Nana the Chihuahua update

[FoggyOaks]

Dog's name, breed: Nana, Chihuahua
Age: 9
Dog's weight: 7.5 pounds
Diet: Science Diet Mature Small Bites mixed with w/d
Insulin: Vetsulin
Number of units per injection and injections per day: 5 units twice daily
Brand of BG meter if home testing: nothing yet

Nana was turned over to the vet clinic that I work for. Previous owner was not good about keeping up with her injections and wanted her euthanized because she was peeing all over her house.

[BestBuddy]

Re: Chihuahua Nana

Hi and welcome.
How long has Nana been diabetic? Have you had any BG curves done to see how it is all going?
Jenny
PS You are a special person to take Nana and her problems so god bless.

[ravenecw]

Re: Chihuahua Nana

I think it's sad when people just don't want to put the effort in to try to make the dog feel better. It is some work and can be frustrating (espeically at first) but it gets easier and the joy the animal gives makes it so worth it.

This forum is great and I spend so much time on here as I'm trying to do bg curves and do the best for my dog right now as well.... .welcome, you are with alot of really good people here.

[FoggyOaks]

New Here.....Robyn & Nana

I'm very glad I came across this forum.

A little about Nana:
Nana is a 9 year old Chihuahua. Her owner turned over ownership to the vet clinic I work for. Owner was having issues with Nana Peeeing in her house. She claimed that her life was to hectic to remember to give Nana her insulin. She brought Nana in to have her euthanized. The clinic took ownership of her the middle of April.

Nana was diagnosed with diabetes in February or March 2009. Vet clinic monitered her and we got her regulated on Vetsulin. She is now on 5 units BID. In December of 2007, Nana got hit by a car. It messed up her right eye. On May 7th we removed the eye and did a dental.

I felt sorry for Nana. I started bringing her home at night. She gets along with the rest of my gang and has realy attached herself to me. In the last 5 days that she has been coming home with me she has not had a single accident in the house. Vet has me slowly spreading out the time between injections. At the clinic she was getting the at 8am and 4:45pm. We are now at 8 am and 6:30pm. Vet said to move her back a little at a time. She goes to work with me so that she isn't left alone doing the day.

I know very little on diabetes. How often due you test at home? Is it better to board her at the clinic when I go out of town or take her with me?

[FoggyOaks]

Re: Chihuahua Nana

I think it's sad when people just don't want to put the effort in to try to make the dog feel better. It is some work and can be frustrating (espeically at first) but it gets easier and the joy the animal gives makes it so worth it.

This forum is great and I spend so much time on here as I'm trying to do bg curves and do the best for my dog right now as well.... .welcome, you are with alot of really good people here.

She is such a sweet dog. Makes me made that her old owner was going to put her to sleep. So far everything is going well. I need to get my other dogs on her feeding schedule. Right now the rest of the pack gets feed around 9pm. Nana looks at me with her big brown eye like way can't I have any??

[FoggyOaks]

Re: Chihuahua Nana

Hi and welcome.
How long has Nana been diabetic? Have you had any BG curves done to see how it is all going?
Jenny
PS You are a special person to take Nana and her problems so god bless.

Nana was diagnosed in February or March. Will have to check her chart in the morning when I get to work. I don't think they did any BG curves, I know they were taking them in the morning and adjusted her insulin from there. I have so many questions to ask the vet tomorrow.

Thank you. I hope that I can get an understanding on things and do right for Nana.

[We Hope]

Re: New Here.....Robyn & Nana

Welcome!

I think it's sort of clear that Nana wouldn't have been peeing in the house if she'd gotten her insulin regularly. Mine went from the point where I re-trained him to potty pads because if not, we would have been living outside, to no more accidents after getting regulated.

He initially had an accident in the house and because he'd had bladder issues years before (large stone removed), I brought him in right away; this was when I learned he had diabetes. You could tell he was ashamed when he didn't make it outside in time--always was--so I re-trained him to use the potty pads where he didn't need to think he'd done wrong.

You ask about how often testing should be done--much of this depends on the person and dog. It also depends on whether you're trying to regulate (more testing) or if the diabetes is under good control (less testing). There's also more testing involved if you're having a bg problem such as food and insulin match or possible rebound issues (more testing to see where things are going wrong so you can fix them), etc. Nana's considered to be regulated now, right?

I'm amazed because she uses more insulin than my Lucky did and he outweighed Nana by 2lb. 4 units of Caninsulin/Vetsulin BID worked like a new pancreas for him. We got no results with either human or beef insulin (immune mediated insulin resistance). The only insulin that worked for him was pork Lente, whether it was the one Lilly used to make or Caninsulin/Vetsulin; he had issues with the suspension and preservatives of the pork NPH and was the first US Vetsulin patient (before US approval).

If you know that Nana's a good traveler and doesn't get stressed out by it, it would be fine for her to go with you. If not, then she'd be best off at the clinic where she surely knows everyone!

Hats off to you and everyone at the clinic for saving Nana's life! Nana's a lucky girl to have all of you there for her!

Kathy

[FoggyOaks]

Re: New Here.....Robyn & Nana

Welcome!

Nana's considered to be regulated now, right?

If you know that Nana's a good traveler and doesn't get stressed out by it, it would be fine for her to go with you. If not, then she'd be best off at the clinic where she surely knows everyone!

Hats off to you and everyone at the clinic for saving Nana's life! Nana's a lucky girl to have all of you there for her!

Kathy

Yes, Nana is considered regulated. Vet want's to do a frutosimine(sp) wed. when we take her eye sutures out.

The 45 min drive to and from work Nana has been great. The first night I took her home she curled up on the passanger seat. Every now and then she would look out the window. I think she travels pretty good. I just worry about stressing her out, or something happen when we are 6 hours away from my vet.

[eyelostit]

Re: Chihuahua Nana

Hi and Welcome Robyn and Nana

I know Nana is so precious to you, all she's been thru and she now has you to take care and love her.

We have lots of information here, any help you need just ask, even if it seems dumb, as we have already asked them

Seeing your post today has made my bad day finally to a happy one.

My Niki has been diabetic for 6+ yrs now. Oh I used to live in OR

Take care,
Dolly

[FoggyOaks]

Re: Chihuahua Nana

Hi and Welcome Robyn and Nana

I know Nana is so precious to you, all she's been thru and she now has you to take care and love her.

We have lots of information here, any help you need just ask, even if it seems dumb, as we have already asked them

Seeing your post today has made my bad day finally to a happy one.

My Niki has been diabetic for 6+ yrs now. Oh I used to live in OR

Take care,
Dolly

Thank you. Glad we could brighten your day.

There is so much to learn.

What part of Oregon did you live in?

[k9diabetes]

Re: Chihuahua Nana

Welcome to you and Nana and bless you for taking her in and giving her a loving home. It's great that she seems to be regulating well.

We took our diabetic dog travelling with us. Packed up his insulin and his food (he got some canned and some cottage cheese) in an ice chest and spent a lot of time on long drives pulling over to the side of the road and drawing up his injections! He was unusual in that he got four injections a day, once every six hours, so we had to stop along the way.

He was also blind from diabetes-induced cataracts and still he liked to travel with us.

He was a very mellow dog so a lot does depend on Nana's temperament.

I'll be she is excited to be feeling so much better now that she has the insulin she needs!!

Natalie

[eyelostit]

Re: Chihuahua Nana

What part of Oregon did you live in?

Right outside of Bend

[forloveofandy]

Re: Chihuahua Nana

It is people like you that make me believe in the human race. Sometimes I find that hard and then I hear a story like this and I know there is still hope.

I have a chihuahua mix, half doxie and half chihuahua. We call him a chiwennie!

He has the looks and personality of a chihuahua so I have learned about the breed and how precious they are.

Hit by a car? This dog has never been cared for until you came along. Thank God for you.

I will be keeping up with this story. Like Dolly, it makes me feel good!

Hugs!

[FoggyOaks]

Re: Chihuahua Nana

The person that gave up Nana called the clinic the other day. Wanted to know if Nana found a home. Then asked what vaccines a 12 week old puppy needs because they got a new puppy....ughh.

Part of the reason Nana was surrended was because they didn't have the finances to take care of her "special" needs.

Haven't gotton into the home testing yet. Vet did a fructosimine and it came back in the excellant range. I can't remember her exact number.

[pgcor]

Re: Chihuahua Nana

Hi Robyn: I was so happy to hear of Nana's excellent fructosamine test. However, I couldn't help from getting riled up about how our pets and some people have become throw-aways.

I only wish there was a way from preventing folks like that from adopting any more animals. Hopefully their new puppy won't need anything from them.

Nana is so much better off with you!!

Pam