My Black Lab (11 yrs old) was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus 2 months ago. We use a FreeStyle Libre glucose sensor which connects to my phone and the vet also gets the readings. The sensors are expensive but in our opinion, well worth it until we find the right balance. We have been following the vet's guidance (internal medicine) at the local veterinary hospital. We have tried prescription pet food but he wouldn't eat it and I don't blame him. It was a challenge each morning which resulted in force feeding with a syringe (not the greatest way to start a day). I then switched to home cooking his food (chicken breast, cucumbers, bell peppers and a very small amount of regular carrots) and learning all of the necessary requirements for his health however I was never sure if he was getting all the nutrients he required. After consulting with the vet, we went back to his original high quality pet food. The problem was that we had high and low swings in glucose levels with the above foods and NO treats. Two weeks ago we decided to switch to raw food that is produced here in Canada and all ingredients are sourced here as well. He eats it like a wolf. Feeding is no longer an issue and his energy levels are incredible. His glucose level swings are also much more reasonable and I am able to verify it because of the sensor we still are using. With this change in his food we will be able to stop using the sensor when it expires in abut 10 days from now. The internal medicine vet commented that it is an incredible change and that we are on the right track. This video really helped to understand and believe we are doing the right thing for him. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.
Hey Rob. You guys sound like excellent pet owners and your doggo is lucky to have people that will walk the extra mile to look after him. 11 years is quite old for a Lab, which just goes to show that he's very well taken care of. :) Jah Diabetes can become very challenging to treat and manage, especially if the dog is not maintaining a regular appetite for his food. In theory it will be best to get them on Diabetic food, but in my experience, dogs suffering from advanced Diabetes generally struggle to eat even the most palatable food available, let alone the prescription diet. And dogs need to eat to survive haha. So I always say, as long as the dog is able to eat and we can maintain a regular schedule, and the glucose is under control, then we are on the right path. I'm really glad he likes the raw diet and I know you guys will feed it correctly, and as long as he stays happy and healthy, that's all that really matters. Thanks for watching the video and sharing your story. :)
Thanks so much for giving your story . My dog was diagnosed weeks ago and I’m working on getting him a Libre. You really helped me. Thanks for sharing your experience..🥰
Hi...my dog was diagnosed about a week ago with diabetes. He is a toy poodle 10y old. We started with the insulin, but his bg is still very high usually ...hos glucose stay in 350...the. after eat it goes to 450, then insuline will put it down to 250...and after 5d it is not dropping more...do you know how much time will take to the dog to adapt to the insulin? He lost so much weight and he hate the canned food...Im cooking my dog food now..but only rare meat no overcooked. Can i feed my dog witj cow, 🐑 or pork meat? Do you give to him organs?
My dog was diagnosed with diabetes about a month ago. He is currently on insulin and diabetic diet. It had been a bit challenging in the beginning to balance his glucose level but since I have been using Free Style Libre sensor for his glucose measurements, it has been so easy. I can monitor his glucose level at any minute without causing any discomfort to my dog which is amazing. He is doing great despite the fact that he is 13 yo and has heart issues and thyroid.
My Toy poodle has recently been diagnosed with diabetes. This video was beneficial. Everything my vet advised is in the video and is a good reminder of what is required from me as a pet parent. Many thanks
Thanks so much for this video. I am all alone since my husband is deployed and I am going through it with my little senior pom. Thank you for helping me to understand. Diabetes is so new to me. He has chronic pancreatitis and I am his 4th owner. He's had so many surgeries. This has been life changing. The insulin is so scary to me but it's for him so I do it! Thanks for helping me navigate this new chapter. ❤
Thank you so much. I have benefited greatly. I only wish I'd found you earlier. My best friend fur pal died of diabetes. I am grieving her loss. My vet gave me most of the same advice but I know now it could have been picked up earlier. I had 12 wonderful years with Cassie and I wish we had more time. Thank you. Carol😢
I have a Minature Dachshund that will be 15 in November. He was diagnosed Diabetic 3 years ago and gets 2 injections of Novelin N a day. We have had a few episodes but my Vet has done a GREAT JOB monitoring him. Thank You for the video....
This was such an epic video and so informative, thank you so much. My lil girl (10kg, 8 yr old scottish terrier) was diagnosed 17 days ago. Seems I picked up on some side effects quick enough. Her glucose level was 34.4 on diagnosis. She had her first glucose curve 3 days ago. Highest point was 28 and lowest 16. Working progress, its been traumatising for me and for her. We will find our groove... need to keep reminding myself it's a marathon and not a race and that this is our new norm. It somehow feels like I only need to inject her just a short while longer and she will be healed, I know this is not true but I think the "forever" hasn't set it yet. Can't explain how awesome it was to come across a video from South Africa. With all the crazy information I've been soaking up the past 2 weeks it seems like we a bit behind, vet still needs to get back to me on a few questions i had after all the research and info ive found. All the groups I could find that seem to be factual and informative are in the USA, UK or Canada and they are able to get pet glucose meters, glucose urine strips and insulin over the counter at Walmart or online for next day delivery without a script, they have 32g 8mm needles and pet friendly lancing dovices, eye tablets as cataract prevention, accessible diabetic dog treats.... damn import taxes are too high 😅
My dog just got diagnosed with diabetes, she's a 14 yo Maltese Cross. She got ill over just a few weeks , loosing weight and being lethartic, also the eye sight failed rapidly, a visit to the vet and basically exactly what you said in your video. She's doing better now with insulin shots twice a day. A big learning experience for both of us. Great Video, thanks
Hi, her eyesight hasn’t changed, still blind but she can see shadows etc…Don’t move furniture around and stay to known places, she’s seems happy but everything takes longer now. Thanks for your interest…Simon and Rosie
@Robert29797 same thing with my sydney silkey he has lost his eye sight very quickly on insulin now but trying to get it down was siting on 36 mmol last week checked 22 hoping it will decrease a bit more
Hi Dr Pete. My Jack Russell is 11 and has been diagnosed with Cushins over 2 years ago. She has been on half a tablet of Trilostane everyday. She has become very frail in the last month, rapid weight loss and very weak. I live on a remote Island for work and have no access to a vet and she is unfit for flying to a vet. Our vet said to do a urine dip stick as he suspects diabetes. Thank you for your video, explains it well and I believe she is now diabetic. I really hope I am able to get her treatment in the interim even though I am remote. Just dont want her to suffer.
Your comment about your JR and being remote from 11 months ago has me wondering if you’ve finalized a nice routine and she’s much better, or if the best decision was a humane rainbow bridge crossing. It’s so difficult to make decisions under ideal circumstances. Your situation makes me more sympathetic. I can’t help but feel like being remote was the best for you and yours over the long haul. It’s okay to weigh pros/cons and still conclude, despite this condition, you provided a wonderful environment. I had a JR rescue I walked 2 miles/day 3x:day. Tired dog. Happy owner. I never saw him reach old age so you’ve been blessed. Hope things are well.
Its the kibble that's causing it and or genetics. The kibble is super high carbs and lacking moisture, so the body is forced to pull fluids from the organs! The body breaks down carbs as sugar. Same with people if we eat horrible food we become diabetic.
Just found out our dog is diabetic.. We adopted her at 8yrs old about a year ago.. She is 9 now.. She is a MinPin. Doc thinks it is caused from pancreatitis... so.. Thanks kindly for the good info!..
Excellent information as I’m currently going through the ‘correct dosage trial’ for my 11 year old pal. Visiting with the vet tomorrow as we’re having trouble getting his sugars down…. Thanks for the info
Very very helpful! Thank you so mucj! This is all new to me. My dog was just diagnosed with type 1. I know nothing about diabetes and this really helped to learn something about it. So thank you.
He got a dental and they gave him back to me with a huge gash in his back along his spine, it looked like a needle mark. When he wound up DKA 3 months later, it was the first thing they looked for in his fur. It took me a while to realize they were trying to hide it. It didn’t heal for 8 months-! They were even “surprised” I managed to save him. They asked me what I did.. I think they gave him the diabetes
They even refused to take out all of his teeth, so 2 years later I was back for another- this time they said they COULDNT take all of his teeth because his jaw was so weak. The next visit will be his last thanks to them. My vet help…??? They didn’t even suggest a monitor.. lucky for me, my mom is also diabetic and I learned a lot from caring for her.
That bet just wanted and still got waits for the day I have to hospitalize him and spend $10k they’ve already taken over 5k from me. He’s 15 now. 4 years diabetic and he’s getting so thin.. peeing everywhere. Sugar is up and down- it’s so hard to control. He’s been barking at me nonstop for what feels like all 4 years. It’s torture. Torture for me and I’m sure he’s not happy either
My dog is a 8 year old he was diagnosed 6 weeks ago very difficult to give injections to he's missed the last three I'm not sure how much he I am very frustrated
My dog has diabetes.. But I dont have the funds to get her the proper care she needs.. I have tried everything to get help but no luck.. She is going down quickly and it hurts my heart.. Idk what else to do.. Its scaring me.. :'(
My 16 yr 8 month old dog just got diagnosed with diabetes . She had been losing weight for a while so I began boiling chicken leg quarters debone and cut up the meat ,rice, making homemade gravy frying eggs and , steamed carrots . This has gotten her weight back up by 4 lb . But now I know diabetes is the cause I did an online search and found an herb that may help her with the diabetes and I can get it at a health food store so it's worth a try.
My dog was diagnosed on January 13, 2023 with diabetes it was 772 after an overnight stay and her first shot of insulin it went down then when I brought her to the vet Monday they said her glucose level was so high they couldn’t read it And they said that she was insulin resistant and her kidney function was 25 and she had an infection and they said she would go into seizures and they told me they were two options I could’ve took it up to 24 hour hospital but they don’t think they would’ve been able to help her if she was insulin resistant in all that was happening to her that I should put her down I know it’s a longshot can a dog deteriorate dead fish I love to so much and I didn’t want her to suffer from seizures and now I’m worried I didn’t do the right thing I should’ve try to let her stay home I didn’t know that she was suffering I didn’t want her to suffer
Thanks for this video, my 8 year old super hyper poodle was diagnosed today and im headed to the Vet soon to get his insulin. I hate shots myself and my wife isnt patient so that part is going to be the hardest for us.
Excellent thank you doctor. You explained treatment etc perfectly. I worked for a diabetic specialist for 20 years. A lot easier treating humans with the advance in treatment like Insulin pumps etc.what should the glucose levels be running at for a dog. Humans 4 to 6 is what they aim for. Kind regards Bev
My dog recently got diagnosed and so far I have not been able to sleep wondering if his life expectancy will be shorter. I recently went though a loss with my elder dog and I can’t breath when I think about it.
My 16 yr 8 month old dog just got diagnosed with diabetes . I Can't dream of affording insulin so I'm looking for an alternative which there are some herbs that may help her feel better.
Any suggestions on trying to get dog to eat, so he can have his shot,..tried roasted chicken, the new royal vet food, both dry and wet😢just diagnosed today
I have noticed my 9 year springer spaniel pee more often on walks. He has always seem to drink lots of water but the increase in peeing is my concerned. His eyes seem to be somewhat cloudy and his back legs have been shaking more and more but my vet thinks the shaking is from arthritis in the hips. Am I jumping to conclussions or should I take my dog to the vet.
Take your dog to the vet and do complete blood work or urinalysis.. Don't want to scare you, this is how my female 11yr old samoyed was. She started peeing, like marking very often on walks. Her blood work was fine back then.. What a surprise! Fast forward roughly 3to4 months, she started peeing longer and a lot more, not marking type of peeing anymore.. I had her checked again, everything was fine.. I thought i was going crazy.. And then within a month, she started drinking soo much water, especially the last week and was very weak in her back legs, like dogs with severe hip dysplasia are.. And she didn't even have hip dysplasia! I panicked and scheduled her for anothed appointment. She was given a painkiller shot and took her bloodwork and boom. She had 30 glucose and god knows how much ketones. The normal is 6! The vet called me and I brought her at the ICU for overnight stay on drips and insulin straight away. Her glucose tolerance is lifted to 12-13 to be normal, which means she's been suffering in the past 2 months at least.. If you can't afford doing bloodworks every month, then please get the urinalysis dipsticks from amazon.. They were not more than £15 and they showed glucose 14, which was alarming and made me have her checked again.. If you suspect something and it's not validated by one vet, look for a second opinion.. Please, please! My dog barely made it alive
@@kristinakomarova7555 yeah I think I will if he continues to pee more irregularly then he used to. The shaking in his back legs has been going on for a while (at least a year) but it has progressed from just when he stood still to pee to when he is always standing still. He has always struggled with his weight always being 3-5lbs overweight if I slack off just for a little bit with his exercise but at the moment we have him at his normal/healthy weight. But we have always tried to feed him the healthiest foods. Well he has gone from 1 to 2 pees a walk so am I overreacting and only for the last 4 days
@@lukewoodworth2101 doesn't sound severe to me, but i would be checking his urine every now and then. If he is a breed at risk I would definitely use the sticks, just for my own peace of mind.. Hope it's nothing serious tho..
@@kristinakomarova7555 yeah it's his struggle with his weight that made me think he could be more susceptible to a health problem like diabetes. We lost his older brother to cancer at only 10.5 years. And his brother really struggled with bad arthritis that just led to other problems. So any little thing wrong with my dogs worries me lol. My vet did offer a blood test that analyzes how his organs etc are doing as he is an older dog so I might just do that for piece of mine
How about preventing the diabetes to start with by not giving your dog or cat sugary carb rich food ? And please explain how there is a genetic disposition of some cats and dogs to get diabetes ?
