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Otis is a 14 lb., pug mix. At the beginning of March he weighed in excess of 17 lbs. On March 4, we took Otis to the Vets because he had started having accidents on the bed. We thought he might have a UTI, but no, he was diagnosed with diabetes. After spending a couple of days in the hospital, he was released to go home with 4 units of Novolin N twice daily.
We were instructed to keep him on his same diet (1/3 can of ID twice daily, and evening snack of ¼ cup of dry ID), with the exception of cutting back on his mini bones. As a matter of information Otis thrived on this diet for several years.
For the first couple of weeks everything seemed to be going smoothly, our problems seemed to be solved. There were several curves, and all seemed to be going well until April 25th. He started to show a major change in his curve, and the Vet changed his insulin to 5 units twice daily. That was the last time that Otis had a normal curve, and we started noticing a significant weight loss.
After several attempts to get a curve, the Vet would become frustrated and send him home before the second or third test could be done. Not only was the Vet frustrated, but we were becoming very upset because the costs were still increasing, and we were not getting results.
On April 29th we increased his food to ½ can of ID with some dry food mixed in.
A couple of weeks later the Vet started to theorize that maybe he had Cushion’s disease. We thought that was a big leap, and fought the expense of having the test done.
On May 3rd, Otis acted sick all day, and we made an appointment with the Vet (not our normal Vet, but in the same practice) for May 4th. The result of this visit was a diagnosis of Pancreatitis. After giving him several medications for a period of 10 days he started to get better. One of the medications she prescribed was Denamarin for liver rejuvenation for 30 days. While on this medication his curve started to become more realistic, maybe this was just a coincidence.
On May 10th, Otis decided to stop eating his ID wet food, and thank God we had a can of W/D on hand. He did eat the W/D and has been on it ever since.
On May 17th after a couple of low blood glucose readings, the Vet reduced his insulin dosage back to 4 units twice daily. Now she was really starting to push the Cushion’s diagnosis. She assured us that once the Cushions was under control, we would get control over the insulin.
On May 28th, Otis started Vetoryl 30 mg once a day. Otis’ May 29th blood glucose readings were; 7:00 a.m. 212; 2:00 p.m. 190; 8:20 p.m. 144. We thought this was great.
June 12th was the last day of the Denamarin. The next day Otis’ glucose readings were: 10:45 a.m. 308; 12:45 p.m. 223; 5:45 p.m. 352; 7:45 p.m. 415. The next day, the Vet changed his dosage to 6 units twice daily. On June 24th we had the following readings: 9:00 a.m. 208; 11:00 a.m. 108; 2:00 p.m. 124; 4:00 p.m. 286; 6:00 p.m. 308; and 9:00 p.m. 480. This is the last time we have seen anything that looks like it was near normal.
On June 30th we switched from Novolin N to 4 units of Vetsulin. And it was increased to 5 units on July 1st, and increased again to 6 units on July 6th. On July 8th Otis’ curve results were: 9:40 a.m. 429; 11:30 a.m. 254; 2:00 p.m. 92; 4:00 p.m. 259; 6:00 p.m. 225; 7:45 p.m. 343. Otis’ July 15th curve was as follows: 8:00 a.m. 371; 10:00 a.m. 202; 12:00 p.m. 185; 2:00 p.m. 420; 4:00 p.m. 681.
On July 16th, the Vet changed Otis back to 6 units of Novolin N, and increased it to 7 units the next day. On July 19th she again increased the insulin to 8 units. On July 21st his curve was as follows: 8:00 a.m. 552; 3:00 p.m. 275; 6:00 p.m. 323; and 8:00 p.m. 377. On July 22nd the Vet increased Otis’ insulin to 9 units. On July 23rd his curve numbers were: 8:30 a.m. 691; 1:30 p.m. 193; 3:00 p.m. 220; and 7:30 p.m. 479.
On July 24th the Vet had us switch back to 7 units of Vetsulin, and increased it to 8 units on July 26th. As of today July 29th we only have a couple of readings and they are as follows: 7:00 a.m. 437 (fasting); 8:30 a.m. 578; 10:30 a.m. 456; 12:30 p.m. 267. On August 1st the Vet increased his Vetsulin to 9 units, and advised us to do readings on August 2nd.
There have been two ACHT stimulation tests done, and we were told that everything looks good. We are not sure what that means, but we were assured everything was fine. Although we are still waiting for the glucose curve to come into a normal range.
We do love our dog, but we are a retired couple, living on a fixed income, and we are already into this for almost $4,000. We have been back and forth between the Novolin and the Vetsulin twice and it just doesn’t seem to be working. Can anyone offer some advise?
We were instructed to keep him on his same diet (1/3 can of ID twice daily, and evening snack of ¼ cup of dry ID), with the exception of cutting back on his mini bones. As a matter of information Otis thrived on this diet for several years.
For the first couple of weeks everything seemed to be going smoothly, our problems seemed to be solved. There were several curves, and all seemed to be going well until April 25th. He started to show a major change in his curve, and the Vet changed his insulin to 5 units twice daily. That was the last time that Otis had a normal curve, and we started noticing a significant weight loss.
After several attempts to get a curve, the Vet would become frustrated and send him home before the second or third test could be done. Not only was the Vet frustrated, but we were becoming very upset because the costs were still increasing, and we were not getting results.
On April 29th we increased his food to ½ can of ID with some dry food mixed in.
A couple of weeks later the Vet started to theorize that maybe he had Cushion’s disease. We thought that was a big leap, and fought the expense of having the test done.
On May 3rd, Otis acted sick all day, and we made an appointment with the Vet (not our normal Vet, but in the same practice) for May 4th. The result of this visit was a diagnosis of Pancreatitis. After giving him several medications for a period of 10 days he started to get better. One of the medications she prescribed was Denamarin for liver rejuvenation for 30 days. While on this medication his curve started to become more realistic, maybe this was just a coincidence.
On May 10th, Otis decided to stop eating his ID wet food, and thank God we had a can of W/D on hand. He did eat the W/D and has been on it ever since.
On May 17th after a couple of low blood glucose readings, the Vet reduced his insulin dosage back to 4 units twice daily. Now she was really starting to push the Cushion’s diagnosis. She assured us that once the Cushions was under control, we would get control over the insulin.
On May 28th, Otis started Vetoryl 30 mg once a day. Otis’ May 29th blood glucose readings were; 7:00 a.m. 212; 2:00 p.m. 190; 8:20 p.m. 144. We thought this was great.
June 12th was the last day of the Denamarin. The next day Otis’ glucose readings were: 10:45 a.m. 308; 12:45 p.m. 223; 5:45 p.m. 352; 7:45 p.m. 415. The next day, the Vet changed his dosage to 6 units twice daily. On June 24th we had the following readings: 9:00 a.m. 208; 11:00 a.m. 108; 2:00 p.m. 124; 4:00 p.m. 286; 6:00 p.m. 308; and 9:00 p.m. 480. This is the last time we have seen anything that looks like it was near normal.
On June 30th we switched from Novolin N to 4 units of Vetsulin. And it was increased to 5 units on July 1st, and increased again to 6 units on July 6th. On July 8th Otis’ curve results were: 9:40 a.m. 429; 11:30 a.m. 254; 2:00 p.m. 92; 4:00 p.m. 259; 6:00 p.m. 225; 7:45 p.m. 343. Otis’ July 15th curve was as follows: 8:00 a.m. 371; 10:00 a.m. 202; 12:00 p.m. 185; 2:00 p.m. 420; 4:00 p.m. 681.
On July 16th, the Vet changed Otis back to 6 units of Novolin N, and increased it to 7 units the next day. On July 19th she again increased the insulin to 8 units. On July 21st his curve was as follows: 8:00 a.m. 552; 3:00 p.m. 275; 6:00 p.m. 323; and 8:00 p.m. 377. On July 22nd the Vet increased Otis’ insulin to 9 units. On July 23rd his curve numbers were: 8:30 a.m. 691; 1:30 p.m. 193; 3:00 p.m. 220; and 7:30 p.m. 479.
On July 24th the Vet had us switch back to 7 units of Vetsulin, and increased it to 8 units on July 26th. As of today July 29th we only have a couple of readings and they are as follows: 7:00 a.m. 437 (fasting); 8:30 a.m. 578; 10:30 a.m. 456; 12:30 p.m. 267. On August 1st the Vet increased his Vetsulin to 9 units, and advised us to do readings on August 2nd.
There have been two ACHT stimulation tests done, and we were told that everything looks good. We are not sure what that means, but we were assured everything was fine. Although we are still waiting for the glucose curve to come into a normal range.
We do love our dog, but we are a retired couple, living on a fixed income, and we are already into this for almost $4,000. We have been back and forth between the Novolin and the Vetsulin twice and it just doesn’t seem to be working. Can anyone offer some advise?
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