Scruff the Schnauzer, Rest in Peace 10/31/15

[AndyBees]

Hello everyone! Newbie here but a life time dog owner!

I discovered this forum last evening while searching for information about diabetes in dogs.

Our male miniature Schnauzer, Scruff, was diagnosed with diabetes today..... come as a shock to us. He turned 9 last September.

The "in our face" signs that something was wrong commenced last Friday and over the weekend........... lots of drinking water and urination!

So, at the Vet this morning, his "sugar" reading, after a 15 hour fasting, was 318. We will be going back Friday morning for another test and I'm sure the commencement of a plan of action.

Other than the recent symptoms we cannot remember anything prior. His diet has been dry bag food with occasionally a few selected table scraps such as white chicken meat.

Down through the years, he's been on many 4 to 8 mile Sunday afternoon trail hikes with us in the back country on both private forest land and the Daniel Boone National Forest. Although he's a house dog, we live in a remote rural area which allows him plenty of open space with lots of opportunity for exercise.

So, I suppose he is one of the unlucky Schnauzers to develop the disease.

Well, I guess hopes and wishes is what we need now!

[clydesmum]

Hi Andybees, and welcome. I can remember the shock, mixed with relief at getting a diagnosis, when our 13 year old Yorkie, Clyde was diagnosed in December 2013. I have only recently found this wonderful forum, and have found it an invaluable source of advice. I wish I'd known about it when Clyde was firt diagnosed.

I hope Scruffy is soon stable and resumes his normal doggy lifestyle.

[CraigM]

Welcome! Has Scruff been started on insulin yet? If he has, what dosage, what brand of insulin and what is his weight?

Craig

[amydunn19]

Welcome to you and Scruff - diabetes just develops in certain dogs. Schnauzers are very prone unfortunately but their prediabetes lifestyle - food and exercise - has very little to do with the development. Some dogs have a trauma to their pancreas and many developed it from steroid use and some breeds just are prone to it. I feel it is nothing you did or didn't do. Just luck of the draw.

I will be looking forward to learning more about Scruff.

[Charlie's mom]

Welcome to you and Scruff (love the name!)

You've found a great forum of supportive people. There are lots of videos on how tos and lots of reading !

Laura

[AndyBees]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and setting up a Thread for us. Scruff and I fell asleep watching TV. It has been a long and stressful day for us.

Without trying to quote and answer each question you've posed, I'll give a little more detail about Scruff and myself.

My wife and I acquired Scruff when he was less than 3 years old from our son and daughter-in-law. When the grandbabies began to arrive, they didn't want to keep him any longer. Scruff adapted well as I retired a month after the second grand child was born, March '08. He's been my side-kick to this day, going where ever I go! He likes to ride in my old vintage VW Van...... the middle seat is his

Anyway, no insulin therapy has been started. Scruff has one more Vet appointment to confirm that he in fact has elevated sugar. At that point we will start the therapy. The Vet is familiar with such needs as he has guided a number of his patients to a long life based on what we've learned just in the past few days discussing the issue with friends and relatives.

Since Scruff finished a 15 hour fast this morning, I started him on a modified diet and better feeding habits. He's having a hard time adjusting.... especially not receiving a treat when he comes back from an outside potty break. He knows how to "nose" the door open and always comes back in the house with a hard shake......... sort of to let us know he's back I suppose. I'm thinking maybe some boiled chicken chunks would work for a treat opposed to the usual dry dog bone that he's been use to getting.

Well, I'll not go on boring you with our story.

Once again, thanks so much. I feel certain that the support and information I'll glean from the various Threads in this forum is going to be most helpful.

[Mychilibear]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Thank you all for being such great loving doggy owners. This is the hardest part of owning a dog...is saying goodbye. I know that feeling all too well. My prayers go out to you.

[AndyBees]

This is a picture of Scruff taken back in July of this year (2015). We miss him so bad. The house seems empty without him. We are looking for a puppy as the grandkids want us to get one.

Here in this pic, we were finishing up an afternoon of trail hiking at Blue Heron (old mining camp) located in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

Grandson, Eli in background..

EDIT: We had his diabetes under control. He was doing extremely well... We did a 5 mile hike in early October. He was in the lead as we finished the loop. Loads of energy. So, be positive about your pup's diabetes. Stick to a schedule and don't vary over 30 minutes. And, of course, your doggy needs lots of exercise.

[amydunn19]

What a sweet face - Scruff was one of a kind! Keep us posted on the puppy search as we love to hear good news. I am sure Scruff will push you in the right direction with your decision - they watch over us even when they leave this earth. I know he wouldn't want you to be lonely.

[AndyBees]

Here is Toby.... (new name, unless the grand children have something different). He is a black schnauzer, whereas, Scruff was a "salt & pepper."

We picked him up in Boaz, Alabama today. It was a long 500 mile round trip.

He is 12 weeks old and seems happy in his new home!

We hope to introduce him to the trails by late winter or early spring.

We packed all of Scuff's "stuff" in a big plastic box. We plan to do a photo album and written story in his honor (ring binder type). The grand kids loved him (and so did we, no doubt). We have numerous friends on Face Book that looked forward to seeing our pictures of trail hiking with Scruff. They all were sorry to hear of his demise. So, there are lots and lots of pictures to choose from.

So, now let the healing begin!