New to this forum and would like to tell you a little about the little dog that could (and can).
Rags is a 13 1/2 year old Snorkie (1/2 schnauzer/1/2 yorkie). He came to us as a tiny puppy from the local humane society. Now he would be a designer dog - how funny.
He was supposed to be my dog, but went immediately to my husband. Later, it would become apparent that he was Heaven sent. In 1998, he became my husband's constant companion while he battled to live from an aggressive infection in his heart. Hubby beat the infection (with the care and love of a faithful dog) but is now an invalid, wheelchair bound, oxygen dependant. But Rags is still there for him.
At Christmas this year we noticed that Rags was losing a great deal of weight. He needed to lose a little, but this was way to much. As our vet had recently retired and sold the practice to a new vet, I got him in to be seen.
The diagnosis was Cushings - through me for a loop, but then the diabetes showed up. Sugars through the roof. Started small dose of insulin (3 units) and when the Trilostane was started (small delay there) the cortisol came within normal limits quickly - but the sugars are still horrible. Yesterday's was over 600 (meter read HI). He is now on 8 units. (he weighs 12 lbs - down from 21) I started checked his urine glucose this morning and it read 5000.
He is now blind, and appears not to see even light at this point.
We are hanging in there. He hates the shots, so I now have to wake up hubby each morning to hold him. He is still eating, but the drinking is a little less. We are making plans to enclose the deck for his safety without limiting his area. Thankfully the house is ramped, so that makes it a bit easier for him. He can still find the pet door on occasion. He is now barking when he gets lost.
We have another dog Scruffy who was watching him outside, but he isn't as devoted as I would like. The cats tend to purr up against him to keep him from the edges. Neat to watch.
If anyone has advice, would love to hear it. I really think that if he dies, it will impact negatively on my husband's health (not to mention my heart).
Rags is a 13 1/2 year old Snorkie (1/2 schnauzer/1/2 yorkie). He came to us as a tiny puppy from the local humane society. Now he would be a designer dog - how funny.
He was supposed to be my dog, but went immediately to my husband. Later, it would become apparent that he was Heaven sent. In 1998, he became my husband's constant companion while he battled to live from an aggressive infection in his heart. Hubby beat the infection (with the care and love of a faithful dog) but is now an invalid, wheelchair bound, oxygen dependant. But Rags is still there for him.
At Christmas this year we noticed that Rags was losing a great deal of weight. He needed to lose a little, but this was way to much. As our vet had recently retired and sold the practice to a new vet, I got him in to be seen.
The diagnosis was Cushings - through me for a loop, but then the diabetes showed up. Sugars through the roof. Started small dose of insulin (3 units) and when the Trilostane was started (small delay there) the cortisol came within normal limits quickly - but the sugars are still horrible. Yesterday's was over 600 (meter read HI). He is now on 8 units. (he weighs 12 lbs - down from 21) I started checked his urine glucose this morning and it read 5000.
He is now blind, and appears not to see even light at this point.
We are hanging in there. He hates the shots, so I now have to wake up hubby each morning to hold him. He is still eating, but the drinking is a little less. We are making plans to enclose the deck for his safety without limiting his area. Thankfully the house is ramped, so that makes it a bit easier for him. He can still find the pet door on occasion. He is now barking when he gets lost.
We have another dog Scruffy who was watching him outside, but he isn't as devoted as I would like. The cats tend to purr up against him to keep him from the edges. Neat to watch.
If anyone has advice, would love to hear it. I really think that if he dies, it will impact negatively on my husband's health (not to mention my heart).
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