Decker made his journey to the bridge Jan 26, 2013

[momofdecker]

Re: Decker

Thank you all for understanding my excitement and sharing in it with me! Been feeling a bit like a little kid on Christmas morning. And poor Decker - getting bg readings from him has a bit like unwraping those coveted gifts. Only the gifts come multiple times a day, several days in a row. Giving him a break today and only testing morning/evening fastings. Hoping to get a curve in tomorrow but totally forgot it was parade day. Going to the parade means missing the 10:15a and probably 12:15p testing times - will wait till tomorrow to make a decision on that one.

Eileen - thanks for the info. on the levemir. I know the prescription was written for a 10ml vial. Most clinical readings I've reviewed say it lasts about 42 days. Personal experiences I've read claim that it can last up to 90 days. If the 90 days holds true we'll probably stick with the 10ml vial - the cost would be very comperable to the NPH at that point in time. If the potency starts to change after 42 days I'll have to look into the pen as the upfront cost is more than five times the cost of the NPH (from wal-mart).

[eileen]

Re: Decker

Holi, you might want to check this out, every little bit helps.

http://medicationdiscountcard.com/drug/levemir/

[Shellie]

Re: Decker

Wooohooo! Decker's a GOOD boy! Happy, happy bgs, Holli! Will cross my fingers and toes and anything else I can and still type for you! Yay!!!

Did notice one thing however...your HUMAN child is at the end of your kid list in your signature...teehee! LOL

[momofdecker]

Re: Decker

Back from our travels. Overall everyone did pretty well but as always there were a few learning moments.

My folks have a steep 18 step staircase. When we went to sleep upstairs we didn't think Decker would be resourceful enough to find his way to the stairs yet alone up them. Totally underestimated him. Woke up around 1a to him whimpering for help. He was four steps from the top and scared. Helped him up and into our room and decided to wait till morning to figure out how to get him down. Took a lot of encouragement but he made it down - it was not pretty. Then that sneaky boy returned up the stairs on two more occasions (he was following me). Getting him down those stairs three times took quite a bit out of his back legs (which were not great to begin with). Been giving him one asprin with each meal but he is struggling to push himself up and walk around. No question, he is my snugglie boy! Looks like next time we'll bring the air mattress and sleep downstairs in hopes of keeping him from climbing those stairs. Perhaps we'll bring the gate too - just to make sure.

Decker's fasting numbers started creeping up a bit over the past few days - back into the 400's - 500's - but for once I didn't panic. Insulin has been pretty predictable so Saturday afternoon I started checking for unsuspected infections (you all have taught me well).

Checked his urine and no sign of UTI (no other symptoms either). Looked at eyes, ears. Nothing obvious. Then tried rolling him over but was met with some resistance. Looks like the sebaceous cyst that he had awhile back (that had that nasty black stuff come out of it) may have returned and is infected again. Not nearly to the extent it was last time - thank goodness! Been washing with soap and water and covering with neosporin (he can't reach the area to lick it). He is really uncomfortable with us touching the area. Going to assume he may need a round of antibiotics to clear it up and will be calling the vet tomorrow to see if we can get him in. Was not able to get a curve in this weekend but did increase the insulin to 8u given the raise in his bg.

Had bought a harness that straps into the seat belt for both dogs. Kinser has a big boxer chest but little chicken legs and we have yet to find a harness that fits him well. They fit okay when he is upright but when he bends to sniff or lay down they slip all over the place. Given the location of Decker's cyst we were not able to use a harness on him either. So the dog bed went in the hatch to keep them from sliding around. Decker sat up most of the way there and even managed to drool on Rebecca's head a few times. Both boys slept most of the way home. Tested Decker around 2:30p after we got home and he was 363. Looks like the 8u is helping combat the raise in bg due to suspected infection.

[Patty]

Re: Decker

Glad overall your travels went well Holli. Sorry to hear Decker's cyst/infection may be back. Bet Rebecca's was oh so happy with Deckers drool .

[Judi]

Re: Decker

glad you found the cyst before it gets worse Holli. he loves you sooo much. what a guy.

sympathy to Rebecca! glad you all survived the trip and hope you had fun!

[Shellie]

Re: Decker

Aw...sorry the cyst is back but at least you found it! No mystery! And I'm sure Rebecca is probably used to be drooled on by now. Still! LOL

[Rubytuesday]

Re: Decker

I have always had great success with the homeopathic remedy Arnica for lameness in myself and in my non diabetic dogs. It does come in a sugar pill but they are tiny. Let me know if you want more info.

Yeah, we are dealing with some sort of infection over here too. UA came out negative. trying to do some research to figure out how not to throw money away at the vets for another negative UA. How did you check deckers urine, was it at the vets or is there soething I can be testing at home that I don't know about?

When I worked for the vets they always had people hot pack infected things to help draw stuff out. To do this you could run water till real hot, then dip a rag in and wring out, apply to the syst for 10 minutes 2 x daily.

[jesse girl]

Re: Decker

I have always had great success with the homeopathic remedy Arnica for lameness in myself and in my non diabetic dogs. It does come in a sugar pill but they are tiny. Let me know if you want more info.

Yeah, we are dealing with some sort of infection over here too. UA came out negative. trying to do some research to figure out how not to throw money away at the vets for another negative UA. How did you check deckers urine, was it at the vets or is there soething I can be testing at home that I don't know about?

When I worked for the vets they always had people hot pack infected things to help draw stuff out. To do this you could run water till real hot, then dip a rag in and wring out, apply to the syst for 10 minutes 2 x daily.

when i was young my dad would take a glass soda bottle fill it with very hot water probably boiling dump the water out and place it over our infections the bottle as it cooled acted like a vacuum and sucked out the infection ir was kind of weird we as kids would get these skin infections from time to time never seen this with my kids but we were outside playing in the mud allot when i was young not much of that anymore .

hope decker gets better soon

[Rubytuesday]

Re: Decker

when i was young my dad would take a glass soda bottle fill it with very hot water probably boiling dump the water out and place it over our infections the bottle as it cooled acted like a vacuum and sucked out the infection

Oh, that sounds like something my 7 yr. old would think was way cool. we'll try it the next time he chews his nails down and gets infected.

[momofdecker]

Re: Decker

Decker is back on antibiotics, Cephalexin 500mg - two capsles twice a day, for ten days. The vet doesn't really know what the infection is. Same spot as before. Maybe a cyst. Possibly an infected nipple. Took three of us to roll him over and hold him so she could evaluate. He was whimpering and shaking as she poked and prodded around the area so he clearly has some discomfort going on. Hoping the antibiotics will help and the bg will start to lower again! Just don't know what causes it or how to prevent it. Will have to add that to our list of things to look over a bit more frequently.

Thought he'd lost some weight but he weighed in at 97.5 pounds so he does seem to be holding steady after all. Guessing we may have never tightened his collar after he was shaved - would explain why it was feeling so loose.

Vet said we could consider cosequin for his back legs. She thinks he may have some arthritis in there. Not sure they really know because we asked about his back legs every time we go and they never really say anything. Decker is one of those dogs who can flip up in an instant when the mood strikes - so it is difficult for the vet to witness his true challenges with the back legs.

My father, who has not seen Decker in a few weeks, walked him while we were home. He seemed to think Decker was in pain. He doesn't whimper or cry. He is having a hard time getting up right now. And there is a noticable difference in how he does on familiar turf vs. unknown turf. He does look a bit like a drunk dog when he walks. Honestly, I thought some of that may be due to the lack of vision. Not sure what to think at this point. Thinking he may need a few days of rest and then we can re-evaluate.

Right eye is back to normal. Vet said we can continue to use the ointment if it appears dry or red.

Other than that... we were in and out pretty quickly.

[Rubytuesday]

Re: Decker

Just don't know what causes it or how to prevent it. Will have to add that to our list of things to look over a bit more frequently.

He does look a bit like a drunk dog when he walks. Honestly, I thought some of that may be due to the lack of vision. Not sure what to think at this point. Thinking he may need a few days of rest and then we can re-evaluate.

I wonder if you could use a diluted tea tree oil mixture to cleanse the cyst when it isn't having a flare up and if that might keep it at bay. Never used it, but have read of such.

Any thought to using b12 incase the hind end weakness is diabetic neuropathy. If interested I posted some stuff to harley's thread when he was not able to walk that you may find interesting.

We are still trying to figure things out over here, but at least we are out of the 500s.

[momofdecker]

Re: Decker

Thanks Tara. Will have to check out the B12 information. Decker slipped on the hardwoods in our bedroom this morning and ended up flat out on his belly. Could not get himself up. Thankfully John was still home - I'd been trying to pull him up to a standing position but was unsuccessful in doing so. Good news is that most of the house is carpeted so in most rooms he can use that for traction.

Morning fasting was 386. Morning fastings have been running in the 400 range since Saturday so looks like the antibiotics are helping.

[Rubytuesday]

Re: Decker

I hope the antibiotics prove to be the answer. I may be trying some immunity support things with Ruby if I can figure out if they affect the BGs, or be home to monitor when starting them. It seems if it isn't SIBO, aspiration pneumonia, or UTI there is always something I am throwing an antibiotic at. I am sure with all she has been through her system could use some bolstering.

I switched Ruby from amoxicillin to clavomox last night and can't wait to test to see if it has made any difference in her fasting.

[jgr789]

Re: Decker

How's Decker doing these days?