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Dog diabetes... need advice

Discussion in 'Everything Else (off topic)' started by Stinny, May 9, 2017.

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  1. Stinny

    Stinny

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    Does anyone here have experience dealing with diabetes with their dogs? Specifically, Siberian huskies? Our son just found out their big male Yukon has it. Thanks...
     
    Stinny, May 9, 2017
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  2. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    Yes, my Rottweiler Baron had it many years ago.

    We were able to control it with medication. Box of syringes and medication right from the pharmacy. Will be tricky until your son gets the dose spot on, but will help once its dialed in. Peeing will go back to normal, special food suggested also.
     
    Well Seasoned, May 9, 2017
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  3. Jack Straw

    Jack Straw

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    I hope the pooch makes out well.
     
    Jack Straw, May 9, 2017
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  4. Redneck

    Redneck

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    We had a lab husky mix that had to have insulin shots every day. she was 5 when we started them she passed on two years ago at 14.
    If you have them checked at the vets and monitor it closely he will be fine.
     
    Redneck, May 9, 2017
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  5. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

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    Yes! :thumbs:
    And reassurance to boot!:yes:
     
    Eric VW, May 9, 2017
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  6. mike bayerl

    mike bayerl

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    As above, easy to treat. Sart slowly with the insulin gradually increase. Special diets may help a little, but more importantly, make sure the dog eats the same thing consistently. It can get pricey but there are some generic insulins out there that are much cheaper
     
    mike bayerl, May 9, 2017
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  7. Stinny

    Stinny

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    When you say pricey, any guesses as to what it will cost? I have no idea...
     
    Stinny, May 9, 2017
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  8. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    If i remember correctly, the insulin was about $15 per week and the box of syringes were around $50 and lasted around 3 weeks. This was 12 years ago. Good luck. These dogs can live a decent normal life with meds.




    On a side note, this just happens sometimes. Our rottie didn't overeat, and just one night, he had to pee in the middle of the night, something rare, he was 7 years old. Then he had to go an hour later, this was an hourly thing for a few days. We thought bladder infection, vet found diabetes.

    Once meds dialed in, the dog should do well.

    We still did multi day hikes, camping, keeping the insulin cool in a water tight container in the stream. Besides for injections, the pull up on the skin around the shoulder blades injection, everything was normal.
     
    Well Seasoned, May 9, 2017
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  9. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    Our previous cat had diabetes, special food it essential. There were certain spots for getting blood to test (our cat was the ear). Also, learning restraining techniques would be helpful. The actual meter was not too pricey, it was the strips..... We used human meter, strips, pricker thing (forgot the name of that thing), and insulin. Back in 2010 a vial of insulin was $100, it lasted forever for out cat.
     
    wildwest, May 9, 2017
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  10. Redneck

    Redneck

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    Work with your vet. Get the amount of insulin dialed in. Then work with your local pharmacies. We found that wal mart was the cheepest. It averaged out to about $75.00 a month, with vet bills, needles and insulin.
    Seems overwhelming and expensive at first. Until you see how much better they get and start to act like you remember them. Beleive me it is priceless.
     
    Redneck, May 9, 2017
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  11. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    ps, vet gave us scrip for pharmacy, less expensive than vet supplied insulin.
     
    wildwest, May 9, 2017
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  12. Locust Post

    Locust Post

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    We had a rat terrier that had insulin for the last 2 years of his life. Walmart is defiantly the most reasonable place to get the insulin and needles. It took a few vet visits to get the right amount figured out but after that it was not hard at all. I will tell you the blood check meter for a human is not calibrated correctly for an animal. I found this out as I thought I would buy one on e-bay which I did but compared it with the one the vet had for an animal and it did not register accurate so don't waste your money.
     
    Locust Post, May 9, 2017
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  13. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    They all have to be calibrated.
     
    wildwest, May 9, 2017
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  14. mike bayerl

    mike bayerl

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    It's been a few years, but everything people are saying seems right. Walmart has the generic insulin that is much less expensive than other pharmacies. I don't know if there are other suppliers that have joined in lately. If you shop around and buy needles in bulk, they can become inexpensive too. In fact, I think we have a stash of them sitting around here from our previous dog. I'd be happy to mail them to you. There is really no need for a meter. Dogs just don't need the super tight control that humans do. Work with your vet to get things under control and then just try to keep things in the dogs life as consistent as possible. Glucose and ketone dip sticks for urine are kind of nice to have just in case. If your dog is acting funny and/or peeing too much, just dip the urine. If there is glucose, then it needs more insulin. If there are ketones, probably time to go to the vet. But again, these are not at all necessary. We never used them.
     
    mike bayerl, May 10, 2017
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  15. Stinny

    Stinny

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    Thanks everyone. This info is very helpful.
     
    Stinny, May 10, 2017
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  16. Locust Post

    Locust Post

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    Maybe calibrated was not the correct term....the human ones do not read accurate for an animal, they make special ones for animals.
     
    Locust Post, May 10, 2017
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  17. Locust Post

    Locust Post

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    I agree, once we were back and forth to the vet and got the correct dose figured out it was easy from there.
     
    Locust Post, May 10, 2017
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  18. Armbru84

    Armbru84

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    Speaking from someone with the human kind...small changes are always best. Huge swings can really be bad when it comes to insulin. Consistency is key.
     
    Armbru84, May 10, 2017
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  19. Armbru84

    Armbru84

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    At Dennis's GTG everyone thought I had a pager/MP3 player...was my insulin pump. :picard:
     
    Armbru84, May 10, 2017
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  20. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

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    One of my good friends from University days was an early recipient of the pump. He got handy with that machine when the drinks started getting doled out....:drunk:
     
    Eric VW, May 10, 2017
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