Hi,
My boy Chuck was dx with diabetes on Sept.24, 14. So I have been reading these posts since shortly after I found out.
A little about Chuck-
Chuck turned 8 on Nov.15, 2014. Last weigh in at the vets, he weighed 124.
He has always been a big boy, heaviest was 140 lbs, at the beginning of the year. In August he weighed 132, at a well check up, we'd been working on weigh loss.
Then I took him in, for excessive drinking and urinating, and not eating, he had dropped 6 lbs. Chuck has NEVER refused food, he would be laying by his food bowl 30 minutes prior to meal times and giving me the stink eye every few minutes to remind me, hey, it's time to eat! lol
After dx, vet started him on 15 units of Vetsulin 2x a day. Then upped it to 17u 2x a day, and we are now at 19u 2x daily.
I asked about home testing after reading a lot of posts that said I should, and she advised against it, said he was not regulated, and I should wait.
So I did.
Now I've decided against waiting, got a meter, Walmart relion micro and took it too the vets. They compared the numbers, mine was 50pts lower than hers. OK, but I still held off testing, yes, I am one of "those" I was afraid to hurt my boy.
So, yesterday, I said enough!! I need to do this well, it didn't go that well. Seems Chuck gets real nervous at the sound of the meter beeping. I had used the lance, by hand, I knew he wouldn't stand the clicking, but the meter, come on, help me out here boy! Long story short, I got a little blood on the strip, I heard it beep, and he jerked away, and got blood over the top of the strip. Argh!
So since he goes in Monday for a Fructosamine test, I decided I WOULD do a curve today. Got a good sample from the elbow callas, still jumped at the sounds of the meter, and smeared a little blood on top of the strip. So I'm not sure it's correct, but it will have to do.
Now I have some questions, are you surprised? lol
1. He is on Vetsulin. Vet said gently shake/roll the bottle to mix. I go to the Vetsulin site, and they say to shake it vigorously the first time to mix properly. Then gently shake each time after to make sure it is still mixed. So who do I believe? The vet or the people who make the insulin?
2. I feed Nulo Large Breed turkey and peas, & Merrick Grain Free 96%.
He gets 1 1/3 cup of the dry and 1/2 cup of the wet. I vary the protein of the wet, Pork, Chicken, Tripe ect.
Again, I asked the vet if the varied proteins were OK or should I keep to one flavor. It is the same brand and seems the only thing different is the main protein. The calorie count stays under 400 cal, per 13.2 ounce can, but it does vary. She said sure you can change the flavors.
Is the changing the proteins ok or should I pick one flavor and stay with it?
3. Scruff of the neck injecting? OK or shouldn't be done. That's where the vet told me to inject, so I did for a while, then started reading that may not be the best place to inject. I do change the injection site from side to side.
I'm sorry this is so long, I appreciate the read and any advice you can offer. I'm overwhelmed by information. I love the internet, but there is sometimes too much info, I'm so confused!
Oh, and since I finally committed to home testing, I ordered an Alphatrax2. The strips are outrageous! I think I saw someone say I could use the Freedom Lite strips and get the same/close to results. Is this correct?
Chuck and I thank you in advance for you help and guidance. I think I'll just stop surfing the internet for information and stick to folks like yourself who have dealt with these situations.
I'm pretty sure, I've told you more than you need to know, lol, but if I left something out, please let me know and I'll provide any and all information to needed to help my sweet boy.
kim
My boy Chuck was dx with diabetes on Sept.24, 14. So I have been reading these posts since shortly after I found out.
A little about Chuck-
Chuck turned 8 on Nov.15, 2014. Last weigh in at the vets, he weighed 124.
He has always been a big boy, heaviest was 140 lbs, at the beginning of the year. In August he weighed 132, at a well check up, we'd been working on weigh loss.
Then I took him in, for excessive drinking and urinating, and not eating, he had dropped 6 lbs. Chuck has NEVER refused food, he would be laying by his food bowl 30 minutes prior to meal times and giving me the stink eye every few minutes to remind me, hey, it's time to eat! lol
After dx, vet started him on 15 units of Vetsulin 2x a day. Then upped it to 17u 2x a day, and we are now at 19u 2x daily.
I asked about home testing after reading a lot of posts that said I should, and she advised against it, said he was not regulated, and I should wait.
So I did.
Now I've decided against waiting, got a meter, Walmart relion micro and took it too the vets. They compared the numbers, mine was 50pts lower than hers. OK, but I still held off testing, yes, I am one of "those" I was afraid to hurt my boy.
So, yesterday, I said enough!! I need to do this well, it didn't go that well. Seems Chuck gets real nervous at the sound of the meter beeping. I had used the lance, by hand, I knew he wouldn't stand the clicking, but the meter, come on, help me out here boy! Long story short, I got a little blood on the strip, I heard it beep, and he jerked away, and got blood over the top of the strip. Argh!
So since he goes in Monday for a Fructosamine test, I decided I WOULD do a curve today. Got a good sample from the elbow callas, still jumped at the sounds of the meter, and smeared a little blood on top of the strip. So I'm not sure it's correct, but it will have to do.
Now I have some questions, are you surprised? lol
1. He is on Vetsulin. Vet said gently shake/roll the bottle to mix. I go to the Vetsulin site, and they say to shake it vigorously the first time to mix properly. Then gently shake each time after to make sure it is still mixed. So who do I believe? The vet or the people who make the insulin?
2. I feed Nulo Large Breed turkey and peas, & Merrick Grain Free 96%.
He gets 1 1/3 cup of the dry and 1/2 cup of the wet. I vary the protein of the wet, Pork, Chicken, Tripe ect.
Again, I asked the vet if the varied proteins were OK or should I keep to one flavor. It is the same brand and seems the only thing different is the main protein. The calorie count stays under 400 cal, per 13.2 ounce can, but it does vary. She said sure you can change the flavors.
Is the changing the proteins ok or should I pick one flavor and stay with it?
3. Scruff of the neck injecting? OK or shouldn't be done. That's where the vet told me to inject, so I did for a while, then started reading that may not be the best place to inject. I do change the injection site from side to side.
I'm sorry this is so long, I appreciate the read and any advice you can offer. I'm overwhelmed by information. I love the internet, but there is sometimes too much info, I'm so confused!
Oh, and since I finally committed to home testing, I ordered an Alphatrax2. The strips are outrageous! I think I saw someone say I could use the Freedom Lite strips and get the same/close to results. Is this correct?
Chuck and I thank you in advance for you help and guidance. I think I'll just stop surfing the internet for information and stick to folks like yourself who have dealt with these situations.
I'm pretty sure, I've told you more than you need to know, lol, but if I left something out, please let me know and I'll provide any and all information to needed to help my sweet boy.
kim
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