Hello All - New here and have a few questions?

[IlovemyRex]

My Min Pin , Rex, was diagnosed with Diabetes a few months ago. We've been doing Humilin N at 7 units every 12 hours. Since his diagnosis, his eyes have gotten all cloudy and it's pretty sad because he is only 4 years old. I do not have a glucose meter at home.

This leads to my first question, I have no clue what to get, where to prick, and how often to do it. My vet charges 25.00 to test and it gets pretty expensive not to mention the way it upsets Rex.

I'm really wanting to get a meter because I am wanting to change his diet from Hill WD dog food to a homemade food because I have 2 Min Pins (only one has diabetes) and honestly, it's just hard buying 2 different dog foods (not to mention I have a cat who requires Hills SD cat food for urinary problems).

Second question, I've been researching and researching recipes for cooking for your baby at home and I hope this one might be ok. I was hoping someone could let me know an opinion. Basically, it's a 15 dried bean soup (cooked and drained) blended with carrots and ground sirloin. Then baked and cut into serving portions of about a 4 in square. I was hoping to supplement one meal a day for the homemade food just to give my babies a variety.

Third question, can anyone give me some menu ideas for them? Maybe some snack options?

[k9diabetes]

Re: Hello All - New here and have a few questions?

On the meter, I think the OneTouch Ultra is the most consistently accurate for dogs. There is a fair amount of variation dog to dog and meter to meter but OneTouch has a very good track record.

I've seen some very good results with the Bayer Contour also.

In general, it seems like the higher end full size model of these meters works best so don't go for a "mini" or "lite" version. The cost of the meter is minimal as it should function well for years so it's worth investing in a good one.

The real cost is the strips. I used to order mine from www.hocks.com. You can cheaper on Ebay - just have to be careful that you're buying legitimate strips that aren't expired. Hocks was quite a bit cheaper than the local pharmacies and was quick to buy from so that's who I always used. I got my syringes from them as well.

You can see video and picture tutorials of where to test and how to get the blood sample at www.k9diabetes.com/bgtestvideos.html - places to test include the lip, a carpal pad, the back just in front of the tail, warts or callouses, and ears (ears often are difficult to get blood from so usually not the first place to try). Any area with thick skin, like the back, will probably require you to lance by hand instead of using a clicker.

The best clicker for us was the Softclix by Accuchek. Very quiet and gentle. I got a couple that came with various meters and didn't care for them. The Accucheck Softclox lancets are also nice and thick so reliably draw blood if you're going to lance by hand.

Natalie

[jim maceri]

Re: Hello All - New here and have a few questions?

Since I am very new here I will let others comment on the diet. As far as the meter goes I have 3 right now

1. First one I bought was the ultra2 from Amazon.com
2. My pharmacist gave me a Bayer Contour for free.
3. My vet uses the Alpha Trak (for dogs and cats) so I bought that also.

We did a control study with the ultra and the vets alpha track while he stayed there for 3 days and the numbers where different. At time this difference was almost 80 points or more but most of the time it was about a 10-15 point swing with the ultra being higher.

I was such a mess with this being new that I just decided to only use the Alpha Trak. The strips are the largest expense since they average about $1 per strip with the Alpha. Sometimes I can find strips on Amazon or Ebay for less but just check the expiration date on them.

[pgcor]

Re: Hello All - New here and have a few questions?

Another Min Pin! Welcome! My Pip is red stag min pin and has lots of digestive problems in addition to diabetes.

What works well for us is ground white meat chicken (no skin). I boil it and then grind it. I add ground grean beans and zucchini and 100% pumpkin (not the pie filling). You have to be diligent in looking for items on sale, as costs can go up! I usually buy in huge quantities and then freeze it when I find a sale.

How much does Rex weigh? I have big min pin at 25 lbs., and he's not a bit overweight.

My Pip is very hyper so he eats a rather large volume of food, which I had to figure out over the long term.

One last thought - you don't want to vary meals with a diabetic since the food and insulin MUST work together. You will be constantly checking his blood and adjusting his insulin and that's not keeping Rex regulated.

[CarolW]

Re: Hello All - New here and have a few questions?

A first-time for me, after more than three years on the forum - I have a slight disagreement with Natalie, on the meters!

I've seen various reports that the Bayer Contour isn't nearly as accurate as the Onetouch Ultra (2) meter.

The OneTouch Ultra is no longer manufactured; the OneTouch Ultra2 is its successor. For a human glucometer (as opposed to the more expensive AlphaTrak), I'd strongly recommend the OneTouch Ultra2 meter.

Here's Natalie's graph comparing the readings from the AlphaTrak and the OneTouch Ultra meter (efectively, remember, the OneTouch Ultra can be considered "the same as" the OneTouch Ultra2).

http://www.k9diabetes.com/forum/show...&postcount=103

I used the OneTouch Ultra2 (before that a Freestyle) meter - but mostly the Ultra2, throughout Kumbi's life as a diabetic. Kumbi died in June, 2010, but NOT of diabetes - of cancer.

My vets also used the OneTouch Ultra and OneTouch Ultra2 meters. When Kumbi died, I had about four of these meters, because in Canada, we can get them free by buying 100 test strips all at once, and after I had such good results with the OneTouch meters, I always asked for an Ultra2.

Here's a series of pages describing use of the (inner lining of the mouth) "Lip" to test BG (blood glucose) levels. There's a lot of detail there; some of it available here on the forum, too. The pictures should be helpful, especially if you use the "Lip." Some of the material in those pages would apply to any prick location you choose.

http://www.coherentdog.org/vek/bgtest.php

We can help you through learning to test - just yell when you have questions!

A principle to keep in mind is - BOTH you and the dog have to learn about testing.

It really helps if you practice collecting your gear for testing. finding a place where your dog is comfortable, and putting your dog there, having some very tasty treats handy, to use partly before, partly after, the test (stuff like tiny bits of boiled chicken breast would do nicely - doesn't raise the BGs too much) - and "walking through" the procedure, without actually pricking!

That way, the dog gets accustomed to the routine. You could do that several days - or even a couple of weeks - before actually pricking.

I REALLY like the Lip as a prick site, because it doesn't cause pain to the dog. That's because there are so few nerve-endings in that location. My vets put me onto this!

I should look up LadyBug's thread - or you should - as an example of how it can take some time to learn - and - eventually, SUCCESS! Linda (LadyBug) devised a most wonderful way to hold the dog's lip up, folding it against the upper jaw, so as not to lose that drop of blood.

The Lip also tends to bleed easily, especially if you use thicker lancets. Most here have found they need 25-gauge or 26-gauge lancets. As Kumbi grew older, I found 21-gauge lancets were PERFECT! Kumbi wasn't bleeding so easily then. The 21-gauge lancets made a bigger hole. I only had to prick ONCE - and would get a great drop of blood to test - we were through with a test in a very short time, and Kumbi appreciated that so much! So did I!

I should add that there are people (rare, though) who find thinner lancets work better; possibly because of a lot of scar tissue. But Kumbi didn't develop a lot over the 3.5 years I was testing him. The punctures heal quite fast; I'd alternate sides of the mouth when I'd test a lot.

Watching, and cheering you on!
Mon, 7 Nov 2011 06:46:21 (PST)

[CarolW]

Re: Hello All - New here and have a few questions?

I found Linda and Ladybug's thread - it's here:

http://www.k9diabetes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2328

Wishing you a ton of luck with the testing! Not to mention, with Rex in general!

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 06:54:32 (PST)

[Patty]

Re: Hello All - New here and have a few questions?

Just wanted to say welcome to you and Rex!
Glad you have you here.
Patty

[Shellie]

Re: Hello All - New here and have a few questions?

Welcome to you and your minpin! We've a few of those around here it seems! Sweet little guys but busy! lol

You'll find a lot of great info all over the site and Carol's links will take you right to where you need to go. I use the OneTouchUltra2 as well and really like it. It seems pretty accurate...the ranges that I've done with my vet have come in about 30 points diff at higher ranges. It's a breeze to operate...gives you lots of time to get your blood before shutting off too which can be a help.

I use a 28 g for my blood drawns and it seems to work well. A lot of this is trial and error...and thankfully, our dogs put up with us! lol But those dry runs will help a lot! I've noticed that a lot of the newer folks have been doing that and it helps SO much when they finally do stick. The process is then known to the dog and not so scary.

Good luck and don't hesitate to yell! You've come to a great place!

[MaryLea]

Re: Hello All - New here and have a few questions?

Just want to stop by and add my welcome to you. Ruffles was not a minpin, but as Shellie said, we have a few of them here. Those owners can help you with specific issues beyond what the rest of us can. But diabetic dogs have alot in common, no matter the breed.

Good to have you here!

Mary

[eileen]

Re: Hello All - New here and have a few questions?

A first-time for me, after more than three years on the forum - I have a slight disagreement with Natalie, on the meters!

I've seen various reports that the Bayer Contour isn't nearly as accurate as the Onetouch Ultra (2) meter.

And from personal experience I must agree with you Carol. For some time years ago I attempted to use the Bayer Contour but with huge inconsistencies.

A close friend with 2 diabetic mini pins also used the Contour and with very bad luck as well.

[CarolW]

Re: Hello All - New here and have a few questions?

Eileen - I'm quite sure it was your reports - and some others - that I was remembering.
Tue, 8 Nov 2011 17:36:20 (PST)

[jim maceri]

Re: Hello All - New here and have a few questions?

Welcome!!

I won't be giving any "advice" because I am also very new but just wanted to lend my support and send a welcome. This is a wonderful place where the folks will hold your hand and make you ALOT less stressed. Lots of knowledge also and they are so willing to share it.