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**Fishslayer** · 02-26-2009, 12:25 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

Welcome Margaret & Lucy.

My diabetic Aussie Cattle Dog is 7YO, is also named Lucy and she is also nearly blind from cataracts. Her owners were going to have her PTS but she was rescued by a group from this forum, AuCaDo and the http://www.caninecushings.net/forums/index.php forum. She is quite the internet team effort!

I use Diastix as well in addition to home blood testing. The blood testing really gives me peace of mind since it shows more exactly how Lucy is doing at the moment.

You've come to the right place for information & support.

Rick

**We Hope** · 02-26-2009, 12:33 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

Welcome Margaret and Lucy!

This is our second Lucy--Rick is here with his Lucy, his foster Australian Cattle Dog, so now we have two!

Knowing that Lucy has re-gained the weight she lost says something HAS been going right for her. I don't know if you may still have the question of Cushing's yet to answer because there are times when it's not possible to truly rule it in or out until the diabetes is under good control.

We have members who initially were told that their dog may have both diabetes and Cushing's--wasn't possible to confidently say there was no Cushing's until the diabetes was more managable.

There are a few differences between Insuvet Lente and Caninsulin. Insuvet Lente is made from beef and beef insulin is two amino acids away from a perfect match to the insulin a dog is born with. Caninsulin is from pork and pork insulin is a perfect match to a dog's own insulin.

Insuvet Lente is U 100 strength while Caninsulin is U 40 strength. These two differences mean that the Insuvet Lente has a longer onset, peak and duration, so you might still need some Caninsulin "adjustments" in near future yet. Both of these are Lente-type insulins so the basic action of them is the same.

There are times when it looks like you aren't getting anywhere, I know. But when you keep working at it, you certainly do. My Lucky was a lot older than Lucy when he was diagnosed--about age 13-14. It's quite common in North America for dogs to be started on human insulin--95% of them do regulate on that. Lucky was fine for one week on it and then it was like no insulin at all. We tried beef insulin with the thought that it was a duration problem and he did the same as on the human insulin. We went nowhere until we went to a pork insulin Lilly used to make called Iletin II Lente. It was basically the same as Caninsulin, except in U 100 strength.

When they stopped making this insulin--shortly after we had succeeded in getting Lucky regulated, we had to go to Lilly's pork isophane (no Caninsulin/Vetsulin in the US then). Lucky had problems with the suspension and preservatives in that, but not with the pork insulin itself. The problems were such that we made application to the US FDA for permission to import Caninsulin for Lucky's personal use. He was the first US patient to use it who had not been part of a previous study.

So all of us can try helping you better, we have a "one dog, one thread" set-up here. Everyone posts their information and questions about their dog on their thread--this would be the one for you and Lucy.

And now--all of us want to hear even more about you both!

Kathy

**Margaret Boyle** · 02-26-2009, 12:35 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

Thanks for the welcome Rick nice to get a reply from someone.
Rick Lucy does not have Cushings she was clear when she had the test done.
I will find my way around gradually no doubt I will make a lot of silly mistakes.
Like not putting Lucy's photo on my posts but I do not think I can add it now
or can I ?

Margaret and Lucy

**We Hope** · 02-26-2009, 12:43 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

Margaret,

Let's see if I can't talk you through how to post Lucy's photo.

Near the top of the board you see some links--User CP is at the left, click that one. Now you see a lot of links on the left side of the page.

Let's put Lucy on your member profile page first--click "edit profile picture". That takes you to a page where you can use a Custom Profile Picture. If you have a photo of Lucy on your computer, you can use the "Browse" function to look through your disk and to then upload the photo to the board.

And now for the avitar: Click the "edit avitar" link on the left. Pick the option "use custom avitar" and then once again, you can use the "Browse" function to find and upload a photo of Lucy which everyone will see every time you post.

Let either Natalie or me know if this isn't working for you, OK?

Kathy

**Soaphie & Sydney's Mom** · 02-26-2009, 01:06 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

A BIG HUGE WELCOME from Tami & Soaphie Dog! You have come to the right place - a lot of caring people with TONS of knowledge!!!!!

**peggy0** · 02-26-2009, 01:15 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

Welcome! I don't know what I would do without this board! It takes a village to care for our diabetic doggies and this is the place

**Margaret Boyle** · 02-26-2009, 01:40 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

Thanks Kathy,
You have given me heart it was interesting to know that your Lucky was the first in USA to be given the Caninsulin. I have read up in the difference in the various insulins it just becomes more confusing. I was used to working with human isulins and it is a different ball game with dogs. I am converting into U100 syringes but now it is getting to be too much in the U100 I have ordered U40 I know they say they are a bit more uncomfortable
but I am used to injections and I will make sure they do not cause her any discomfort.
Kathy you were spot on with your comment about Lucy (some thing going right for her)
as Hendry the vet says she should be dead by now but she just keeps thriving despite the high bg's. Also what you said about Cushings there still be something but they have not got to the bottom of it as yet. My husband and me are just so glad she is still with us as we love her to bits. she goes in for regular curves I am thinking about a glucometer
but it is so complicated at present (vet in favour of it if we can just get her regulated)
My insurance run out in September so we have quite a bit of expense but she is worth every penny.

Kind regards
Margaret and Lucy

**k9diabetes** · 02-26-2009, 01:54 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

Hi Margaret!

Welcome to you and Lucy!

I am so happy to hear that you finally found a vet who is willing to work to get Lucy where she needs to be! Seven is far too young for the docs to be giving up on her!!

If you could, please fill us in a bit more about her insulin history.

>> How much Insuvet Lente was she on and did she have curves done to assess her glucose control on that insulin?

If she has had curves done, please post that information (request it from the vet if need be as it's incredibly valuable information to have), including the number of units of insulin given, the times, and the glucose readings.

Has she ever had a fructosamine test?

What level of regulation did she manage to achieve?

As Kathy said, since she gained her weight back, she was getting some benefit from the insulin.

Since Lucy is so cooperative, definitely consider doing home blood glucose testing. That would allow you to curve Lucy yourself. There are video and picture tutorials of how to collect the blood drop at the main website, www.k9diabetes.com/bgtestvideos.html. Chris' video is of testing on the lip and it's a big file so give it time to download. Another good place on small dogs like Lucy is the back at the base of the tail and there is a picture tutorial there for testing that spot.

Sorry... I always have lots of questions!

You and Lucy will be fine because you are determined to help her. Sometimes that's the one thing it really takes to get it done.

Natalie

______________________

Dogs Name - Lucy
Breed - Miniature Schnauzer
Age - 7 1/2 years BORN (4thJuly 2001)
Weight - 221bs (10.6Kgs)
Diagnosed - December 2007
Insulin - Caninsulin 15Iu bid
Diet - Bakers Complete, Tinned Chappie. Vegetables Lean Chicken
Monitoring - Keto-Diastix Urine testing.
Medication - Optimmune (dry eyes) Cataracts both eyes. Almost blind.
Medical - Repeated UTI's

She was on Insuvet Lente for a year but could not be regulated.

She is now on Caninsulin but only a week we were doing well up till Wednesday and her readings started rising again It's as if we take 5 steps forward and 3 back.

**Margaret Boyle** · 02-26-2009, 01:56 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

Hi Peggy andForbin,
Thanks for the welcome will talk to you soon

Margaret and Lucy

**Margaret Boyle** · 02-26-2009, 02:27 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

Hi Natalie,
You have got a lot of questions!!! I will try and answer them as best as I can. She was finally on 18 iu's of Insuvet Lente she had regular curves done but none of them good (off the scale over 25) she was in the full day) none of the curves were good they thought she may be insulin resistant.She had fructosomine tests done when we were attending the vet hospital. She has never had a period of regulation (this really upsets me). I will try blood testing Natalie if we can get a balance the vet does not want me to buy one until we know we can get her stabilised ( he is not trying to get more money Natalie) as he knows my insurance has ran out he does try to keep my expenses down.
I do not get all my bits from the vet I use Pet Pharmacy online and he is in agreeance with this. He is actually a good and caring vet he thinks Lucy is a great wee character
he says she just sits there when he takes venous blood and still gives him a lick.
I do not worry about your questions Natalie I am just so glad that you have asked me.

Kind regards
Margaret and Lucy

**Cara's Mom** · 02-26-2009, 02:29 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

Hi Margaret and Lucy

Just dropped by to say "Hello" to you and Lucy! Welcome to the forum. Very good place to be! Lots of knowledgeable, caring people around here and everybody will relate to the problems you are having. We have all been there.

**Margaret Boyle** · 02-26-2009, 02:31 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

Hi Tami and Soaphie,
Thanks for the welcome.

Margaret and Lucy

**Margaret Boyle** · 02-26-2009, 02:38 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

Hi Marion and Cara,
Thanks for the welcome for what I have read so far it sounds like a caring
Forum I see your dog is on vetsulin is she regulated? What weight is she
does she keep well?

Kind regards

Margaret and Lucy

**Margaret Boyle** · 02-26-2009, 02:41 PM

Re: New Member Margaret and Lucy

Thanks Kathy Managed to get the photo on my posts
Margaret and Lucy

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Margaret and James' Wee Lucy - July 4, 2001 - May 6, 2011

Margaret and James' Wee Lucy - July 4, 2001 - May 6, 2011

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