: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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68
SoWal Expert
Lady, I'm glad he's getting to come home--I know you've missed him terribly.
SoWal InsiderAuthor
Sure have and he us I am sure. He is laying on the vent catching the air conditioning. He has eaten and I have already given him his first shot. Still have to give him the thyroid medicine and the antibiotic at 7:00. He still has a little bit of a problem with weak legs but did get up the stairs into the house. I cooked him a very lean small hamburger patty and broke it up in with his eukanuba diet dog food they have him on, and he cleaned every bite up. It kills me not to be able to give him anything but plain bones and no table food. He kept stalking the kitchen for something good out of the refrigerator and I cannot give him anything. And a hamburger patty with 1 1/2 cups eukanuba diet food is not enough to fill him up. I did give him one milk bone. And half of his antibiotic pill at least went down the air conditioning register on the floor. He wouldn't cooperate taking it. That makes him short on his antibiotic as it may have even been the entire pill. It is supposed to be taken until all gone. 
fartblossom
dory has become a master at yakking her pill back up no matter how far i shove it down her throat - it is chore to give to her twice a day, that's for sure...
SoWal InsiderAuthor
dory has become a master at yakking her pill back up no matter how far i shove it down her throat - it is chore to give to her twice a day, that's for sure...
I will make sure he is no where the register when he takes this one. The thyroid pill was no problem, it was just the bigger antibiotic. He didn't eat all his food this morning either but I gave him his shot and hopefully he will eat the rest in the basement today. Even throwing the pill way down in the back of his throat and rubbing under his throat doesn't always work. He will stay in the basement today while we are at work. He can go out through the dog door though to go outside so he will be ok!
SoWal Expert
If Memphis is as hot as it is here in Louisville, you may want to shut that dog door, and either get home at lunch to let him out, or have a neighbor let him out. We saw 2 dogs with terrible heatstroke yesterday at the clinic- and had to send them on to the emergency hospital because they were older and in really bad shape. Heatstroke can come on really fast, epecially in old, sick dogs, and I wouldn't let him make the decisions when to go out and come in today. You wouldn't want him to be overcome when you are not there.
If it is too hot outside for people, it is too hot for dogs.
If it is too hot outside for people, it is too hot for dogs.
SoWal Expert
If Memphis is as hot as it is here in Louisville, you may want to shut that dog door, and either get home at lunch to let him out, or have a neighbor let him out. We saw 2 dogs with terrible heatstroke yesterday at the clinic- and had to send them on to the emergency hospital because they were older and in really bad shape. Heatstroke can come on really fast, epecially in old, sick dogs, and I wouldn't let him make the decisions when to go out and come in today. You wouldn't want him to be overcome when you are not there.
If it is too hot outside for people, it is too hot for dogs.[/QUOTE]
Thank you, jen-ay! This has been an ongoing discussion here at home and at work. I just don't think you should leave them out if you have a choice. Maggie has become a house dog this summer. Now, I'm worried about what to do with her when we're on vaca. My regular babysitter is gonna be out of town--she's the lady I got her from and she has a pool. But, don't wanna leave her somewhere where they'll leave her out in the heat!
SoWal Insider
Jdarg that is scary. I was in Memphis this weekend and it was HOT. The drivers of the horse drawn carriages all have dogs with them. We saw one poor dog who looked horrible. He was refusing water, and was real lethargic. His little head was hanging off the side of the seat. His tongue was hanging out but he wasn't panting. I wanted to scoop him up and take him right into the hotel. I have worried about that poor little thing since I saw him. Can't get him out of my head. Please keep your animals safe everyone.
SoWal InsiderAuthor
Believe me, that dog doesn't go out when it is hot! And our basement is cool. I am close enough where I can go home and check on him myself. Takes me about 10 to 15 minutes to get home.
fartblossom
dory goes out when i get home at 6:30 am and doesn't venture out again until i leave for work at 6:30 pm.....if it's above 60 it's too hot for her - just like her momma !
SoWal InsiderAuthor
dory goes out when i get home at 6:30 am and doesn't venture out again until i leave for work at 6:30 pm.....if it's above 60 it's too hot for her - just like her momma !
Mo kinda overdid it going down the back yard just now. It is one big hill. He was lucky he made it up but wasn't as lucky coming up the steps. A little wobbly. But he is still weak and you know, 12 year old dogs do have difficulty getting up.
SoWal Insider
Glad to hear your pup is home!
But about the pills - - can you give them in a little peanut butter (probably not because of the diabetes) or a little chunk of cream cheese or even diet cream cheese? My little John has to take a pain pill for his arthritis every night. There is no way he'd take it by me trying to shove it down his throat. And I've read about rubbing the throat but that never worked here at our house! I just take a teaspoon with about a 1/4 of the spoon filled with the peanut butter (on the tip of the spoon) and the pill pushed down in there. He just scrapes it off the spoon in about 1 second, swallows it whole and it's done.
But about the pills - - can you give them in a little peanut butter (probably not because of the diabetes) or a little chunk of cream cheese or even diet cream cheese? My little John has to take a pain pill for his arthritis every night. There is no way he'd take it by me trying to shove it down his throat. And I've read about rubbing the throat but that never worked here at our house! I just take a teaspoon with about a 1/4 of the spoon filled with the peanut butter (on the tip of the spoon) and the pill pushed down in there. He just scrapes it off the spoon in about 1 second, swallows it whole and it's done.
SoWal Insider
Glad to hear your pup is home!
But about the pills - - can you give them in a little peanut butter (probably not because of the diabetes) or a little chunk of cream cheese or even diet cream cheese? My little John has to take a pain pill for his arthritis every night. There is no way he'd take it by me trying to shove it down his throat. And I've read about rubbing the throat but that never worked here at our house! I just take a teaspoon with about a 1/4 of the spoon filled with the peanut butter (on the tip of the spoon) and the pill pushed down in there. He just scrapes it off the spoon in about 1 second, swallows it whole and it's done.
The peanut butter is somewhat of a problem with the diabetes. But.....if you are going to cook the chicken or the lean burger, snare a piece of that and sitck the pill in the middle. Or a small piece of lowfat cheese would work as well.
SoWal InsiderAuthor
Gotothebeachmom, as soon as my husband gets paid Thursday I am going to go and buy some chicken breasts to keep in the freezer. I fixed him a small amount of roast beef, a cooked pot roast, not sandwich roast beef, boiled a bag of brown rice, gave him about two tablespoons of that and mixed it in with 1 1/2 cups of his dry eukanuba diet food. He licked the bowl clean. The vet wants him to eat only 1 1/2 cups of dry food twice a day and one tablespoon of canned dog food if needed. He surely doesn't think that will fill my big dog up! Just gave him his shot. Cannot even tell the needle is going in his skin it is so thick and his hair also. Did you feed your dogs any other meat other than chicken with the rice???
SoWal Insider
Gotothebeachmom, as soon as my husband gets paid Thursday I am going to go and buy some chicken breasts to keep in the freezer. I fixed him a small amount of roast beef, a cooked pot roast, not sandwich roast beef, boiled a bag of brown rice, gave him about two tablespoons of that and mixed it in with 1 1/2 cups of his dry eukanuba diet food. He licked the bowl clean. The vet wants him to eat only 1 1/2 cups of dry food twice a day and one tablespoon of canned dog food if needed. He surely doesn't think that will fill my big dog up! Just gave him his shot. Cannot even tell the needle is going in his skin it is so thick and his hair also. Did you feed your dogs any other meat other than chicken with the rice???
Not after they gave up the canned food. I was mixing a small amount of the Science Diet canned with the dry Science Diet.
The main thing right now is getting him to eat so he can get his shots. Controlling the weight is a huge factor, so that's why we chose the chicken. I also went light on the rice. But as I said the Science Diet was only avaiable form our Vets office. Any way you go it's pricey. I know yo probably know all this from your experinece with his Mom. Good luck. I hope this will work for you.
SoWal InsiderAuthor
I will load up on chicken breasts this week. I have some bagged chicken breasts in the freezer but they are those mesquite chicken breasts with the sauce on them. I know there is stuff in them that he cannot have probably. I will have to make do until Thursday. I only gave him about two tablespoons of rice. I am sure that is appropriate. Sorry to be asking so many questions but he is two years older than she was when she got diabetes. And I never could get weight off of her. The vet acted like it was a problem if she lost weight. But from what I read that is not the case. She never was over around 72 pounds. She probably was only overweight late in life by around 10 pounds. You have had success and I am a chicken lover like he is. That is absolutely his favorite food, it was hers also. So we can eat alot of chicken together. 
SoWal Insider
I will load up on chicken breasts this week. I have some bagged chicken breasts in the freezer but they are those mesquite chicken breasts with the sauce on them. I know there is stuff in them that he cannot have probably. I will have to make do until Thursday. I only gave him about two tablespoons of rice. I am sure that is appropriate. Sorry to be asking so many questions but he is two years older than she was when she got diabetes. And I never could get weight off of her. The vet acted like it was a problem if she lost weight. But from what I read that is not the case. She never was over around 72 pounds. She probably was only overweight late in life by around 10 pounds. You have had success and I am a chicken lover like he is. That is absolutely his favorite food, it was hers also. So we can eat alot of chicken together.
I think it will be fine. People will think you're nuts for doing it. But don't worry about it. He's part of the family. He may not cook for you if you are sick. But I'll bet he's always happy to see you! I take my two to see my Mom in a nursing home. All their faces light up like it's Christmas morning. That's such a good feeling.
SoWal Expert
I think it will be fine. People will think you're nuts for doing it. But don't worry about it. He's part of the family. He may not cook for you if you are sick. But I'll bet he's always happy to see you! I take my two to see my Mom in a nursing home. All their faces light up like it's Christmas morning. That's such a good feeling.
And ye shall reap your reward in heaven!
SoWal Insider
And ye shall reap your reward in heaven!
Probably not!
But bless your heart for thinking that sugar! SoWal InsiderAuthor
Probably not!
Well, I was just bad. I had done ok all evening with his food and boiled some thin type pieces of some kind of meat to cut up and give him with his meals tomorrow morning and evening before his shot so he will eat. Well, needless to say he smelled that and came into the kitchen barking. This dog is 100 lbs at least and starving. Well I caved in and cut him up this boiled piece of meat and fed it to him 3 1/2 hours after his shot. This measured amount of food is not adequate for him as he is constantly barking. All the fat was boiled out of this. Did I screw up??? My other dog never was put on any kind of diet by the vet that tended to her diabetes. Will make sure tomorrow just to give a half of it with his breakfast and dinner tomorrow evening. Bone halves also.
I have read this information below on a canine diabetes website. The first two things I have done.
The insulin doses are set to match the amount and type of food your dog eats, you will need to feed it the same type and amount of food every day.
Feed your dog twice a day, at the same general time every day, just before giving the insulin. If your dog prefers to eat more often, that's all right. The important point is to wait until your dog has eaten, and then inject the insulin. This allows you to see if the dog has eaten all of its food and actually needs the total insulin dose before you inject it.Avoid table scraps and between-meal treats to help your dog to achieve the best possible blood glucose control.
Does every food they eat cause their sugar to go up??? Even something with no sugar, like lean meat? We give him halves of a dog bone, should dog bones be given with the meal or can they have part of a dog bone anytime? This is a dog that is actually supposed to have around 5 cups of dry dog food a day and having to live on 3 cups total. I am confused!
SoWal Insider
Well, I was just bad. I had done ok all evening with his food and boiled some thin type pieces of some kind of meat to cut up and give him with his meals tomorrow morning and evening before his shot so he will eat. Well, needless to say he smelled that and came into the kitchen barking. This dog is 100 lbs at least and starving. Well I caved in and cut him up this boiled piece of meat and fed it to him 3 1/2 hours after his shot. This measured amount of food is not adequate for him as he is constantly barking. All the fat was boiled out of this. Did I screw up??? My other dog never was put on any kind of diet by the vet that tended to her diabetes. Will make sure tomorrow just to give a half of it with his breakfast and dinner tomorrow evening. Bone halves also.
I have read this information below on a canine diabetes website. The first two things I have done.
The insulin doses are set to match the amount and type of food your dog eats, you will need to feed it the same type and amount of food every day.
Feed your dog twice a day, at the same general time every day, just before giving the insulin. If your dog prefers to eat more often, that's all right. The important point is to wait until your dog has eaten, and then inject the insulin. This allows you to see if the dog has eaten all of its food and actually needs the total insulin dose before you inject it.Avoid table scraps and between-meal treats to help your dog to achieve the best possible blood glucose control.
Does every food they eat cause their sugar to go up??? Even something with no sugar, like lean meat? We give him halves of a dog bone, should dog bones be given with the meal or can they have part of a dog bone anytime? I am confused!
I would have to defer this to JDARG or the Vet. Exactlly what you have posted is what is needed to achive optimum results. Ours got fed twice daily.
My new fur baibies get 2 opps a day to eat. If they don't then I take the food up and they get it at the next meal.
Ours never get table scraps. Treats of a food variety are rare.
SoWal Insider
Well, I was just bad. I had done ok all evening with his food and boiled some thin type pieces of some kind of meat to cut up and give him with his meals tomorrow morning and evening before his shot so he will eat. Well, needless to say he smelled that and came into the kitchen barking. This dog is 100 lbs at least and starving. Well I caved in and cut him up this boiled piece of meat and fed it to him 3 1/2 hours after his shot. This measured amount of food is not adequate for him as he is constantly barking. All the fat was boiled out of this. Did I screw up??? My other dog never was put on any kind of diet by the vet that tended to her diabetes. Will make sure tomorrow just to give a half of it with his breakfast and dinner tomorrow evening. Bone halves also.
I have read this information below on a canine diabetes website. The first two things I have done.
The insulin doses are set to match the amount and type of food your dog eats, you will need to feed it the same type and amount of food every day.
Feed your dog twice a day, at the same general time every day, just before giving the insulin. If your dog prefers to eat more often, that's all right. The important point is to wait until your dog has eaten, and then inject the insulin. This allows you to see if the dog has eaten all of its food and actually needs the total insulin dose before you inject it.Avoid table scraps and between-meal treats to help your dog to achieve the best possible blood glucose control.
Does every food they eat cause their sugar to go up??? Even something with no sugar, like lean meat? We give him halves of a dog bone, should dog bones be given with the meal or can they have part of a dog bone anytime? This is a dog that is actually supposed to have around 5 cups of dry dog food a day and having to live on 3 cups total. I am confused!
I don't have any experience with diabetes, but I think that it will probably take a little bit of trial and error. You know your dog best, and I am sure you will figure it out. Sounds like from what you researched that not having snacks is key. That would probably include dog bones. Maybe they have some special bones for diabetic dogs.
I thinhk there is a good deal of corn and other starchy ingredients in dog bones, and they have high sugar contents. Did you check the box? does it have sugar levels on it like people food.? I have 2 cats, so I am uneducated about doggy foods.SoWal InsiderAuthor
Well, the multicolored bones I had I did have to get rid of. I had a entire 8 lb bag of them and they contained molasses. But these large bones have no sugar. He ate well this morning. Had 1 1/2 cups of dry food with a small amount of rice mixed in and a small amount of kidney diet canned food, no more than around a tablespoon. Also some small bites of boiled meat so he is set until supper. Cleaned the bowl up and has had his half of bone as the vet said he could have ones that have no sugar. I have indeed ordered him some sugar free doggy treats, and will probably give them in place of the bones for the most part. He definitely is eating less because he has always been the beggar and always was being given extra. Since that has stopped he will lose weight.
SoWal Insider
Just remember, even if a food product dosen't list obvious sugars, or molasses, etc., if it's starchy - - then it's high in refinded carbohydrates which ultimately convert to sugar.
This has to be hard for you and for Mo. Good luck, Lady.
This has to be hard for you and for Mo. Good luck, Lady.
SoWal Insider
The peanut butter is somewhat of a problem with the diabetes. But.....if you are going to cook the chicken or the lean burger, snare a piece of that and sitck the pill in the middle. Or a small piece of lowfat cheese would work as well.
I always hid Lucy's pills in her favorite food too. She wolfed them right down, never seemed to notice they were there. She loved turkey, I still miss her when I cook a turkey breast. She would hang around the stove just sniffing the air, such a sweetie.
SoWal Expert
LadyB- Mo is not starving. He is a dog, and one that has trained his onwner very well! He does not "need" this extra food or treats- but he has learned to want it because you give it to him, and that is fun for dogs. Ignore him- which is much better than adding more weight to his already compromised joints. I've seen his picture and he is certainly not starving, and in fact might get around a little better with some weight loss.Getting Mo to a good healthy place is going to take alot of work and will power on your part- and not time spent in the kitchen cooking special meals and giving him treats, because loving your dog does not mean overfeeding him. He will eat whatever you give him when he is hungry, but if you keep offering him anything he wants, he will never eat what is good for him. Two meals a day. That's it. A couple diet biscuits. It's better to use a few kibbles of his dry dog food for treats. Boiled chicken and rice- just add a few bits to his food, mix it all together, maybe add a bit of warm water. No broth, no salt, no fat. His hips will thank you for it, but it will take some time to "undo" the begging- that is what he is doing, not telling you that he is "not gettng enough food".
This situation always makes a good "Far Side" scenario- the human slaving over the hot stove, thinking "my poor dog won't eat, so I cook all these nice foods for him"...and the dog thinking "Sucker- I have her trained!!" You need to take back the control, LadyB!
This situation always makes a good "Far Side" scenario- the human slaving over the hot stove, thinking "my poor dog won't eat, so I cook all these nice foods for him"...and the dog thinking "Sucker- I have her trained!!" You need to take back the control, LadyB!
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