ex coordinator

I have a 12 year old cocker spaniel who has been a diabetic now for over a year.She was a rescue dog and we got her ,when she was 10 years old. I would have liked to have put her on other food rather than dry, but found that the dry is the more successful for her glucose levels to remain at the desired level. RoyalCanan and Hills Prescription WD mixed together has proved the best so far.I mix through this about a desert spoon full of canned maceral [from Franklins $1.34 a can] to make the dry food more tasty.Sometimes, some chicken fillet, no skin. She has to have two meals a day. She has lost weight, as she was a little overweight and has got down where she is now on a maintenance diet. Also, I can pay with the amount of food and give her two other small meals, one in the middle of the day and one late at night, if I feel she needs it. You have to be consistant with the time you feed your dog and give the insulin, each meal+ insulin about 12 hours apart from the next meal+insulin. She can have no treats and must have regular exercise.We take her twice a day and try to get her to be as active as possible ,running around if possible. She is a guts and ties to steal food from out Silky or the cats, from bins, picnicers etc. You can try the needle exchange for drug addicts, some chemists dont care who use the service. Seems wrong that drug addicts can get them free,and human diabetics, but not dogs. She has to go in monthly for the day to the vets to check her levels over a day, have regular urine tests.The worst thing is to get ketones in the urine sample, and this is where the diet is VERY important.Otherwise he kidneys suffer. I didnt think I would be able to do the insulin needles twice a day, but do it now without wincing,which I would do in the beginning. The eye sight is another important factor, and why the glucose levels must remain at a suitable level, as eventually they expect diabetic dogs to get cataracts. It is like anything, once you get into a routine, it becomes second nature. Good luck with your little one.

I too am not happy with Revolution, doesnt seem to be working, as there alwsys seem to be fleas, and of course scratching. I have used capstar to supplement it. I was reccommended Sentinel today and the dog seemed to be flea free, unlike mine. All these products are very expensive, worth it if they work, but annoying if they dont.

One of my dogs, a desexed male silky, aged about 8 ,was found to be incontinent over 3 years ago,with no apparent reason,despite all the tests and suggestions at the time, nothing worked. I know it upset him, plus he would get fungal infections from being damp in his groin.He would need frequent baths and bedding changes. I tried a lot of things, and FINALLY,about eighteen months ago, my wonderful vet after making further enquiries suggested I try a medication named INCURIN , and THANKFULLY,it worked. This medication was I believe originally designed for females, but can be given to males with no harm. He weighs about 4.5 kg, I gave it to him daily to begin with and now only have to give it to him every second day, with no side affects, and no accidents. If it is missed the incontinence does return.Another vet suggested once, that I stop the medication, which I tried and the incontinence immediatley returned. He is much happier now, [as are we!], and not smelly and no has not had any more fungal infections. Hope this works for your little chap .

Has anyone who has had a diabetic dog got a good diet they can reccommend. My diabetic girl does not have to lose any more weight, just maintain it. She is on WD but whilst it is working,in that her weight is constant, and her glucose levels okay, I think she is becoming bored with it and is forever looking for food. I did try and vary it, but a litle bit too much, makes her drink and pee all day, and send her glucose levels out of whack.