Newly Diagnosed and Confused

[jesse girl]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

With jesses procedure for her infected sak the vet suggested to just use gas to put her out . It was a tad more expensive but it doesnt have the affect of typical anesthesia would have and said it would be much safer way to do it and i agreed . The procedure went well and she woke up not so groggy and was able to eat he meal and get insulin an hour after . I was surprised that she had an appetite

As far as insulin i actually did not know we were going to do the procedure that afternoon as i thought he was going to have a look see . He said we can do it now and i agreed . Check blood sugar and it was at a time when active insulin was fading for jesse so i wasn't to worried of going to low

Many caretakers with there dogs getting anesthesia for a procedure do reduce insulin . Some dont give it at all especially if not fed

For jesse i only give her one meal a day and i have been giving her a reduced dose of insulin without food for a long time so i dont have a problem with that

So is very possible one meal and dose can be affected with a 2 meal system so you have to account for that . Remember having sugar higher during and after the procedure is ok

[Isabelle]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

Thanks for your post. I will ask the vet about gas. I was told not to feed her the morning of the procedure and to give her half her dose of insulin.

[jesse girl]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

Thanks for your post. I will ask the vet about gas. I was told not to feed her the morning of the procedure and to give her half her dose of insulin.

sounds reasonable

hope everything goes well

[Judi]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

hope things go well! my dog had a dental done when she was diabetic. the vet was nervous and very very careful and it went fine!

[Isabelle]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

Izzy was supposed to have a simple suture of a wound that would not heal - to be performed by her regular vet, whom I trust. However she is almost 11 and diabetic and I had second thoughts especially since there are two animal hospitals within an hours drive. The bottom line is that the surgery has been postponed until mid February at Mass Vet Referrl Hospital where they have every kind of specialist on staff. Better to be safe than sorry. In the pre op blood work, her kidney levels were elevated so now her diet needs to be adjusted to accomodate her diabetes aa well as her kidneys. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it. Never a dull moment with a diabetic dog!

[jesse girl]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

Yes its nice to have all the technology and experience at your disposal for izzy

Not sure about the diet change as i have no experience with kidney function maybe you could just add some supplements to the existing diet . A change in diet can be good if your having difficulties with the existing . I have altered jesses homemade diet over the years for particular reasons

Remember changing diet can alter regulation and the amount of insulin needed

hope things go well with the procedure

[Raysaint]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

Kidney levels could just be a mild infection. My dog has had them. How were the white blood cells? If elevated, that shows they may be fighting an infection.

[Isabelle]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

We are hoping that the elevated kidney enzymes are the result of an infection, Good point on checking the white blood cells. She has been on and off (now on) antibiotics since the wound appeared in October. During surgery the vet will dig out any remaining infected tissue, take a biopsy to check for cancer and suture it. I feel better taking her to a specialty verterinary hospital chock full of animal medical specialists. I am fortunate to live in the vicinity and to have pet health insurance for her. In the mean time, she is feeling fine but not too pleased with me cleaning her wound twice a day. Thank you for your reply and as a result, your support.

[Isabelle]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

Izzy has a host of health issues. A quick recap - a facial wound just below her eye appeared 4 months ago and the vet treated it with antibiotics with 3 times a day cleanings at home. She was avoiding surgery but when it appeared that the would was getting better but not healing, she decided to stitch it and do a biopsy. The pre surgery blood work showed kidney problems so I decided to get a referral to a specialty hospital since hwe were now dealign with diabetes and kidney problems. The surgical consult resulted in a diagnosis of a tooth infection at the root with a referral to a specialty dentist. At this visit, I inquired if the veterinary hospital had a nutritionist on staff since we were now dealing with diabetes and kidney issues. The veterinary nutritionist recommended an ultrasound to check on her kidneys and her other abdominal organs. This showed sludge in her gallbladder and a mass on her liver, A complete body CT scan confirmed the abcess in ther tooth and a mass that is confined to the liver and operable. In the mean time, the nutritionist formulated a personalized diet for Izzy's diabetes, liver, kidney and gallbladder issues for me to cook. I spent the morning cooking and weighing cooked sweet potatoes, collard greens and white meat chicke mixed with Fiber One cereal and a bit of walnut oil. So Izzy has a week's worth of meals - 3 times a day despite her diabetes (for her gallbladder). I also baked some treats from the mixture. The prognosis is good since it appears that we caught these problems early. And this all started with a simple blip on her face!

[jesse girl]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

Good catch hope all goes well . I have been home cooking for jesse for 8 years and she just enjoys dinner time . It will be interesting to see how blood sugar does with the new diet

[Isabelle]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

I have been cooking for Izzy for a month and she transitioned to eating only her special diet for 2 weeks now. Her blood glucose level has dropoed as has the amount of insulin required. She has successfully recovered from her tooth extractions and now we will face the removal of a tumor on her liver. She is a tough cookie fof a 25 pound dog.

[jesse girl]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

One step at a time fingers and paws crossed for izzy . Jesse has enjoyed her homemade diet and for us i have no plans of changing that .

glad the tooth problem was taken care of

[Isabelle]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

I had a worrisome week with Izzy. She has been on a new diet for a month which was developed for her health issues - diabetes, elevated kidney levels, sludge in her gallblader and elevated liver values It worked a bit too well and all of a sudden her glucose levels plummeted to between 60 and 80 and she refused to eat. After a week of substituting food (approved by her nutritionist), altering levels of insulin, I think we have it right. Her values are in the lowest they have been for her, between 100nand 200 and her insulin has dropped from 18 units of humulin n twice daily to 8 units. Thanks to her local vet, her nutritionist and her internist who have put up with a neurotic owner(me) when Izzy was so lethargic she could hardly move.

[jesse girl]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

congrats . diet is so important for overall health

[LizE]

Re: Newly Diagnosed and Confused

Wow. That was a huge drop in insulin in a pretty short time. Looks like being neurotic paid off for you that Izzy came thru so well.