Diabetes Talking

Question:

             I bet the dogs owners were pleased you could board the dog.

I often got to know their owners quite well. Often I was able to find ways of managing the dogs that would help them when they returned home. I’ve sometimes boarded elderly dogs but no diabetics. Do you miss working as a vet nurse?

Only on occasions, and I don’t miss all of it. It’s hard physical work, and emotionally tiring too. I don’t feel as young as I used to! It also had only a limited career path and was not particularly well paid (it has improved a great deal since I left). I didn’t end up very far from animals though – I’m now a freelance journalist and editor, specialising in pet books and magazines. Amongst other things, I’m the editor of the Kennel Gazette for the Kennel Club, and edit a lot of books on animal care. It still helps the animals, but it’s better paid and I work at home (much to the approval of my dogs). – ANDREA —   Get PAID for the emails you already send and receive!                   ANDROMEDA – Internet Goddess Bloodaxe’s History Links:   http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5055/ The Loony Bin Archive:               http://loonies.net800.co.uk/

Response:

(I never really stopped – there’s a dog here now, who’s not suited to kennels due to clusters of seizures that are poorly controlled by meds, while her ‘parents’ take a Valentines trip to Europe). Blind, lame, incontinent, ‘twitchers’, diabetics, paralysed, panic disorders and neurological ‘crackerdogs’…I’ve boarded them all and every one was a sweetheart! – ANDREA

       Hi Andrea,               I bet the dogs owners were pleased you could board the dog. I’ve sometimes boarded elderly dogs but no diabetics. Do you miss working as a vet nurse?                Alison – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – —   Get PAID for the emails you already send and receive!                   ANDROMEDA – Internet Goddess Bloodaxe’s History Links:   http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5055/ The Loony Bin Archive:               http://loonies.net800.co.uk/

Response:

Many thanks to all who responded and in doing so give a brighter outlook on what I first took to be complete devastation. Andrea – yes I will mention to the vets about someone looking after them rather than kennels; Alison – if a small yorkie can take a needle every day then my big fella can surely do the same without getting stressed out; WalterNY- I live in Gosford, NSW, Australia. The vets have indicated that this can not be ‘cured’ but only controlled from now on; Shooting Star- I was told you cannot give pills in this case and it has to be injections in the flesh – not in veins. PS – I’m going to check out those web sites now – thanks. Michael

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i wanted to ask a question here i have read that some dogs do respond to just the pill but that vets dont bother to try this?  doesn anyone know anything about this and how a vet would decide if the pills might work? you know now many many people that before took the shot dont as they have out all those new pills/ what about their use on the dogs and what dogs can acutally take the pills? is it jus that vets dont know what they are doing there as far as the dog goes that they dont want to  try test done on your dog to realay determing if the dog is a diabetic and do you know what the sugar actually was then.

Response:

   Hi Michael,      My neighbours yorkie has abeen diabetic for about 5/6 years. He’s 14 now.  First you need to find out exactly what is involved before you make a decision. My neighbours dog has two injections a day  and a urine test for sugar.. . He has to be fed several times a day   At first , it can  difficult ,because you have to monitor the dog  to find out how much insulin and food you need to give . The vet will advise you on how much and show you how to give the injections. The insulin and disposable needles are expensive.  After a while it becomes routine and I don’t think you’d need to care for your dog 24/7. You could try ringing different kennels to see if they would take your dog . Some do in the UK but you have to pay more. You might be able to leave him with the vet.      The sites below will give you an idea of whats involved. http://www.petdiabetes.org/ http://www.peteducation.com/category_summary.cfm?cls=2&cat=1579         Alison

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just received some bad news today from our Vet who said our 10 yr old Shephard/Doberman cross has diabetics and needs to be treated with insulin injections. Wifey is not happy about this as she already has a full on work load with kids, work, house. Me – I’m away all day in the city working. Does anyone know the pros and cons of maintaining a dog with this re quality of life for the dog and for the family. We’ve been told basically that if we go ahead (which I’m keen to do) then it requires a dedicated 24 X 7 hour care. Bang goes holidays without the pets as I’m sure kennels would not get involved (or neccessarily have the interest) in giving injections at specific times and montitoring the diet. Basically I need feedback as to options open to us bearing in mind he has been an integral part of the family for 10 years and what have others done faced with the same situation. Euthanasia for an otherwise active happy dog does not sound like a viable option. MH

Response:

You could try ringing different kennels to see if they would take your dog . Some do in the UK but you have to pay more. You might be able to leave him with the vet.

Also, you can ask veterinary nurses/vet techs if they’ll board them for you. I know when I was still in practice, I often took in clients’ dogs if they weren’t suitable for kennels. The owners got the peace of mind from knowing their dog was in trained hands and in a home environment, and I got to learn about the day-to-day management of different disorders and earn a little extra cash. (I never really stopped – there’s a dog here now, who’s not suited to kennels due to clusters of seizures that are poorly controlled by meds, while her ‘parents’ take a Valentines trip to Europe). Blind, lame, incontinent, ‘twitchers’, diabetics, paralysed, panic disorders and neurological ‘crackerdogs’…I’ve boarded them all and every one was a sweetheart! – ANDREA —   Get PAID for the emails you already send and receive!                   ANDROMEDA – Internet Goddess Bloodaxe’s History Links:   http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5055/ The Loony Bin Archive:               http://loonies.net800.co.uk/

Response:

i wanted to ask a question here i have read that some dogs do respond to just the pill but that vets dont bother to try this?  doesn anyone know anything about this and how a vet would decide if the pills might work? you know now many many people that before took the shot dont as they have out all those new pills/ what about their use on the dogs and what dogs can acutally take the pills? is it jus that vets dont know what they are doing there as far as the dog goes that they dont want to  try test done on your dog to realay determing if the dog is a diabetic and do you know what the sugar actually was then.  

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just received some bad news today from our Vet who said our 10 yr old Shephard/Doberman cross has diabetics and needs to be treated with insulin injections. Wifey is not happy about this as she already has a full on work load with kids, work, house. Me – I’m away all day in the city working. Does anyone know the pros and cons of maintaining a dog with this re quality of life for the dog and for the family. We’ve been told basically that if we go ahead (which I’m keen to do) then it requires a dedicated 24 X 7 hour care. Bang goes holidays without the pets as I’m sure kennels would not get involved (or neccessarily have the interest) in giving injections at specific times and montitoring the diet. Basically I need feedback as to options open to us bearing in mind he has been an integral part of the family for 10 years and what have others done faced with the same situation. Euthanasia for an otherwise active happy dog does not sound like a viable option. MH

This method of ‘treatment’ is a band-aid to the real problem. Where are you located and I will suggest a vet that will deal with the problem and not the symptoms of the problem?

Response:

I just received some bad news today from our Vet who said our 10 yr old Shephard/Doberman cross has diabetics and needs to be treated with insulin injections. Wifey is not happy about this as she already has a full on work load with kids, work, house. Me – I’m away all day in the city working. Does anyone know the pros and cons of maintaining a dog with this re quality of life for the dog and for the family. We’ve been told basically that if we go ahead (which I’m keen to do) then it requires a dedicated 24 X 7 hour care. Bang goes holidays without the pets as I’m sure kennels would not get involved (or neccessarily have the interest) in giving injections at specific times and montitoring the diet. Basically I need feedback as to options open to us bearing in mind he has been an integral part of the family for 10 years and what have others done faced with the same situation. Euthanasia for an otherwise active happy dog does not sound like a viable option. MH

Response: