My diabetic dog (who lives with my aunt because we got a puppy last summer and already had another dog, so she went to live with her, still live in the same city) hasn't been eating, yet her blood sugar has been going up and down for no apparent reason. The vet my aunt has been seeing really isn't an expert in diabetes, and hasn't been a whole lot of help. We've tried different food, insulin adjustments, etc., and we haven't been seeing much of a difference. I'm afraid that this behavior could be slowly killing my dog, please help!

did you ever get an answer. My dog has recently been diagnosed as a diabetic and won't eat. We are in the honeymoon station which means we are in the emergcy clinic every weekend.

No, we never did. She did start eating though. First it was (raw) meat (no carbs, so it would hopefully level the blood sugar out more) mixed with flax seed, and then she stopped eating it . Then my aunt started grilling the meat (it's a LOT of work), and that's what she's eating now. But my aunt did notice that she was starting to eat some regular dog food two days ago, so she's going to try and slowly wean her off the meat, and see if she'll ever eat regular dog food again. As far as I'm concerned, she never really went through a honeymoon phase; in fact, the vet never told us about it, and we never learned what it was until my sister was diagnosed this year (just a few months after the dog was diagnosed). So, perhaps this could be part of the honeymoon phase?

Okay. So I was flipping through my sister's Pink Panther Diabetes Book, and found this:

Q: When our son was diagnosed with diabetes, he had been vomiting and had kept no food down for over 24 hours. Yet his blood sugar was over 1,000 mg/dl (55 mmol/L). How could that be when he had not eaten any sugar?

A: Insulin has several actions in the body. One is to alow all (or any) sugar to passs from the blood stream into cells where it can be burned for energy. A second function, which is emphasized in this Pink Panther book, is to shut off the body's own production of sugar (primarily from the liver). When insulin is not available, as in your son at the time of diagnosis, the liver production of sugar can be enormous. This likely accounted for the high blood sugar even though no sugar had been eaten.

So maybe we have a breakthrough? Also, my aunt wanted me to ask you if your dog was/has been on any medications other than insulin at this time. Her/Our dog (Caty) started all of this after she went on a heartworm medication, and we're wondering if this has an effect on her blood sugar, or -now that I found this new information- her liver.

Originally Posted by Taylor

My diabetic dog (who lives with my aunt because we got a puppy last summer and already had another dog, so she went to live with her, still live in the same city) hasn't been eating, yet her blood sugar has been going up and down for no apparent reason. The vet my aunt has been seeing really isn't an expert in diabetes, and hasn't been a whole lot of help. We've tried different food, insulin adjustments, etc., and we haven't been seeing much of a difference. I'm afraid that this behavior could be slowly killing my dog, please help!

i just signed up after reading "help my dog wont eat". i went through that for almost 2 years, it was a living nightmare, i was a wreck, i lost weight, no sleep, so frustrating. The 1st year she ate pretty good but her sugar was always wacked out and at the vet twice a week and calling often, i guess he got fed up with us, even though we spent at leat a $100 a week, so he finally tells me to use my own judgement and give her whatever dose of insulin i think!! so we switched vets and he wanted to do a curve ASAP since her level was at 453. When we brought her home, that was it, she stopped eating breakfast, she would eat a cookie or 2 then i could give her a shot. i would 3-4 cans of food, dry food, nothing worked, I would just sit down and cry. Then this past january I tried hard boiled eggs and scrambled with a little bacon bits, sometimes rice and some pasta and it worked and in a couple months she was back to can food again until a few weeks ago, she started snubbing her nose to breakfast again so its back to my old tricks. The problem is that her sugar is wacky again, she hardly sleeps at night and she paces the house for hours, plus she went blind and she's bumping into everything until she finally passes out. The vet says we have to switch to Vetsulin, since her Humulin L is discontinued and I'm scared of this because this means another curve and not eating and trying to get regulated again. Hope this helps alittle. Also anyone out there switch to Vetsulin?

Hi, My name is Scenie and our 15 year old dog was diagnosed in November with Diabetes. The Vet started him on Vetsulin and the poor fellow has had so many problems since November. He started with no appetite and vomitting and excessive thirsting and frequent urination(uncontrolably). They started giving him 5cc twice a day and gradually got him up to 8cc twice a day and the vet also changed his food right away to W/D. My doggy does not like that food. WHen his insuling level is high he is starving and when it is very low he won't eat and he vomits too no matter if it is high or low. He has lost over 3 lbs since November. This is not good as he is a Chihauhau (sp). We are at the vet's office 3-4 times a week. His insulin this last visit was only 30 so the vet started decreasing his insuling once again and gradully giving it back to him and now we are up to 7cc again. He goes back on Monday to stay all day again so the vet can check his insulin at 11 and again at 3. I think it is just guess work on his part right now. The vet doesn't seem to be very informative on dogs with diabeties. My mother suggested to boil chicken and pull the meat off bones and give it to him (no skin). And to feed him fresh cooked veggies. To treat him just like a diabetic human. I know his vet has referred to his condition as the same as a human. WIll this help or harm him. I don't have a way of checking his insulin to see if it is high or low. I just have to watch his behavior.
I know nothing on dogs with diabeties! Vet has nothing to offer us as far as information goes. Can anyone help by telling us what we can do to help our dog? He nees to eat but we're afraid to give him anything other than W/D. The vet really stresses the fact that he shouldn't eat anything but that. And he sells the stuff.

Thank you for any info you can share. I am very grateful!
Truely,
Scenie

I think I would follow what your mom suggested. Diabetes in dogs isn't much different than humans. I don't like a vet suggesting a certain food when they sell it themselves. Make sure you boil the chicken, not roasted,and you can mix white rice with it. A scrambled egg is good also. If your dog still refuses to eat, maybe you could look for a second opinion for the severity of his condition.

Originally Posted by Scenie

Can anyone help by telling us what we can do to help our dog? He nees to eat but we're afraid to give him anything other than W/D. The vet really stresses the fact that he shouldn't eat anything but that. And he sells the stuff.
Thank you for any info you can share. I am very grateful!
Truely,
Scenie

HI, I am Pat, I am new to this board, but when i saw u had a diabetic furbaby I wanted to post.

I have a toy poodle her name is Baby she was Dx in Oct of 2002, Just aweek ago she got switched on the insulin she was on, she was taking the human L insulin, well now she is taking the Vetsulin.

With her being a Diabetic my Vet Highly recommends the I/d can food, instead of the w/d, baby use to eat that, but the i/d is alot better for a diabetic furbaby!!! Maybe you could give that a try.

The boiled chicken with out the skin would be fine, that is what i had to start baby out on when she was first Dx... My vet told me it was ok to feed her that. but make sure all the skin is OFF, b/c you do not want to give them pancreas problems more than what they already have.

Also you can get the dip urine test sticks that are made by Bayer to check for Glucose in the urine. It is color coded on the bottle. Ihave been using them for years on Baby. It does not give you a straight out reading like ametter would, but it would tell you if it is high, by going by the colors on the bottle, You compare them colors to the color of the urine stick after 30 seconds. Follow me? They are about 10 bucks for 50 count of them, can be found at any drug store. and i normally test baby 3 to 4 times a day.

when she was fist dx her glucose was over 700. she is doing really well now, but since they quit making her human L insulin and we had to go to the Vetsulin we are having to get her regulaed all over again, on the new Insulin.

GoodLuck to you and you're furbaby!

Scenie, If you go the chicken and veggie route, make sure to cook and puree the veggies, as a dogs digestive tract cannot deal well with veggies. That way pureed, he will digest alot more.

Thank you for all the great info on what to feed my poor baby. His name is Freckle and he is nearly 15 1/2 years old. He was so sick and not eating and I was just guessing what was wrong that day I knew his insulin had to be either too high or too low but no idea which. But I took it on my own to give him some Nutri-Cal (this is usually given if the insulin level has bottomed out) and he did eat that and he finally stopped vomitting and slept good for a couple hours (I kept very close eye on him) and when he woke up I got him to eat a tinyu bit of canned W/D. It took him the rest of that day to recoup.
I have since bought a gluecose testing meter and will figure this thing out today and use it 6 times a day. I will test him before meals and after and before bed time. I read that you can prick them either three places being: the rear paw pad on upper section that he doesn't walk on, the upper lip on inside or the small soft lope on ear. Freckle isn't good at getting his shots so I am expecting a tiger when we start to do this test.

Thank you to all whom replied to my desperate question. I appreciate you all dearly. I will return often to read future posts.

Thanks again,
Scenie

My little cairn was diagnosed yesterday with diabetes. I had a schnauzer that also had diabetes. He was elderly and had other complications. He developed cataracts and glaucoma, eventually losing one eye. He lived about 14 mos. after diabetes diagnosis. Now with my little Molly I want to act quickly to get her regulated and eating what she needs. My Vet has her on Humulin N. I just read about Vetsulin and will ask about that. The food recommended was W/D. Molly won't touch the stuff. Thank goodness my Vet sent home a back up. Molly will eat Royal Canin. This is her first day so am keeping my fingers crossed she will continue liking it. She is used to a nightly treat and can no longer have the jerky or biscuit she used to have. I checked out the treat aisle at the store and found Uncle Sam's Chicken Sesame Natural chicken treat. It is like a jerky - dried chicken with sesame seeds. I'm seeing the Vet tomorrow and am taking this along to get her okay. I gave a tiny piece to Molly last night and she loves it. Hopefully it will be on the 'okay' list. I've been online reading about dog diabetes. Everyone says a high fiber diet is a must. If anyone has tips that have worked with their finicky eating pets, I'd love to hear them .... especially cost effective hints!

Originally Posted by Scenie

Hi, My name is Scenie and our 15 year old dog was diagnosed in November with Diabetes. The Vet started him on Vetsulin and the poor fellow has had so many problems since November. He started with no appetite and vomitting and excessive thirsting and frequent urination(uncontrolably). They started giving him 5cc twice a day and gradually got him up to 8cc twice a day and the vet also changed his food right away to W/D. My doggy does not like that food. WHen his insuling level is high he is starving and when it is very low he won't eat and he vomits too no matter if it is high or low. He has lost over 3 lbs since November. This is not good as he is a Chihauhau (sp). We are at the vet's office 3-4 times a week. His insulin this last visit was only 30 so the vet started decreasing his insuling once again and gradully giving it back to him and now we are up to 7cc again. He goes back on Monday to stay all day again so the vet can check his insulin at 11 and again at 3. I think it is just guess work on his part right now. The vet doesn't seem to be very informative on dogs with diabeties. My mother suggested to boil chicken and pull the meat off bones and give it to him (no skin). And to feed him fresh cooked veggies. To treat him just like a diabetic human. I know his vet has referred to his condition as the same as a human. WIll this help or harm him. I don't have a way of checking his insulin to see if it is high or low. I just have to watch his behavior.
I know nothing on dogs with diabeties! Vet has nothing to offer us as far as information goes. Can anyone help by telling us what we can do to help our dog? He nees to eat but we're afraid to give him anything other than W/D. The vet really stresses the fact that he shouldn't eat anything but that. And he sells the stuff.

Thank you for any info you can share. I am very grateful!
Truely,
Scenie

It is now May; how is your dog? You posted in January about an elderly dog with diabetes? My dog, Dakota, is only 9 1/2 and about 6 months ago has been diagnosed with diabetes. She is a mixed breed, mixed with a dog breed that is known for its longetivity. This disease has robbed her of her sight, her appetite and about 12 pounds. Which is quite a bit since she only weighed 37 pounds to begin with. She was a very playful, feisty dog and I look at her now and she has wasted away to a thin, sad, pitiful dog. She is on Vetsulin twice a day, once in the morning with 7 units and once at night with 4. We tried to do 7 in the morning and 7 at night, but the 7 at night just made her crash; she was very lethargic and wouldn't move. I gave her some maple syrup (only syrup I had on hand) and she perked up a bit. I fed her chicken breast for a few days and she seemed a little better. This was at the beginning. She quit eating her senior kibble, so the vet suggested I give her chicken breast, veggies, cottage cheese and steamed rice. Mix it up a little, he said, with some ground beef and change the veggies around a little; whatever was on hand or left over from your meal. Just don't have lots of butter and salt on it or none at all is better. I did that for a few weeks and then my daschund decided HE wasn't going to eat kibble, too, so I fed them both this diet. Now I have two kids and a husband to care for, too. I am a stay at home mom with little breaks from it all. Just keep that in mind. So I did some more research and he suggested Urban Wolf. Now he doesn't sell it, just heard it was good. That also requires some preparation and the meat is usually served raw. Well, he suggested I cook it some at first, not to give her raw meat at first, so I've been cooking it less and less as I prepare it. I only have to prepare it about once a week or six days, so it goes a little better. She LOVED it, put on a few pounds, felt better, even played around. It was also suggested I give her some raw soup bones from the butcher (about a buck a piece) and that would satisfy her hunger and her need for chewing, which I thought dogs grew out of, but really don't. We had to adjust her feeding amounts, but it seems to work. Now, this morning, I woke up to 5-6 urine, feces and vomit spots all over the house. We just bought this house in August of last year and no one lived in it before us. It was new; a model home. My son's room smells like a kennel; I've purchased a steam cleaner (DO NOT BUY BISSELL!) and no matter how much I run it, it still smells bad. Her favorite spot, though, is in front of the fireplace, which is where she really empties that bladder that seems to hold gallons. This morning, she was quite thirsty (all that vomiting, I guess) and drank her entire bowl in one sitting and has throw it up about 4 times. Three times on the carpet and once on the kitchen floor. I should not have let her drink it all, but I'm trying to get kids up and around for church, so I didn't pay much attention. Plus, I was kinda ticked at having to clean up all those spots on the carpet. Now, she won't eat breakfast; I've given her her shot, but she wants to lay in the dark bathroom on the rug. My husband's out of town; it's Sunday and I can't reach the vet. If I knew my husband would be home on Tuesday (which is what he thinks), then I'd hold off on taking her in, but I really think it's time to consider putting her down. She's blind, she can't jump on the bed anymore and she won't eat and can't keep anything down. She's been vomiting for about 4 days about 3 times a day, whatever I feed her. I skipped feeding her lunch yesterday because I'm afraid she'll just throw it up, but that may not have been good given she has diabetes. I just don't know what to do, but I'll post whatever it is I decide. It depends on how long I can go on, but she looks so miserable and I don't want her to live this way; I won't let her. She's so loyal and sweet and has been excellent with our kids since day one. She was here first; then they joined us. She's been around pretty much our entire married lives. I guess I just wanted to get off my chest my frustration; I can't reach my husband by cell or the vet, who has been very helpful and sympathetic. He's very gentle and loving with our pets and his family has been to the house for dinner. They are great people. I am lucky that way. Thanks fo reading this; let me know how your dog did.

Wondering if there are any highly recommended dog foods out there for diabetic dogs? My parents have a 9 year old Shiba Inu that's eating their vet's products. Which is fine but the rice in it makes him throw up. So my parents spend 2+ hours/day removing all the bits of rice.

Any suggestions would be really appreciated!

Ghost town. Thanks.

I agree with the urine strips to keep track of sugars. It isn't right on target, but close enough you should be able to judge how much insulin to give. I had a rat terrier get diabetes at teh age of 12. At first it was touch and go with insulin and trying to get sugars. Went the lip puncture and ear puncture route for awhile and never could get enough blood to take a accurate test. Finally gave up and did the urine strips. Also I might add, I did take her in to the Vet every six weeks or so and have them check sugars too. She lived for another two years, getting shots twice a day.
To get the urine for the strips, take a soup ladle, and when they squat or lift their leg, ....you got it! Look a little silly following them around the yard, but what the heck....

Hello,
I have a 4 yr old min-pin she was diagnosed 4/5/2008 she is onn 5U 2X daily of Vetsulin...she is not completely regulated yet. I cook all her food and treats. She eats either boiled chicken, boiled beef, boiled chicken livers, or baked chicken along with cooked pearl barley and some veggies like zucchini, green beans, broccoli, etc. There is another site you will just love...the people there will answer all questions as quickly as possible and from parents of diabetic doggies with experience. A wonderful place to be! it is Pets With Diabetes - Message Board - Yuku . Good Luck!

:-D

Originally Posted by Scenie

Hi, My name is Scenie and our 15 year old dog was diagnosed in November with Diabetes. The Vet started him on Vetsulin and the poor fellow has had so many problems since November. He started with no appetite and vomitting and excessive thirsting and frequent urination(uncontrolably). They started giving him 5cc twice a day and gradually got him up to 8cc twice a day and the vet also changed his food right away to W/D. My doggy does not like that food. WHen his insuling level is high he is starving and when it is very low he won't eat and he vomits too no matter if it is high or low. He has lost over 3 lbs since November. This is not good as he is a Chihauhau (sp). We are at the vet's office 3-4 times a week. His insulin this last visit was only 30 so the vet started decreasing his insuling once again and gradully giving it back to him and now we are up to 7cc again. He goes back on Monday to stay all day again so the vet can check his insulin at 11 and again at 3. I think it is just guess work on his part right now. The vet doesn't seem to be very informative on dogs with diabeties. My mother suggested to boil chicken and pull the meat off bones and give it to him (no skin). And to feed him fresh cooked veggies. To treat him just like a diabetic human. I know his vet has referred to his condition as the same as a human. WIll this help or harm him. I don't have a way of checking his insulin to see if it is high or low. I just have to watch his behavior.
I know nothing on dogs with diabeties! Vet has nothing to offer us as far as information goes. Can anyone help by telling us what we can do to help our dog? He nees to eat but we're afraid to give him anything other than W/D. The vet really stresses the fact that he shouldn't eat anything but that. And he sells the stuff.

Thank you for any info you can share. I am very grateful!
Truely,
Scenie

I have just joined the site and relief to find that I am not the only dog owner near breaking point with my diabetic dog refusing to eat. She is greatly overweight and needs to lose a great deal to add to her problems. We have been advised to give her Chappie 1 tin in two halves daily...nothing else. Ate less than a quarter at breakfast so could only give her 10 of the 20 insulin advised...same on the evening. We have been like this for a week, now have the prescription food from the vet, Hills, but still refusing to eat!! They haven't given us any 'normal' type food we can give her perhaps to stimulate her appetite. She is hungry and if the problem was just the weight then we could just leave her to get on with it until realization that nothing else was on offer but we can't give her the insulin. I too am on a learning curve and terrified to give her anything which may make the problem worse. So any input would be so welcome. Thanks.

This is slightly off topic, but am I the only one here who's bothered by the idea of someone getting a puppy then shlepping off their old diabetic dog to a relative? It's clear that you still care about the older dog. I just don't understand how you could send her off to live elsewhere simply because you felt the need to get a new puppy...

My Yellow Lab Annie Oakley has diabetes. She is only eight years old. It is really frustrating when you are guessing at everything, trying to make them eat when you know you have to give them insulin shots. Blood is so hard to check on any dog. I have tried everything to help her. She is a kind and sweet lab that will let anyone do anything to her. But getting her sugar under control has proven to be difficult.
She refusing to eat at times. I cook for her twice a day. I am careful to give her only healthy food such as ground turkey, with brown rice, and wheat bran mixture flavored with mashed broccoli or carrots. I grill skinless chicken breast for her and give her rice or whole wheat spaghetti. She grows tired of her food very easily and most time I have to hand feed her. Even then she will spit it back out. If I give her something she should not have like a lean Hamburg grilled...she will eat it and beg for more. She loves steak and roast beef but these are things she should not have because of her pancreas. I have tried dog foods that I bought from our vet..(called ID prescription dog food)…but she wont eat that either. I keep a bottle of Kayro syrup handy and check her blood as often as I can. I adjust her insulin according to her level. She has lost her sight and now I am her seeing-eye friend. But, I would not part with her for anything reason. She loves our grandchildren. She finds her water dish and as long as I don’t move furniture around she can walk around the house without bumping into something. I take her on car rides and camping trips and she loves to go with me. I have spent a fortune at the vet . But she is worth every bit. I know if things were turned around and I was the one depending on her , she would do her best to take care of me. She is a beautiful loving dog. So, aside from all the frustration and helplessness feelings…I am lucky to have her. Good luck to all you dog lovers who feel the same way about your pets. God Bless.