My Jack was on Vetsulin for about a year or more, but was never really regulated. His glucose was always high for his curves. About 2 weeks ago, his vet switched him to Levemir. I just about had a heart attack when I called some different pharmacies for the price. Costco was the cheapest, but then they called me back and said they couldn't get it from their supplier...so I ended up getting it at WalMart - cost was about $265 as I recall. Then there was the question of whether I wanted the long needle or the short needle - I ended up getting a box of both because the vet didn't say anything about that either way so I had no idea which to get. I'm using the short needle. Apparently, as long as your dog's skin is fairly easy to get to and thin you can use the short needle. About 6 months ago he was also diagnosed with Cushings and is on Veterol 10 Mg, twice a day; plus he's been on Thyroxine for his thyroid for a few years now. Jack is going to be 12 on December 9th and for a Japanese Chin, that's considered a long life! My female chin, Katie passed away at 14 this year so I guess it all depends! Katie had a heart murmur for years - was as bad as it could get on the scale for the last year of her life. Finally decided it was time to take her in and her vet said that we (well...not we...I couldn't - my husband had to take her) brought her in at just the right time. That her heart was twice its normal size and could have burst at any moment which would have been horribly painful and traumatic....so it was best. Sad nonetheless. I'll check back as Jack is on Levemir for awhile...after the first 2 days, he pee'd all over the house that night and was not well...his does was too low! They started him on 1 unit twice a day....clearly not enough....another curve...then moved him to 2 units twice day - he has another curve scheduled for tomorrow so we'll see - but he seems to be doing pretty well on the 2 units twice a day. We'll see what the numbers say.
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Jack the Chin
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Re: Jack the Chin
Welcome to the forum!
Yikes, $265 is a lot of money for insulin. I have no idea what the cost of Levemir is, but I guess we do what we have to.
How much does Jack weigh? What is he eating? Anything more you can share about Jack?
CraigAnnie was an 18 pound Lhasa Apso that crossed the rainbow bridge on 10-5-17. She was nearly 17 years old and diabetic for 9½ years.
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Re: Jack the Chin
Hi Craig - thanks for the welcome! Its somehow comforting to know you guys are out there and great to have the support!! Jack is about 19 pounds - he's been as high as 25 pounds - he's a Japanese Chin, but we call him the "Shrek" of Japanese Chins because he has always been "hefty" -- our Chin, Katie was 11 pounds soaking wet her entire life until the end when she got down to 9 pounds.
We "rescued" Jack from a Pet Store...I know that sounds crazy, but it is true. We're Chin people and someone told us there was a Chin at the Pet Store that was like 6 months old! We knew they wouldn't keep him much longer and would euthanize him if nobody bought him at their "sale" price of $800. He was not a good specimen of a Chin - he was too big...his hair and tail hadn't come in yet which is normal for a Chin, but people who don't know Chins don't know that - in other words...he wasn't very desirable. We felt so sorry for him living in that cage coming from a puppy mill (we were sure) his whole life. We offered them a REALLY LOW price...they of course didn't take it...we called back a couple weeks later and asked if he was still there and offered them an even lower price - needless to say, they took it. We took him outside on the grass and the wind blew and he had no idea what that was...he'd lived inside in a cage his entire life. So sad. So he had a bad start...but he's been so loved since despite his health issues. You asked what he eats - he's horribly picky and horribly spoiled. I normally cook him chicken or beef and asparagus...that's his favorite. Today he has chicken thighs and cabbage in the crockpot.
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Re: Jack the Chin
Welcome to Jack...I think I want his dinners!
Gosh, I can't believe the cost of Levemir, hopefully that does the trick in regulating him.
LauraLaura & Charlie 29 lb male lhasapoo diagnosed October 2013. 16ish units of Novolin N. 1 & 1/3 cup of Natural Balance Fat Dog twice a day. An egg with breakfast and chicken with dinner. Shares string cheese with us late afternoon. Cyclosporine ointment for KCS. Blind from cataracts January 2014. Crossed the rainbow bridge 2/1/2016 at 14.5 years
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Re: Jack the Chin
Hi and welcome to you and Jack. Man that is pricey, hope you find it lower somewhere.Cosmo 9 y/o Yorkie 20 LBS, DX 9/16/14 Novolin N 3 u BID. DX w Cushings 2 yrs ago, hepatomegaly, pancreatitis, peritonitis, gall bladder disease, heart block, BPH, bil fluxating patellas.
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Re: Jack the Chin
hi and welcome the problem with levemir is it is 4 times as potent as vetsulin so if you raise the dose one unit its like raising the dose for vetsulin 4 units
so going from 1 to 2 units would be going from 4 to 8 units a very large increase for a medium size dog most would not go more than a unit but with levemir that would be a quarter of a unit . small but doable
your maybe ok with the 2 units but the next increase i would not go full units and might discuss that with your vet . you would think all vets understand this but maybe not
what i am saying dont take anything for granted the understanding of this disease in dogs can be all over the place
i am not sure if you test blood sugar at home that would be quite helpful keeping your baby safe lots of info on that and the forum can assistJesse-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: Jack the Chin
Hello and welcome to you & Jack. Just a few questions:
- What have Jack's curve numbers looked like?
- Have you ever tried NPH insulins, ... Humulin or Novolin N???
Otis Farrell dx'd 12/10, best friend to his dad, Bill, for over 14 years. Left this world while in his dad’s loving arms 10/04/13. Sonny Farrell dx'd 1/14, adopted 5/15/14. Left this world while in his dad's loving arms 9/06/16. Run pain free, you Pug guys, til we're together again.
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Re: Jack the Chin
Hello,
I'm not on to much, but saw your use of levemir. I use levemir for Sissy. I buy the pens at Walmart, $70.00. I have found I can use them for about 50-56 days. It is much cheaper this way, especially if you have a small dog, because you aren't waisting so much.
You do have to watch dosing, but Sissy is doing well on 1.5 to 1.75 units. Her amount depends on her numbers. It is hard to gauge a 1/4 unit,lol, but with a magnifying lamp, I have gotten really good at it. Sissy has done much better on levemir than NPH.. I always raise her by 1/4 unit, that is the same as 1 unit NPH. Hope this helpsLast edited by stylynjm; 11-13-2014, 04:12 PM.Sissy 13 yr old Bichon, born 4/17/03, 12 lbs. Diagnoised 7/20/12. Passed away 12/29/16 in my arms. My life will never be the same again. She will always be with me. Run free my babygirl 3 ozs I/D 4 x's day. 1.75 units levemir 2 times a day. .1 mg thyroid pill, tramadol for leg pain, morning & night,Use Alphatrak 2 and Relion Confirm meters.
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