Newbie needing help

[MomtoMax]

So Max did the unthinkable yesterday morning for a Corgi – he didn’t finish his breakfast… He ate about half of it, then walked away. The night before, at bed time, he threw-up a small amount of his dinner as well. I gave him half his dose of insulin after breakfast. Before insulin his BG was 471. At the six hour mark after, it was 92 and I feed him some cookies, which he happily ate. I’m not sure what to make of this? He had no problem with his cheerios that his dad dishes out for him every morning. Nor did he refuse his cookie after his insulin injection and BG testing. He just didn’t lick the bowl clean as he normally does. This is a dog who normally finishes his bowl, then checks to see if his brother might have dropped a kibble or two. He hasn’t vomited since Monday night either. While this doesn’t concern me weight wise as he’s a bit pleasantly plump, it worries me that if this continues, things could go south pretty quickly. Last night he ate his dinner, but this morning was the same… A rinse and repeat if you will. He ate about half and I gave him a .5 units less than I did yesterday morning.
I tested his urine and there was only trace ketones, which is normal for him. I’m extremely worried about him. Is this the beginning of the end for Max?

Donna and Max the Corgi

[jesse girl]

As dogs age they may loose appetite . My Jesse was on one meal a day for her 11 year diabetic life so I mostly did not run into not eating her one meal . Even with dementia she wanted to eat . She just needed help

You might think the upset belly may show an underlining condition and just doesn't want to finish because of some discomfort . It can be lots of things . As we know pancreatitis seems to be a consequence of diabeties .

As long as your pup is not showing any other signs it maybe good to take a watch and see program . As I suggested things change as dogs get older . If this becomes a permanent change it's no big deal . Plenty of dogs have altered meal plans and dose adjustments for reduced amounts of food .

[MomtoMax]

Thank you for your response. I don’t think this is pancreatitis as I’m familiar with the symptoms and he doesn’t have any. He’s only vomited once and it was a small amount. He’s not posturing or looking uncomfortable at all, but perhaps it presents differently in a diabetic dog? Also, he’s not refusing food, just not too interested in his breakfast. Yesterday’s low was 119, so I think I’ve got the insulin dose worked out. I suppose it could just be old age, but he lives for food! We have a vet appointment on Saturday, so I’ll discuss it with them.

He ate his breakfast this morning, so that’s good. My routine has been to prepare his injection while he’s eating, but I’ve had to rethink that as I’ve been sending too much down the drain… It’s bad enough to throw expensive food out…

Donna and Max the Corgi

[jesse girl]

Routines with dogs are usually very dependable but can change and there maybe no definable reason . It sounds like you figured the adjustments need when the unexpected presents itself . Well done . You are an expert of your dogs diabeties . Being flexible can be helpful . So many will stick a round peg in a square hole and expect it to work .

[MomtoMax]

As I have had German Shepherds all of my life and Corgis most of my life. I had a friend quite adequately describe the differences as she does trials with both.
Scenario: You are at a trial and you ask your dog to retrieve the dumbbell.
GSD – Ok, I will retrieve it. Stay right here and don’t talk to strangers while I’m gone! Then promptly retrieves it and returns it to you.
PWC – If you wanted it, why did you throw it away? Are you blind? Can’t you see my legs are too short to do that hurdle? Wait, is that freeze dried liver in your hand? Be right back! On the return, he notices the person next to you has two pieces of freeze dried liver and promptly returns it to her, disqualifying you.
They are the most food-driven breed there is! LOL
Donna

[MomtoMax]

First, for Max content, he’s doing really well! And yes, I just knocked loudly on my wood table. LOL His diabetes remains quite stable, bloodwork has been excellent and we’re doing another 6 month panel next month, but not expecting anything out of the norm…
Now, for my OT question about his younger, but bigger brother, my GSD, Ace Lobo. He was just diagnosed with Pancreatitis this week and I’m really scratching my head about why/how, although I suspected it and have for a while… He doesn’t get into trash, we don’t feed him fatty foods (he gets a very tiny cookie once, maybe twice a day). He is a rescue that we got in early 2019, just before the pandemic shut down the NY border (we actually picked him up the day before they did). He was quite thin at 66 pounds, but he’s now up to 85 pounds, which is about right for him. Shortly after we got him, we ended up at the ER vet thinking he was bloating. The doc said he was not, but he had an obstruction that was moving?? They kept him there (and us) for like 14 hours and sent us home. This has happened 3 other times over a few years and we did a rinse and repeat with the same diagnosis. We’ve purchased a couple of slow feeders as he does eat too fast, the latter being an absolute maze! On the last ER visit, I asked the vet about Pancreatitis, but she poo-poo’d me saying an obstruction and Pancreatitis had the same symptoms, but we were definitely were dealing with an obstruction.
Fast forward to last weekend. He started again with the same symptoms, but only vomited once, so we just decided to withhold food and he was better the next day. Once again, we fed him rice and chicken for a few days, but this time we made an appointment with Holistic vet and asked her to run a cPLI on him and guess what, I was correct as his score was 617 and his Lipase on the CBC 416.
Does anyone think all these episodes have really been Acute Pancreatitis? What damage has this done to his poor body?? He’s had several episodes over the years! We’ve been transitioning him from rice and chicken to Max’s food, THK (waiting for his prescription low fat food to get here) as I know he can never have that kibble (Acana) again.
Any thoughts or advice is appreciated! I know this is a diabetes forum, but it seems like many of you have also dealt with this as well.
Donna

[jesse girl]

I believe the vet has a fairly accurate test for pancreatitis . i think you first have to establish this . so many things can cause stomach upset . there is so many contaminants in our environment doing who knows what . kind of have to be a detective and look for triggers but it needs to be an early symptom to catch it .Loose stools is usually my go to for a early symptom or a change in color . it can also get oily ,. blood usually means things have progressed

[MomtoMax]

I believe the vet has a fairly accurate test for pancreatitis . i think you first have to establish this . so many things can cause stomach upset . there is so many contaminants in our environment doing who knows what . kind of have to be a detective and look for triggers but it needs to be an early symptom to catch it .Loose stools is usually my go to for a early symptom or a change in color . it can also get oily ,. blood usually means things have progressed

I did have him tested (fasting blood test) and posted the test results in my last post?? The cPLI score was 617 and his lipase was elevated as well, classic for Pancreatitis… He absolutely has Pancreatitis!
His stools have been good and trust me, having had a dog with EPI (total opposite of Pancreatitis), I’m a certified poopologist! LOL His symptoms have been extreme abdominal pain and vomiting, many times projectile at that.
We got his prescription, Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat, food and he’s been transitioned on to that, but the cost is extremely prohibitive at $122 for 28 pounds. My plan is to try and stabilize him on this, then switch to a commercial low fat diet.

Donna

[jesse girl]

Sounds like a plan . My Jesse had a bad case of pancreatitis when she began this journey . It was basically a one and done after the pancreas healed . I went with a homemade diet for her 11 years being diabetic . Hope things settle down and yes being a pooh specialist is a big deal

[Zoology1603]

Nulo was the cheapest commercial food I could find that was non-prescription and had good reviews from other canine diabetic owners. I spent many months researching ingredients and comparing them in a spreadsheet. That said my dog did her best when I was cooking homemade meals from BalanceIT (not purchasing their extra vitamins but side-loading commercial food). The lower you can go with the carbohydrates the better. It's going to be expensive and a little time consuming no matter which road you decide to go down. I usually spent half a day cooking a weeks worth of food.

[MomtoMax]

I’m not opposed to cooking, in fact I do it for my diabetic Corgi, but he is 30 pounds compared to this guy who is 85 pounds…

I will check out the Nulo, thanks!

Donna

[MomtoMax]

I had Max at his annual on Friday. They’re waiting for urine from him, but the disturbing thing was Lyme disease on bloodwork… This old man barely goes out: just minutes to pee and poop, then back in for climate control…
He has a puke fest on Doxy, so I opted for Amoxycillin. Had a major nor’easter, so was only able to pick up the script today… So far, so good…
I hate ticks!
Donna.

[jesse girl]

My most disliked insect . I remember seeing ticks on my childhood dog all the time in the warm months . I live in a high desert and we have no ticks and for that reason I may never leave . Hope the disease clears up soon

[MomtoMax]

Max seems to be handling Amoxy very well, thankfully!
Donna