Welcome Spanky!

[patay56]

I have been reading this forum all morning and still can't figure out how to post a new message. My male Lhasa Apso, Spanky was diagnosed with Diabetes in December 08 and has been getting injections twice a day. For the first couple of months, I was getting an ulcer from having to give the injections since he tried to bite me each time. Then he seemed to get where he didn't even notice and didn't even growl when I injected him. When my husband tried to do it though, he went back to acting like "Cujo". So I remained the only one giving the shots. For the last month, he has been back to trying to bite me and my husband was successful at giving the injections without mishap. Now, neither one of us can even approach him to pet him without him growling and showing his teeth so giving the injections is back to being very stressfull. He has a very short nose so the muzzle does not stay on his face, not to mention trying to get it on him is very unpleasant. His blood sugar is fairly regulated and besides the fact that he is totally blind, he is doing quite well and is otherwise healthy. Anyone have any suggestions on how to make this easier on all of us?

[pgcor]

Re: Welcome Spanky!

Ugghh, I have a "cujo" myself. In the beginning, all we could do was hold Pip while the other one gave the shot. We were able to muzzle as I have a min pin, but his struggling was out of control. It's been two years and we can give him a shot alone and without a muzzle. I break up two diabetes treats in a bowl and then while he's eating give him his shot.

He still stops eating to look at me until I'm finished, but then goes right back to eating. It's important to stay calm and firm - because these "little devils" MUST have the shot. So they have to get used to it.

Looking back over the past two years, I think the "shot" was harder on me than him!

Welcome to the board and also to Spanky!!

Pam and Pip

[We Hope]

Re: Welcome Spanky!

Welcome to you both!

I've bumped up a member's thread, Princess-Fights Injections, for you as Natalie had a very difficult time with Princess in the beginning:

http://k9diabetes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=532

We have other threads in the Answers section of the board that might help too:

http://k9diabetes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=973

Injection Tips

http://k9diabetes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1002

Shot-time Dilemmas-Your Experiences & Fixes

This one is an "outgrowth" of the "Princess" thread.

http://k9diabetes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=972

Needle Bevel Side Up

http://k9diabetes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1004

Other Ways to Give Injections

There's a device on the market called Inject Ease used for both people and pets:

http://www.palcolabs.com/section_pro...njectease.html

Jenny used it with Buddy for years:

http://k9diabetes.com/forum/showthre...ht=Inject+ease

The device works with only U 100 syringes, though, but if you're using Vetsulin, which is U 40, you can learn how to do a conversion to use it in U 100 syringes.

http://diabetesindogs.wikia.com/wiki/Syringe#Conversion

"Though it's not recommended by veterinarians, some caregivers use a U100 syringe with a U40 insulin. That requires “converting” the U40 concentration to a U100 strength. If you choose to use the U100 syringes for U40 insulin, a fast way to calculate the right amount of units is to multiply the number of U40 units given by 2.5."

http://web.archive.org/web/200806121...sion-Chart.htm

A chart for converting is at the link above. You need to remember when converting that if you make a mistake, the dose of insulin you give will be considerably less than the proper one.

BTW--When you have any more questions, etc. about Spanky, you can post it to this thread here. When you want to start a new topic, look at the upper left portion of the board. There's a button called "New Thread"--this starts a new one.

Hope some of this will help with Spanky!

Kathy

[k9diabetes]

Re: Welcome Spanky!

What size needle is on the syringes you are using and are you rotating through a pretty large area for where you inject?

It could be that an area got sore or sensitive, bringing back the problem behavior. So you could try injecting somewhere else. And consider smaller needles if you're using large ones.

Natalie

[BestBuddy]

Re: Welcome Spanky!

I am sure that when we are stressed our dogs feel it too. I know it is easier said than done but you have to learn (or pretend really well) that the injection is no big deal and just be matter of fact about it.

I do know exactly how you are feeling because I was like that too with Buddy and I am sure so many of us were. I used the inject-ease as Kathy mentioned for the whole 6 1/2 years of Buddy's diabetes. It really gave me the confidence that I was putting the needle in to the right depth and speed for his comfort and even though I learned not to fear the injection I kept using the device because I thought it was so easy. It lasted 4 years and several drops on the floor but when it was not working as well I purchased another.

I have suggested the inject ease a few times when people are having difficulty with injections and don't know if anyone else has tried it but regardless it was a life saver for me and of course Buddy.

Jenny

[CraigM]

Re: Welcome Spanky!

I guess we are very lucky with Annie. She has never given any problems with either the BG testing, nor the injections. In fact, I just say "blood?" in a playing voice and she runs to the kitchen area where we do the testing! After testing and feeding, she comes back and sits at my feet while I finish drawing the Vetsulin and looks as to be saying "HELLO! Hurry up!". Like I said we must be very lucky.

Craig

[eyelostit]

Re: Welcome Spanky!

Hi and Welcome

I had some trouble with Niki awhile back, she didn't like getting her shots in her scruff anymore, now she sits and I give back in her hip area, I don't know if you have tried another area.

Hope this helps, and let us know how you are doing.

Dolly