Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

[Bogey's Mom]

I can not tell you how happy I was to find this forum! I have never dealt with a dog that has diabetes. I don't even know a person that has diabetes so I am at a total loss. I cried for hours while looking up info on the net to see if I could do this. Well, could is the wrong word, I am going to do this because my dog is just not ready to be put down. He still has so much life, energy, and love in him even at 15 years old. Ok so my story ......

Bogey, my 15 year old Aussie, was diagnosed last night by a urine test and that was confirmed with a blood test this morning. The vet said his sugar blood level was 600!!! I have another vet apt this afternoon to learn how to give insulin shots, blood levels, testing, record keeping, etc...... The vet also called in his prescription for insulin. So I will know more details later on today after my Diabetes 101 class.

Bogey currently weights 53 pounds and has always been an inside dog with a doggie door for acess to a fenced in back yard. We live on a 900 acre farm where he was retired from Obedence, Agility, Herding, Tracking, Therapy Dog, you name it, this dog excelled in it. It's like everything we tried, he gave me 110 % and smiled the entire time saying with his eyes, what's next.

All of his symptons were text book. Increase water intake, increase urine, rapid weight loss. He lost 8 pounds that felt like over night. I have so much to learn that at times it is sooo overwhelming. The numbers of what is normal and what is not are confusing. Protions, fiber, etc in foods I am totaly bafled. Bogey has always had an iffy stomach and I went through a lot of dry dog food to try and find something that would agree with his stomach and finally found Pinnacle - Sweet Potato and Trout - didn't run out of his rear end as fast as it went in the front end. I have printed the ingrediants of his food to take to show the vet. I have a feeling that sweet potatoes may not be a good choice.

Well I need to get on to the vet. Again, I am so glad I found you guys and please forgive any mis-spelled words, bad grammer, and my question asking.
Bonnie & Bogey

[CraigM]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

Welcome to the forum! I'm just on the way out the door for errands, but wanted to make one suggestion if its not too late.

If your vet starts you on a NPH insulin (Novolin-N or Humulin-N) be aware that you can get Novolin-N at Walmart for under $25. Other pharmacies frequently charge $65-$80 for NPH insulin. Since you are just starting, might as well start with the lower cost Novolin-N from Walmart, assuming you are in the U.S. and the vet is prescribing NPH.

Other supplies (syringes, testing stuff) are usually less expensive there also.

Again, welcome.

[CraigM]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

One more fast comment.

NPH insulins (Novolin-N, Humulin-N) don't require a prescription in most States / locations. So if your vet called the prescription into a high cost pharmacy, you might be able to just visit your nearest Walmart pharmacy to get Novolin-N instead of buying the high priced insulin. I'd call ahead to check their policy. Some pharmacies ask for a prescription even though it might not be required by your State law.

[Bogey's Mom]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

Oh thank you for the welcome. I didn't know what to say when she said what pharmcey I used and I just answered CVS because that's who I use. But that's ok. I'll know better next time. Thank you so much for the help!!!
Bonnie & Bogey

[Cebe]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

Hi! My mom had an Aussie for many years. She was sweet as pie, and a great dog.


I also feed my dog Pinnacle Trout and Sweet Potato. It's fine. Don't worry about changing the food right now. My dog is on this food because of food allergies, and the vet told me not to change her food if it works. The only thing I would mention is that you may want to add a little fiber, as you get to the fine-tuning part of regulation, but I wouldn't make any food changes now. Focus on the correct insulin dose.

Home testing is going to be key for you, and hopefully that will go smoothly for you and Bogey.

[Bogey's Mom]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

Cebe, Aussies are great dogs! When I went to the vet for my Diabetes 101 class, I showed the list of ingrediants to the vet and she said that if Bogey's stomach does well on this food to continue to use it. She didn't want us to change his food, upset his stomach, and cause him to be sick because a vomiting, dierea dog does not absorb insulin. She wants to get the diabetes under control and then if we need to, then change the food.

CraigM, Bogey was put on Humulin-N and it was $83.00 at CVS so we will be changing that next refill. The vet told me to do the leg work and she would write another presc to get it cheaper. She felt $83.00 was a ripp off. I live in Virginia, can I get Humulin-N without a presc? The vet said no but thought I would run it by you.

Anyway, the vet spent an hour with us discussing diabetes, insulin, warnings to look for and how to give shots. I gave Bogey his first insulin shot. Well I tried, I stuck my thumb right off the bat but got it right in the end.

[Cebe]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

Cebe, Aussies are great dogs! When I went to the vet for my Diabetes 101 class, I showed the list of ingrediants to the vet and she said that if Bogey's stomach does well on this food to continue to use it. She didn't want us to change his food, upset his stomach, and cause him to be sick because a vomiting, dierea dog does not absorb insulin. She wants to get the diabetes under control and then if we need to, then change the food.

CraigM, Bogey was put on Humulin-N and it was $83.00 at CVS so we will be changing that next refill. The vet told me to do the leg work and she would write another presc to get it cheaper. She felt $83.00 was a ripp off. I live in Virginia, can I get Humulin-N without a presc? The vet said no but thought I would run it by you.

You got the exact same advice I got about food - don't change it until the diabetes is better controlled, but frankly, I see no reason to change this food for diabetes reasons at all.

As for the insulin, you should be able to get it at Walmart for $25, and if you need a prescription in VA, that shouldn't change the walmart price.

But, note that Walmart's store brand is called "Relion" and that they (I believe) have switched their NPH to Novolin, as opposed to Humulin. So, you may want to touch base with your vet about this because in order to get the $25 insulin, you may need to use Novolin instead of Humulin.

[CraigM]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

You got the exact same advice I got about food - don't change it until the diabetes is better controlled, but frankly, I see no reason to change this food for diabetes reasons at all.

As for the insulin, you should be able to get it at Walmart for $25, and if you need a prescription in VA, that shouldn't change the walmart price.

But, note that Walmart's store brand is called "Relion" and that they (I believe) have switched their NPH to Novolin, as opposed to Humulin. So, you may want to touch base with your vet about this because in order to get the $25 insulin, you may need to use Novolin instead of Humulin.

Very true. I don't know Va law, but all you need do is either call, or visit Walmart. Yes, they have recently changed their contract and are selling Novolin-N instead of Humulin-N. You might have to ask for ReliOn Novolin-N, but at my local Walmart they know when someone asks for Novolin-N they want the $24.88 type and not the $70+ type.

[Kat Negron]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

I'm in VA and I can walk right into Walmart, ask for the insulin, and be on my way without a prescription, so you should be good! Just note now that at Walmart the $25 brand is now Novolin. I'm about to switch Gigi over, but I don't expect there to be a problem.

[Bogey's Mom]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

Kat,
Thanks for that info!!! And hello to another Virginian!!!

Did you guys notice a difference right away once your dogs went on insulin? Or did it take some time? Bogey didn't drink as much water nor did he go out as much last night.

[Judi]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

do all dogs in Virginia wear shades? LOL

Bogey is too too cool.

I think I did notice a difference pretty quickly with Jenny. She quit having accidents in the house even though it too forever to get her blood sugar down to a decent range

[Kat Negron]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

Hahaha I think so, Judi

Bonnie, I noticed it took time for Gigi's BGs to be normal, but she had a whole slew of other issues going on, so she's not the best example. I think it really depends on the dog. She did, however, stop drinking as much/having accidents in the house.

And hello to a fellow Virginian as well!

[CraigM]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

It's been a few years, but I believe Annie stopped the drinking / peeing within a day of her first shot. You will hear this frequently: "every dog is different". How one pup responds might not be the same in another. If Bogey was loosing weight, he could easily gain some back as his numbers come down.

Consistency is really important now. Exactly the same food (I use a kitchen scale to weigh), maintain the same insulin dosage (unless he goes low. Of course, you would have to be home testing to really know), even exercise can affect blood glucose. We need to think before we give any between meal snacks / treats. A small milkbone type of treat would make Annie's BG go out of control (remember, every dog is different). Some give a couple of green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, finger nail sized piece of chicken. Annie actually likes a small ice cube! Food, medications (including eye drops) need to be considered how they may affect Bogey.

What insulin dosage did your vet recommend? Do you have a follow up appointment in a week or so?

[Linda1]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

After the first 24 hours of insulin, I noticed that Jake was drinking far less and didn't need to go out to pee as much or in the middle of the night.

[Franklin'sMum]

Re: Bogey - 15 Year old Aussie

Hi Bonnie and welcome to you and Bogey! You're doing great and it sounds as though you have a really great vet