Off balance and wobbly

[Kittymjohn]

Hello,
Oliver is a 6 yr old, border terrier/possible cattle dog mix is 32 lbs. August his yearly visit and blood work was normal. After moving out of state in late August, two weeks ago he stopped jumping on the couch and bed. Then started drinking/urinating excessively, urine/blood work confirmed diabetics with his glucose level at 339. His doctor started us on Novilin N twice daily at 4 units. He now eats twice a day 3/4 cup dry 3oz wet (instead of his 2cups once daily) Natural Balance duck and potato (he’s allergic to chicken). After the first three days of being on insulin he seemed fine and decreased his drinking/urinating. Two days ago the water /urinating increased to the point of waking in the middle of the night.
Today was his first at home curve using the Alpha trak2 monitor. His levels concern me, being new to this and am looking for help understanding how to better regulate and help Oliver . Also I’ve noticed moments of mental fog/confusion within the last few days. Thank You.
6am-349
6:30 food then insulin
8am-352. (8:30 a 20 minute walk)
10am-339
Noon-231. (12:30 a 20 minute walk)
2pm-482. (3pm my sons dog came over to play for 4 hrs)
4pm-346
6pm-85
6:30 food then insulin
8pm-367

[k9diabetes]

Re: New diabetic ,first at home curve. I need help understanding.

Overall, the levels aren't bad. A small increase in the insulin could bring them down into the 100s to 200s.

I suspect the low of 85 was due to his playing with your son's dog. Exercise and activity can bring the blood sugar down sharply. Our diabetic dog took very sedate walks but his blood sugar was relatively tightly controlled and we always carried syrup with us because he experienced some low blood sugar on walks.

The mental fog / confusion could be related to low blood sugar as well.

And it may be that his blood sugar has been routinely going low at certain times of the day - something that can be fixed.

But given the big increase in drinking and urinating, it would be good to have him checked for something like a urinary tract infection, which can happen when there's sugar in their urine. And with the confusion... I think a veterinary visit is needed.

And you can check his blood sugar when he seems confused and see if it is low.

Natalie

[Kittymjohn]

Re: New diabetic ,first at home curve. I need help understanding.

Natalie,
Thank you.
This has been a stressful adjustment to our lives, i never want him to feel like I’ve let him down. I’m so grateful for this website. It has given me so much information , with the help and support I know I can continue to give Oliver the life he deserves.

[k9diabetes]

Re: New diabetic ,first at home curve. I need help understanding.

This first part is the hard part. Probably doesn't seem like it now, but you can get to a place where the diabetes is no big deal.

Please let us know what you find out at the vet... thinking of you both.

Natalie

[Kittymjohn]

Re: New diabetic ,first at home curve. I need help understanding.

Oliver update.
I’m sorry for the delay in update.
December 13, Oliver’s curve at the vet ranged from 385-513 over a 8 hr time frame. His vet increased his insulin to 6 units. Oliver was also treated for an eye infection (conjunctivitis). Within days his drinking and urinating was under control, including sleeping through the night. After a week, the excessive drinking and urinating returned followed by the eye infection a few days later. I started the eye meds again, he keeps the eye closed and rubs it often. We have a vet appt today for his eye and a curve appt next Friday. I feel we are getting to a good place with routine and care. I’m concerned with this repeated eye infection since he is only 2 months in to being diabetic.
Thank you for help and support.

[Riliey and Mo]

Re: New diabetic ,first at home curve. I need help understanding.

hi

can you post any curves done after december 13th, a more recent one?

seems Oliver could use an eye specialist to treat his eye infection. a protective hood collar will help so he doesnt scratch his eye!

any infection will raise Olivers blood sugar . increasing the insulin will help but needs to be decreased when the infection has cleared up.

i would think a 32 lb dog would need to be on a higher dose than 6.

for now the eye infection needs attention.

your doing great with your Oliver

[Kittymjohn]

Re: New diabetic ,first at home curve. I need help understanding.

Oliver’s curve from December 13, he eats 6:30 am/pm followed by his insulin.This curve was taken at the vet. Oliver’s insulin was raised from 4 units to 6.
8am- 364
10am- 426
12pm- 531
2pm- 379
4pm- 441
His next curve is Friday 1/14
Oliver’s eye infection is a cornea abrasion and infection. He’s on new eye meds, hopefully this will work.
Thank you for your comments .

[Riliey and Mo]

Re: New diabetic ,first at home curve. I need help understanding.

hi and thankyou for the update on Oliver.

it seems his blood glucose is rising because of the infection.. or the food is going ahead of the insulin or 6 units is too much.

waiting for the january curve!

was hecwalked and at what time?

do u have the 6:30 testing number for the curve?

please post what food and how much?

what type of insulin please?

yes, lets hope his eye is better soon!

[k9diabetes]

Re: New diabetic ,first at home curve. I need help understanding.

Is it definitely just an infection? No damage to cornea? Or inflammation in the eyes?

Those kinds of problems contribute to the rubbing and the rubbing can damage the eyes.

Is he wearing a cone to keep him out of his eyes?

Natalie

[Kittymjohn]

CBD oil and diabetics

Can anyone recommend a cbd oil for arthritis ? Oliver a 30lb , 7 yr old border terrier mix has arthritis. Since he is a heart worm survivor and new diabetic as of 6 months ago, his vet said it’s not safe for his heart or kidneys to take arthritis meds. Currently he takes 10 units of Novilin N twice a day.
Thank You.

[Riliey and Mo]

Re: New diabetic ,first at home curve. I need help understanding.

heres some info

Choose the right CBD extract. All pet CBD extracts should contain less than 0.3% THC. This is the official threshold below which CBD products are considered non-intoxicating and non-psychoactive (not capable of causing a high).

https://cbd-oil-canada.ca/shop/cbd-f...-oil-for-dogs/

[Kittymjohn]

Diabetic ketoacidosis

Oliver spent the night in the er vet hospital , he stopped eating and drinking. As well as lethargy , his diagnosis is Diabetic Ketoacidosis . He is currently moved to his primary vet and is on iv solutions and meds. I’m beside myself with grief and worry. I have done everything possible , since November his diabetics diagnosis he’s lost 5lbs. Now being 27lbs. He just turned 7. Any kind words or encouragement is much appreciated. The vet says he’s declining. Please help me fix this. Thank you.
His blood work shows no signs of organ issues. Pancreas kidneys liver are all fine. He has an enlarged heart.

[jesse girl]

Re: Diabetic ketoacidosis

DKA is a result of high sugar which as you can see can't process nutrients from food
which causes weight loss My Jesse was 5 and was DKA and had pancreatitis she also had a hysterectomy at the same time . She spent 10 days in hospital .

I went to visit her and she gave me the look she wanted to stay . Very calm . She survived and even 6 months later she wasn't out of the woods

In Jesse's case she was a struggle to regulate so I used some fast acting insulin to bring her sugar down from high levels . It was risky but I thought we had nothing to loose .

For Jesse this was not a long term regulation process. It was just a short term way to stabilize her and not allow her to remain high for a large part of the day . I actually became her insulin pump. Lots of testing bloodsugar and insulin injections .

Once I figured what would work which was one meal a day and 3 nph shots I could give up the fast acting insulin and we got on a good routine that lasted 10 years .

So there is hope . Your pup is young . Depending on the situation determines the amount of risk
My Jesse never had a low blood sugar event with all that fast acting intervention but like I said I tested allot

Now the vet may not be allot of help and may not agree with a program like this . They may stay to conservative . Most do have experience with fast acting at the clinic but outside and at home it is usually not suggested.

Now I can't know what's the correct approach for your dog . May come home and have decent results with nph or vetsulin insulin twice a day . Most dogs if you can get into the 300s and some 200s for most of the day the risk of DKA is small if at all . You can test for ketones at home . Positive thoughts for you pup

[Riliey and Mo]

Re: Diabetic ketoacidosis

figuring out what works best for Oliver is the key

right amount of insulin for his 27 lbs to meet up with the right amount of food.

topping up his food with salmon oil or any topper he likes will work.

always a food he likes.

were here for you. keep us updated please

get well Oliver

[Kittymjohn]

Re: Diabetic ketoacidosis

Thank you so much. I have so much research to do. Currently he is eating Natural balance duck &potato 1 cup twice daily. I’m interested in homemade food for him. Do you have a good recipe I can try? Oliver is allergic to chicken, it cause inflammation and double ear infections. With his arthritis I’m looking to decrease all inflammation I can.