 on June 3rd, 2009
Christina,
Can you tell me how much does your dog weigh and what breed is your dog and what type of food are you feeding?
Click on my ID, help is available.
Dolly
at 08:55 on April 24th, 2009
Could you please give me some more info- Our lad mix Ginger has just been diagnosed with diabeties- she has had addison disease for several years now and been on a steriod med for awhile-
Thanks
Tammi
at 19:50 on May 8th, 2009
Hi,
Thank you so much for such an informative site. Our dog was recently diagnosed with diabetis and we find that she is insulin resistance, so we would be trying your suggested diet. My only question is regarding the feeding frequency, how often do we have to feed her in a day?
Thanks
Mike
at 00:35 on May 11th, 2009
You feed twice a day 12 hours apart and give the insulin injection 30 min after meal.
Keep in mind when changing diet that it will affect blood glucose levels and insulin requirements, run this by your vet as to the insulin dose currently being given when changing foods especially a part home made diet with adding some pet food.
As your pet was recently diagnosed, did your vet tell you your pet was insulin resistant? That sounds too soon for insulin resistance.
Please send me a direct message or email me.
Thanks for the comment.
at 12:44 on May 27th, 2009
My fox terrier was recently diagnosed with diabetes. Presently, the vet is working on getting it under control. It was near 500 when we found it a week ago. Then he was put on vetsulin 7units at night, then 9 units. He starts panting really hard after about 4 hours after the injection. Is this normal? I am not getting any sleep and he certainly is uncomfortable. He goes back to the vet to have his sugar level tested again tomorrow evening. Although he seems to be urinating less, his appetite is the same. His panting is more noticeable after the injection. I am very concerned. He does well during the daytime however. Being a diabetic myself, I know that often if I eat something sweet, it will help me with the "hot flashes" I get following my meds. I gave him just a pinch of something sweet and it helped. Does this make sense?
at 18:40 on May 31st, 2009
My dog is a very newly diagnosed Diabetic (Has only been on insulin for 4 days). We have started him on 10 Units Vetsulin in Am and PM. Blood sugar prior to insulin 346-4 hours after insulin 530....Any ideas whats going on? Shouldn't there be a decrease and not an increase? HELP!
at 18:42 on May 31st, 2009
Sandy,
Sounds like your dog is having the same reaction as mine with only 4 hours after insulin...Any new ideas come from your vet appt?
at 18:32 on June 3rd, 2009
Sandy,
The hard panting usually happens after a meal, this is how a dog will rid the body of excess glucose.
It will take some time for the insulin and food to work together it may take weeks, I know how worried you are.
What food did the vet suggest? Rx food from vet?
You mentioned you went to the vet, did they give you a new blood glucose reading? Have they mentioned doing a curve over an 8 or 12 hour period, this is testing the blood glucose every 2 hours.
I really suggest home testing your pet with a blood glucose meter, this way you will be able to tell what your pets blood glucose is, when you are getting the heaving panting, that would be an ideal time to test the blood glucose.
Did the vet mention for you to have pancake syrup or Karo syrup on hand.
Sometimes something sweet is not what they need unless you know they are having a hypo (low blood sugar caused by too much insulin) you can look this up on wikia canine diabetes.
Please contact me again.
at 18:41 on June 3rd, 2009
Christina,
Is your pet newly diagnoised? Are you using Vetsulin insulin also? The blood glucose will rise after eating, the panting will stop once your pet is regulated, when you get the food and insulin to match the panting will stop as well as frequent urination or leaking.
What food are you feeding? the food matters with canine diabetes, its finding that perfect match of food and insulin, alot of commercial foods are high in carbs, the prescription foods from the vet can be very expensive and this is hard on the pet owners, you can create a diet for your pet, that is what I had to do, I could not get my pet regulated on pet food only, thats with my dog Niki but all dogs handle food and insulin differently.
Please let me know about your pet.
at 05:15 on June 19th, 2009
I came across this story. My dog Mandy was diagnosed in May 2009, I am ready to lose it, I have done everything I can, she doesn't eat when she is supposed to, I just had a blood curve done, they increased her insulin from 11 units to 13 units, right after I giver her the insulin, she becomes lethargic and just sleeps, now she seems to have some sort of vaginal infection, a light yellow discharge, and there is alot of it. I am terrified, I have spent thousands at the Vet, my husband just lost his job, I am so stressed out, the Vet is no help, all they want is me to bring her in over and over. They have told me there is no way to check her blood sugar at home, I really am on the edge, anyone that can give me any advice, I will do anything for her. She is a nine year old Irish Setter, she weighs about 58 pounds, a year ago she weighed 70, please help.
at 08:44 on June 19th, 2009
Hi Kathi,
Help is here, click on my ID to my home page, scroll down on the left you will see the K9 Diabetes Forum, that will take you where you need to go, help is there !
I wish I could email you but you need to sign up with Now Public in order for me to email you, sorry about that, there are lots of spammers out there, you know how that goes.
Dolly
at 09:26 on June 19th, 2009
Hi Dolly, I have signed up and joined the forum. I am patiently waiting to hear from the Vet this morning, as usual, right after her insulin she went to the basement and will be there all day.
I did get her to eat 2/3 cup of the Nutro lite, and the 1/2 cup ground turkey and some green beans, I usually give her the insulin right after she eats, within minutes, this is what they told me to do. Her diagnosis was on May 11th, 11 units twice a day, every 12 hours. they gave me that w/d food, she hated it and would NOT eat it, I resorted to giving her ANYTHING because she was so hungry, but any food I get her only last's a day or two before she will not eat it. I took her in for a curve on 6-4-09, (different vet) she said to give her 13 units twice per day, that the Vetsulin was wearing off in 6 hours, or, I could give her 14 units 1 time per day, hmmm, ok. I did the 13 units twice per day.
I switched her food to the Nutro Lite for less active dogs, she actually likes that, but I have had to crumble rice cakes and pour beef broth on it to get her to eat, ever since this last blood curve, everytime I give her insulin, she seems out of it. Am I giving her too much? too little?? if she eats half her food, I give her half the insulin. If she eats nothing, I give her none.
She is so skinny, and now she has this very strange vaginal infection, very stinky and she wont let me go near the area, poor little thing, I am so frustrated and scared for her. i will get on the forum too, I called a different Vet today, there has to be one of them out there that can communicate with me and not charge me 200 for a blood curve, I am going broke fast!!
at 00:02 on June 21st, 2009
Lunarhamster, thank you for the comment, the 13 U 2 x day does not equal 14 U once a day, 2 x day should be at a more conservative dose or lower dose.
at 14:58 on June 27th, 2009
I am so glad I found this site I thought I was the only one having difficulty getting my dog regulated. My Terrier was diagnosed about three months ago and started on Vetsulin, Initially five units then six twice a day. This was not working and the vet spoke to the manufacturer who suggest dropping the dosage to 3 units and not testing for one week.
We then increased the dosage one unit at a time over a two week period but still not working. I then purchased my own blood test equipment and started doing test at home.
The vet has now switched the insulin type and we started at five units and I am testing the blood every two hours. Unfortunately, he is still not regulated with this change of insulin. I have done charts and his Blood sugar is varying between 325 soon after the insulin shot and 550 about four hours later. The blood testing is not difficult and the biggest problem I had initially was getting enough blood for the meter. However, I found that the ear is the best place for the blood sample and that warming it with a slight massage is helpful.
I have starting making my own food for him but that is mainly because he has become a difficult eater and I need to get some food in him before the insulin. I boil chicken and rice but will try some of the suggestions in your notes. He is 12 years old and losing his sight which may be related to the diabetes.
I seem to have spent a small fortune at the vet and my pet is still not healthy. He has all the typical symptoms, drinking excessively, urinating constantly, accidents in his bed at night, panting etc. I don't know what the answer is but I will certainly celebrate the day i get a reading of less than 200.
at 22:46 on June 28th, 2009
Hi dog lover,
I'm assuming you have changed from Vetsulin to NPH correct? Thinking about this... changing from one insulin to another the dose would be different, I am glad you are hometesting, I do that also, are you using the pet glucose meter?
It is hard getting them to eat when the BG is high, they just don't feel well, has your vet done a curve or have you done a curve at home.
Dolly and Niki
at 14:47 on June 28th, 2009
Ditto on it costing a small fortune, its a shame it has to be that way.
at 15:46 on June 30th, 2009
Dolly and Niki,
Thanks for response Changed to Humulin N which I believe is the human insulin. He has been on the new insulin for five days and already seeing some improvement. Four different test today were all in the 200 to 250 range, he is also drinking a lot less. I am using a one touch ultra mini which I believe is also designed for humans and as i said apart from initial problems with finding a good place to get enough blood it is working very well. I did curves myself and am still testing four or five times a day this week.
The Vet was suggesting that he wanted to do test for Cushing disease, apparently lack of a response to insulin could be caused by cushing disease. However, I don't see some of the obvious signs.
I would certainly recommend getting a meter.
at 16:45 on June 30th, 2009
I'm so happy things are going better, thats a big relief, using a blood glucose meter is the way to go, the pet meters are expensive but I only use mine when I do curves and the human meters for everyday checking of bg.
They sometimes will suggest Cushings, don't sound like you are having that problem, you can search Wikia for cushings, I had a cushings dog awhile ago.
thanks for the comment, Dolly
at 10:46 on July 26th, 2009
my dog ben was diagnosed with diabetes in dec08. he is 9yrs old and suddenly went blind 2 mths ago. i am not happy with my vet as i feel they nearly killed him,. we took him there late nov and they instantly dianosed diabetes and asked us to return a week later. this we done and saw a different vet, he told us he thought ben had a more serious illness called cushion desease and needed to have him in to do further testing. after messing him about for a full day doing bloods on his liver etec he then sent him home with tablets that were to be taken for 5 days only. after that date more blood needed to be done to see if his liver reading was still high. a day after he took the last tablet he became so ill he couldnt walk. he was rushed in as an emergancy to the vet who said had we left him another hr he would have been dead as his body was totally dehydrated.my husband is diabetic so i know this is a symptom but i feel the tablet made it worse.after getting him on insulin he went for his 3 mth check up. they said he had cloudy eyes but nothing to worry about. 3 wks later he was blind. he has adapted very well but they suggested a operation at the cost of £3000. i have asked the vet verbally and by letter an explanation why his eyes wasnt checked properly and they do not answer.ben seems quite happy but is starving hungry all the time and i dont know why. do anyone have any idea, as i would be grateful for advice
at 16:47 on July 27th, 2009
Jayne,
I'm so sorry to hear about your vet, some are like that, I believe the diabetes needs to get under control before cushings drugs are taken, what are the names of the 5 pills the vet gave you. This is a shame as some do alot of tests not needed, their intentions may be good but they are not familiar with canine diabetes, all of these tests are expensive to the owner and some owners after diagnosis and all the tests tend to put there pets down with all of these costs, thats the shame of it all, there is no reason why the vet could not have seen the cataracts that were present. Jayne please send me a message help is here.
at 19:14 on August 16th, 2009
Ok, my dog was recently diagnosed with diabeties. He pants constantly, he lost a ton of weight and clearly is uncomfortable. He's glucose level was at 493, and now is down to 403. The doctor only has him on 6 units in the day and 6 unites at night. Doesn't that seem low? He's a short haired German Shepard.
at 09:24 on August 17th, 2009
Hi Ly1226,
Usually a conservative dose is presribed and is increased by 1/2 to 1 unit each week after a glucose curve has been done at vet.
Sent you a PM
Thanks for the comment
Dolly and Niki