:shock: Well, I am having to go through it all again. Found out what the falling down episodes with our other dog is. Diabetes and low thyroid. Decided to take him to the vet yesterday after him having so much difficulty walking yesterday and the day before. Barely could take his walk and couldn't even get up two or three porch steps without him falling down. Falling down episodes had gone on all week. Blood sugar was 590. Needless to say he is at the vet and is being kept until they can get him stable. Went by and saw him this morning after one insulin shot yesterday evening and couldn't believe the difference. Sugar was down to 156 or somewhere around there, and he almost looked back to his normal self. Of course, they have him on a diabetic diet and he is not too crazy about the food, they had to stir in some canned cat food and apply gravy to it so he would eat any at all, and they need him to eat so they can see how his sugar fluctuates after eating. That is how they determine what he needs to get him stable. This means two shots a day for the rest of his life and him already over twelve. Have already had practice for just over two years with his mother as she was diabetic and her sugar was a good deal over 500 when first diagnosed. What clued me in was the wobbly unsteady legs and increase in water consumption. He is not much of a water drinker. Ugh. I'll pay someone to give him shots.
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SoWal Expert
Lady, I am sorry to hear this. Poor baby! 
SoWal InsiderAuthor
I'm sorry for him and for me also, he won't be as good probably about getting them as his mom was. I sure miss having him here though. He thought for sure today when we came in there it was to bring him home. It killed me to have to put him back in that run and leave him. I hope we can bring him home Monday. Cannot stand the thought of him being at the vet over the weekend with no one there, except when they come in to feed the animals and give shots, etc. Not to mention he has a fever of 103 and all blood work as to blood counts show normal so they cannot figure out the fever. Have put him on an antibiotic for whatever in case there is some hidden infection that hasn't shown up.
SoWal Insider
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Both of my older schnauzers were diabetic. They both got 2 shots a day and a special diet that I prepared myself. Our vet told me he's never had older dogs have a survival rate that my 2 had. We lost 1 at 17 and 1 at 16. We now have 2 new "babies". We have learned some things we did wrong with the first 2 and will not repeat those mistakes with these 2.
Good luck. I know it's not funn. But, I'd do it all again to have another day, another minute, another second with those precious babies.
SoWal InsiderAuthor
Our female was about 3 months short of 13 when she died but it was during surgery when she died. I was told most dogs do not live more than two years with diabetes and she lived just over two years with it. She had multiple cancerous tumors so she probably would not have lived more than 6 more months probably if surgery would have gone ok. With him being 4 months over 12 already, I think he might make it probably about 8 more months, but I hope longer than that. Do not want him to suffer. He may be hard to regulate.
SoWal Insider
Diabetes in dogs must be more common than I realized. I'm hearing about it more and more. I give my little dog John, a shot once a month, but that's for a skin allergy condition. He dosen't even act like he notices it. It's really not bad at all. But every day would be altogether different. I keep him occupied with a spoonful of peanut butter and then jab him. He's so engrossed in getting every last bit of that peanut butter that he's clueless!
Good luck to you and your pup.
Good luck to you and your pup.
SoWal Expert
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Both of my older schnauzers were diabetic. They both got 2 shots a day and a special diet that I prepared myself. Our vet told me he's never had older dogs have a survival rate that my 2 had. We lost 1 at 17 and 1 at 16. We now have 2 new "babies". We have learned some things we did wrong with the first 2 and will not repeat those mistakes with these 2.
Good luck. I know it's not funn. But, I'd do it all again to have another day, another minute, another second with those precious babies.
That's just about the sweetest thing I've ever heard!! Sniff, Sniff!
SoWal InsiderAuthor
This was Sapphire, our other baby! She passed away January 18th, 2005. I still shed tears over her. She was a lucky dog, and a very good dog. We picked her out at the pound out of I cannot tell you how many dogs. She sure is missed. We all miss her terribly!
SoWal Insider
This was Sapphire, our other baby! She passed away January 18th, 2005. I still shed tears over her. She was a lucky dog, and a very good dog. We picked her out at the pound out of I cannot tell you how many dogs. She sure is missed. We all miss her terribly!That sure is a sweet looking dog!
SoWal InsiderAuthor
That sure is a sweet looking dog!
She was a very good girl! Had a rough start but ended up with a great home and lots of love.
I have a memorial to her on the Rainbow's Bridge site. I cannot look at it very much because I start crying. It will be even harder when we lose Mo. More of the same. Then we will have an empty house. I am not going to let myself think about that now though!
fartblossom
ok, i am crying now....so sorry to hear about your doggies. i just had to give dory a big hug and kiss, much to her dismay. i can't even imagine what my life will be like without her. you are all good dog mommies !
SoWal InsiderAuthor
ok, i am crying now....so sorry to hear about your doggies. i just had to give dory a big hug and kiss, much to her dismay. i can't even imagine what my life will be like without her. you are all good dog mommies 
SoWal Insider
Sorry to hear about your doggy Lady. Once you get the hang of the shots, it should get easier 
Once you get the hang of the shots, it should get easier fartblossom
hopefully once they get your pooch on thyroid medicine the symptoms will straighten out. will keep my fingers crossed and keep up the updates !
Beach Lover
I'll be thinking of you and Mo...
SoWal InsiderAuthor
Mango, unfortunately I have had that practice already for over two years with the other dog in the other picture. She had diabetes. They cannot figure out the fever problem though, hadn't Saturday morning though. I will call them as soon as I get to work to see how he is. I had noticed over the past month his nose being warm on several different occasions, noses are supposed to be cold I think normally. It was a hard weekend without him and I am sure he didn't like the vet's office. Thanks Melissa and everyone.
fartblossom
will be waiting for an update, hopefully i can check in before i go to work this evening if i get my lazy butt out of bed !
SoWal Insider
So sorry to hear about your sweet dog. This thread is making me tear up. GTTBM really said it all. Good luck and keep us posted.
SoWal InsiderAuthor
Great news guys, I get to bring my pooch home today. His sugar is stable at 126. He is eating well. He is on an antibiotic and his fever is gone. Had some kind of infection. He will have two shots a day, 25 units each, not much seeing as I was having to give 60 units twice a day to the other one. Of course, his may go up and down where they may have to increase insulin over time. Has to eat twice a day, diabetic dog food. Will be on thyroid medicine twice a day. Happy to get to bring my baby home this afternoon.fartblossom
congrats to you lady, sounds like you guys are on the road to recovery !
SoWal Insider
Great news!
SoWal InsiderAuthor
Cannot wait to get my hands on him. The house was too lonely without him and his bark this weekend. I love my furbaby! However, I made the mistake of calling and getting a total because I know I would not have enough to cover his bill in my bank account but I do get paid tomorrow, a whopping $481.58 including insulin, dog food, thyroid medicine, boarding, antibiotic, and treatment. 
Still have to find the way somehow to pay the car insurance and utility bill out of that. Ouch!Beach Lover
Hey Knoxville Lady,
So sorry to hear about Mo. Is he the Mo Jr. in your avatar? I noticed his little white face and wondered about his age. I am sorry this has happened to all of you, but am glad he is feeling better. We are dog lovers too, and since we lost our last two we haven't gotten any more. We loved them so much and still talk about them daily. Bernie has been gone 2 years now, and Petunia 2 1/2.
Please keep us posted about Mo.
So sorry to hear about Mo. Is he the Mo Jr. in your avatar? I noticed his little white face and wondered about his age. I am sorry this has happened to all of you, but am glad he is feeling better. We are dog lovers too, and since we lost our last two we haven't gotten any more. We loved them so much and still talk about them daily. Bernie has been gone 2 years now, and Petunia 2 1/2.
Please keep us posted about Mo.
SoWal InsiderAuthor
Thanks Seastar, yes, he is the Mo Jr. in my avatar. The insulin will last around 2 weeks and the 30# dog food will last a good while as well. We really haven't had to spend alot of money on him these twelve years other than the yearly shots and an occasional trip to the vet so I guess we have been lucky. It has been a year and a half since his mother died. Looks like alot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for us this week, hee hee! I have to keep him on his canned kidney diet dog food also. Will have to try to buy 3 cans of that to last through Friday. Before it is over with, I might be on a street corner with a sign and him alongside with his own little sign begging for money! The things we do for our pets. But he gets around really well for his age, loves a walk, but the high sugar and low thyroid just got him down, he will almost be back to normal now.
The insulin will last around 2 weeks and the 30# dog food will last a good while as well. We really haven't had to spend alot of money on him these twelve years other than the yearly shots and an occasional trip to the vet so I guess we have been lucky. It has been a year and a half since his mother died. Looks like alot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for us this week, hee hee! I have to keep him on his canned kidney diet dog food also. Will have to try to buy 3 cans of that to last through Friday. Before it is over with, I might be on a street corner with a sign and him alongside with his own little sign begging for money! The things we do for our pets. But he gets around really well for his age, loves a walk, but the high sugar and low thyroid just got him down, he will almost be back to normal now.Checking your forum account
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