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Gus, the mini-schnauzer an Angel March 7, 2018

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  • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

    so i am a bit confused is it an infection or pancreatitis or both ? treatment can be quite different for each

    before i understood what a fast or short acting insulin can do i did the same and gave nph as a correction which when i switched to r then novolog it was like the sun parted from the clouds . intermediate insulin in my opinion cant be used as a correction to higher sugar and could lead to some extreme overlap at a point in time you cant be sure of . could be the middle of the night
    Jesse-26 lbs - 16.5 years old ,11 years diabetic, one meal a day homemade and a vitabone snack . 3 shots of Novolin( under the Relion name ) a day . Total insulin for a 24 hour period is 6.5 units of NPH insulin .
    Jesse earned her wings on 6/21/2021

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    • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

      She really only indicated a bacterial infection. What exactly? Don't really know. He's anemic as well.
      Gus - **Angel as of March 7, 2018"
      10.5 yr mini-schnauzer, diagnosed Sept. 2015, currently 17.5 units Novolin N 2x day; diet W/D, tblsp pumpkin, Advocate PetTester tester/strips & Alpha-Trak2 for alternative (when I question weird BG readings); blind as of March 1, 2016

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      • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

        What were the enzyme levels of liver, pancreas, and other organs? And was white blood cell count higher, which means it's trying to fight an infection.
        Riley, 8 yr. old maltipoo, 25 lbs., diagnosed Feb 2017, taking thyroid meds, had pancreatitis and DKA mid March, eating Wellness Senior formula can food. NPH dosage now at 9.0 units Humulin N. Adding either pumpkin, spinach, blueberries, yams, or green beans to his food. Also omega-3 oil.

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        • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

          Originally posted by Raysaint View Post
          What were the enzyme levels of liver, pancreas, and other organs? And was white blood cell count higher, which means it's trying to fight an infection.
          Here's just a few bits of info of his bloodwork

          RBC, HCT, HGB - low
          WBC - Extremely high
          NEU, LYM, MONO, BASO - low-mid in the high range.......

          BUN, TP,GLOB, ALKP, CHOL, -high,but just a smidgen above normall,
          NA - low,but just smidgen below normal

          Everything else in the blood panel normal too many readings to post.

          Happy to say this morning, he seems to feel so much better. Was eager and ready to eat and follow our normal morning diabetic routine. BG fasting was 173,which is wonderful. So praying,he's now on the right meds and we get this infection under control. We have follow-up appt. with vet on Monday and I will ask more questions. Still going to take it easy with feeding. Got to go to store and get more ground turkey breast to mix with the food.
          Gus - **Angel as of March 7, 2018"
          10.5 yr mini-schnauzer, diagnosed Sept. 2015, currently 17.5 units Novolin N 2x day; diet W/D, tblsp pumpkin, Advocate PetTester tester/strips & Alpha-Trak2 for alternative (when I question weird BG readings); blind as of March 1, 2016

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          • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

            the wbc says it all. Fighting an infection most likely.
            Riley, 8 yr. old maltipoo, 25 lbs., diagnosed Feb 2017, taking thyroid meds, had pancreatitis and DKA mid March, eating Wellness Senior formula can food. NPH dosage now at 9.0 units Humulin N. Adding either pumpkin, spinach, blueberries, yams, or green beans to his food. Also omega-3 oil.

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            • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

              glad gus feels better today . probably still a good idea to watch food intake and keep an eye on insulin. once infection clears that may change your insulin dosing and it can happen quickly

              fingers and paws crossed for continued progress
              Jesse-26 lbs - 16.5 years old ,11 years diabetic, one meal a day homemade and a vitabone snack . 3 shots of Novolin( under the Relion name ) a day . Total insulin for a 24 hour period is 6.5 units of NPH insulin .
              Jesse earned her wings on 6/21/2021

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              • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

                Vet recheck this morning. He's improving. Better hydration, better gum color. Will redo blood work panel next week. Hard part now is to get back on track with his regular food. It's a chore, and I've done all the "tricks".
                Gus - **Angel as of March 7, 2018"
                10.5 yr mini-schnauzer, diagnosed Sept. 2015, currently 17.5 units Novolin N 2x day; diet W/D, tblsp pumpkin, Advocate PetTester tester/strips & Alpha-Trak2 for alternative (when I question weird BG readings); blind as of March 1, 2016

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                • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

                  That's such good news and happy to hear he's doing better.
                  Daisy 12 1/2 y/o 20lb Mini Schnauzer - 115g chicken breast, 45g chana dal, 55g green beans all chopped in a food processor, 20g Hills Perfect Weight, 1 tbs pumpkin, 8 units Novolin N q12h. Other meds-1/4t d-mannose twice daily, 1 Proviable DC daily, 1 multivitamin, 1/4t ground eggshells each meal, 1200mcg methyl B12 daily, 5mg zyrtec daily

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                  • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

                    Today was recheck with the vet for Gus. His bloodwork has improved, and the bacterial infection is going away. Couple liver enzymes still out of whack,but she indicated this is normal considering his infection. Says it may take up to 3 months for his liver & pancreas to heal. I'm just so thrilled that his red & white blood cell counts are so much better. The WBC was normal and RBC was still a little low, but improving. She indicated he has "baby redblood cells forming, meaning bone marrow is doing what it's supposed to do.

                    His sugar is still higher than it should be, but we are just now getting back to his regular food, and closer to our normal proportions of dry/wet ratio. Hopefully, in a few days that will improve.

                    I will still be keeping a close eye on him.
                    Gus - **Angel as of March 7, 2018"
                    10.5 yr mini-schnauzer, diagnosed Sept. 2015, currently 17.5 units Novolin N 2x day; diet W/D, tblsp pumpkin, Advocate PetTester tester/strips & Alpha-Trak2 for alternative (when I question weird BG readings); blind as of March 1, 2016

                    Comment


                    • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

                      thats good news for gus . hope to see further progress . yep it takes sometime to heal
                      Jesse-26 lbs - 16.5 years old ,11 years diabetic, one meal a day homemade and a vitabone snack . 3 shots of Novolin( under the Relion name ) a day . Total insulin for a 24 hour period is 6.5 units of NPH insulin .
                      Jesse earned her wings on 6/21/2021

                      Comment


                      • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

                        So glad to hear Gus is on the mend. I'm sure you'll get his bs under control now that the infection is going away and labs are looking better.
                        Daisy 12 1/2 y/o 20lb Mini Schnauzer - 115g chicken breast, 45g chana dal, 55g green beans all chopped in a food processor, 20g Hills Perfect Weight, 1 tbs pumpkin, 8 units Novolin N q12h. Other meds-1/4t d-mannose twice daily, 1 Proviable DC daily, 1 multivitamin, 1/4t ground eggshells each meal, 1200mcg methyl B12 daily, 5mg zyrtec daily

                        Comment


                        • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

                          Yay, Gus! Hope the good news continues!
                          Maggie - 15 1/2 y/o JRT diagnosed 9/2007, Angel status on 6/20/16. Her mantra was never give up but her body couldn't keep up with her spirit. Someday, baby.......

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                          • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

                            It's been a few weeks since I've posted. It's been over 2 months since Gus had pancreatitis, and a severe bacterial infection. Once he started back to his normal food amounts and insulin, it became apparent that I could reduce his dosage a little. He is one that most vets would consider resistant, but just actually requires a lot of insulin. For his weight at the time of approx. 20 lbs, he was on 19 units in order to be regulated. Was on that dose for over a year with good results. Since his sickness, I have him now at 17.5 units of NovolinN 2x/day. He is also one of those dogs with a mountain curve, where his lowest readings are his fasting. I have been getting nervous when he gets between 150/125 when he still has 2 hrs or less until mealtime, knowing that he more than likely will drop further. So, I test him 3/4 way through the day and give him a couple mini-milkbones to move him back up a little bit. That keeps his afternoon/evening fasting numbers above 175 for the most part.

                            I did a curve today (first one in a year/half). Here are his readings. Wondering if I might be able to reduce another .5 unit. Let me say that todays curve is pretty much what we get most days. However, he will throw me a curveball and be above 500 on morning fasting, but always comes back down to the 200's or lower, even as early as midday. I usually lower his dry kibble amount a little when we get above 500 the couple times a month that he does this. We have checkup on the 12th for follow-up bloodwork to see how things are since his sickness. I'm not waiting the full 3 months because it's holiday time and I want to be on top of things if there is anything starting to happen again. So, we're going at 2 months.

                            4:45 AM 179 pre-breakfast
                            8:30 AM 252
                            10:30 AM
                            273
                            12:30 AM
                            207
                            2:30 PM
                            169
                            3:30 PM
                            162
                            4:30 PM 152 pre-dinner

                            Thoughts, anyone? I just get nervous when he starts dropping and I know he will go lower before feeding. Do any of you adjust your insulin amount if their fasting is below 200? I follow another group on FB and it's said on there you should not give full dose if below 200. To me, adjusting frequently is like chasing the tail and confusing the body. Now,if he were below 100 or 120, I might consider reducing. Thoughts on this practice?
                            Gus - **Angel as of March 7, 2018"
                            10.5 yr mini-schnauzer, diagnosed Sept. 2015, currently 17.5 units Novolin N 2x day; diet W/D, tblsp pumpkin, Advocate PetTester tester/strips & Alpha-Trak2 for alternative (when I question weird BG readings); blind as of March 1, 2016

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                            • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

                              so happy to hear Gus is getting better. You take very good care of him. I'm a mommy to a newly diagnosed little girl, Winnie. She's 12. I am having a hard time getting her numbers under 350.
                              Winnie - 25 lb poodle mix - diagnosed 12/1/17 - on 6 units Vetsulin 2x/day - Blue Buffalo Grain Free Chicken dry & wet mixed with 2 tbls. oatmeal - home test with Advocate meter

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                              • Re: Gus, the mini-schnauzer

                                Nice job with getting Gus back to his old self and nice curve. I love mountain curves because you don’t have to worry about him going low during mid day.

                                It wouldn’t hurt to reduce his insulin another .5 units. You can always go back up if his BG gets too high mid day.

                                I’m not a big fan of constantly adjusting insulin based on fasting number below 200. When I did that with Lily, her body would not react well. Consistency is best for her. I also follow that FB group and they are very knowledgeable. I just don’t agree with their insulin adjustment rules because every dog is different.
                                Lily is a 62 lb English Setter, born 07-27-2007.
                                Diabetes: Aug 2013
                                Went peacefully to heaven on 04-24-2021
                                Video in Lily’s memory: https://www.facebook.com/10000201631...3260300417807/

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