Her name is Sadie

[Ledvedder]

Hi everyone! I'm new to the forum. My 10 yo lab/shepherd mix was just diagnosed with diabetes this past Wednesday. I was noticing that she was drinking and urinating much more frequently. I scheduled a vet appt. and had blood and urine analysis done. Her blood sugar came back at 461. So, now things have to change. She was eating Nutro Max dry food. I've switched her to Taste of the Wild. We're going back to the vet tonight to go over the insulin injections. I have so many questions. She is a chewer and loves to have her chews each night. Otherwise, she gets extremely anxious. Now I need to figure out what types of chews she can have, if any.

Anyway, I just wanted to introduce Sadie and myself. It seems our story has just begun and I hope it continues for quite a while longer.

[LizE]

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like everything is going as well as can be expected.

There's a lot of information to digest right away so don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions.

It will be interesting to hear what your vet says about the chewies. Vet's always seem to like a lot of discipline in feeding times and limited snacks but the flip side for you is added stress your dog is under when not given an outlet.

I built snacks into my daily dog's daily routine. Not supposed to do it but I am consistent about it. My philosophy is a little different than most though because of my dog's age and her relative ease in being regulated. I hope you can find a solution that works out for your dog.

[Judi]

we built treats into our dog's routine too like Liz did. I figured what was the point if she couldn't be a dog.

I know some dogs really enjoy deer antlers. Would Sadie like those?

We've had some dogs live a long long time with diabetes around here. Good luck Sadie!

[Ledvedder]

Thank you! My vet said there's that fine line between discipline and quality of life. And since Sadie is used to getting her chews, then there's no reason to stop. She recommended staying away from any of the "basted" or flavored chews. Stick with all natural stuff. She never really took to deer antlers. I picked up a package of "buffalo cheek" chews yesterday. Sadie seemed to really enjoy one of them last night.

Today is her birthday!

[Raysaint]

The only thing with natural chews is the protein level. Can affect some dogs, with some erratic blood sugar numbers.
Probably be hard to tell until you get the dog regulated, which takes time. Please be patient and don't fret the numbers for a while.

[Ledvedder]

Thanks for all of the information so far. I guess I'm going to have to try some different dry foods because she doesn't seem to like the Taste of the Wild. She just noses at her food bowl.

[Raysaint]

Look for foods that are somewhat low in fat, with moderate protein and fiber.
And you can add things to the food to enhance fiber, and might help make the food more appealing.

I add a bit of pureed pumpkin, sweet potato, pinto beans/oatmeal puree, wild blueberries, etc. I don't add all of those every meal, I switch it up.

Good fiber and good nutrients for the eyes.

[Ledvedder]

I bought a few cans of the Taste of the Wild wet floor and mixed a spoonful with her dry food. She gobbled it down. I'm not a big fan of wet food, but I suppose I have to do what works best.

We're now on day 2 of 15 units twice a day. All seems well so far.

[Raysaint]

That's exactly it, do what works for your dog, as long as the guidelines are followed.

My dog has only had wet food. It's not as processed as dry, and has more moisture, which he needs.

[k9diabetes]

I am late in wishing Sadie a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Wishing her many more years with you.

Natalie