Diabetic Yorkie

[nj234]

Hello to all. I am new and wondering if there is anyone here that has a diabetic yorkie. Jake has had bouts of pancreatitis and he became diabetic. If anyone on here can help me with tips on not hurting him during injections, or any tips at all with diet, (vet insists on W/d Hills prescription diet, or what treats, anything to help me with Jake, he and I would be grateful. Vet also said he would go blind. Any opinion on this? Also he is not regulated as it has been only (?) 2 weeks. Does this always take this long? He is still at 326 glucose at the 6 hour mark after injection. What amount of insulin are any of your dogs on? Jake is receiving 2 -1/2. thanks to all of you for any help. Jakie thanks you too! Norma Jean

[mojo]

I'm sorry you are going through this. I don't have a dog with diabetes, but hopefully somebody will come along who can help you.
I do have a dog with addison's and once in a while I will give her her shot and I hate it, have to give it in the muscle. Normally I will just take her to the vet to get it.
I was wondering about your vet saying your dog will go blind. I know it happens in people, but seems like that is only if they don't take proper care of themselves, don't eat well or take their medication.

Welcome to YT and hope you find the help you need!

[dwerten]

ladymom has a diabetic maltese and knows alot about it - you can pm her - post this in the sick and injured section as she will see it there and help you

[AprilLove]

I dont' have a Yorkie with diabetes, but my Bichon had diabetes and I had to give him two shots of insulin a day, for the last three years he was with me.
The shots never hurt him. Once I got used to giving him shots, it was second nature to him and I. I would pinch and lift a small spot of skin between the shoulder blades, then inject. The vets should be able to show you how to do it in their office, so you can do it in front of them and they can help advise you on the correct way to inject and how to fill the needle with the insulin (air bubbles) You only want the needle under the skin not in muscle.
One piece of advise: use the smallest guage needle available. I used a 31 gauge, the smallest available.
The point of injection should change also, so not to toughen the spots where he is injected by repeated use. I used the circle method on my Bailey.
As for food, I kept my boy on a senior low fat diet, canidae formula. It worked for him, but he didn't have pancreatitis or other issues.

It took about 3 months to get my little guy regulated, the vets will start at a basic per lb dose of insulin and check his progress via blood draws.

So sorry about your little guy Jake, but it is a very manageable condition, the hardest is always in the beginning when diagnosis and regulation take some time.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by nj234

Hello to all. I am new and wondering if there is anyone here that has a diabetic yorkie. Jake has had bouts of pancreatitis and he became diabetic. If anyone on here can help me with tips on not hurting him during injections, or any tips at all with diet, (vet insists on W/d Hills prescription diet, or what treats, anything to help me with Jake, he and I would be grateful. Vet also said he would go blind. Any opinion on this? Also he is not regulated as it has been only (?) 2 weeks. Does this always take this long? He is still at 326 glucose at the 6 hour mark after injection. What amount of insulin are any of your dogs on? Jake is receiving 2 -1/2. thanks to all of you for any help. Jakie thanks you too! Norma Jean

Lady has been diabetic for almost eight years. I will try to answer some of your questions here, but I will also pm you.

Repeated bouts of pancreas can lead to diabetes since the pancreas produces insulin.

Regulation can take a few weeks, but being at 326 at his peak two weeks out is way too high! He runs the risk of ketoacidosis with numbers that high.

How much does he weigh? The general rule is 1/2 unit of insulin per pound, but it's not a one size fits all dose. Infections can make them impossible to regulate. Many new diabetics have urinary tract infections. Did your vet check and prescribe an antibiotic if necessary?

I will always be thankful to my vet who hospitalizes her newly diagnosed diabetic patients. Your vet can safely get them closer to regulation in a hospital setting. They can watch for insulin overdose and constantly check blood glucose. Lady came home on 3 units of insulin and, 8 years later, still gets that amount.

The slower way, where new diabetics are sent home w/inexperienced owners and just checked every two weeks and insulin is adjusted very slowly, is one of the main reason most diabetic dogs go blind in the first 9 months after diagnosis. Lady has never lost her vision. Cataracts form almost immediately after becoming diabetic. Since Lady was regulated so quickly and I have kept her diabetes under control, they have never matured.

Injections really don't hurt them. I use a 31 gauge needle. Lady gets a treat as soon as she gets her injection. She is so used to the drill, she waits for her shot after she finishes her meal.

[nj234]

Thank you! You have helped me a lot. I am two weeks into this and your e mail gives me encouragement. I look to hear from others on this board and want to thank anyone for their help. Blessings to you little one. I have had yorkies for over 30 years and never had a problem till now. This little guy is my love ...so sad and so hard to watch this. Worried about his blindness and using an eyedrop called" EYE SEE CLEARLY", AGAIN THANK YOU! Norma Jean

[nj234]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

Lady has been diabetic for almost eight years. I will try to answer some of your questions here, but I will also pm you.

Repeated bouts of pancreas can lead to diabetes since the pancreas produces insulin.

Regulation can take a few weeks, but being at 326 at his peak two weeks out is way too high! He runs the risk of ketoacidosis with numbers that high.

How much does he weigh? The general rule is 1/2 unit of insulin per pound, but it's not a one size fits all dose. Infections can make them impossible to regulate. Many new diabetics have urinary tract infections. Did your vet check and prescribe an antibiotic if necessary?

I will always be thankful to my vet who hospitalizes her newly diagnosed diabetic patients. Your vet can safely get them closer to regulation in a hospital setting. They can watch for insulin overdose and constantly check blood glucose. Lady came home on 3 units of insulin and, 8 years later, still gets that amount.

The slower way, where new diabetics are sent home w/inexperienced owners and just checked every two weeks and insulin is adjusted very slowly, is one of the main reason most diabetic dogs go blind in the first 9 months after diagnosis. Lady has never lost her vision. Cataracts form almost immediately after becoming diabetic. Since Lady was regulated so quickly and I have kept her diabetes under control, they have never matured.

Injections really don't hurt them. I use a 31 gauge needle. Lady gets a treat as soon as she gets her injection. She is so used to the drill, she waits for her shot after she finishes her meal.

Appreciate all of this and am frightened. I have a pet glucose meter. It is not an option now to hospitalize. Just Jacob being there in the vet setting throws him into a pancreatitic attack. He cannot handle the office. I bought the glucose meter for pets. I do a glucose curve. I am told today to raise the dose another 1/2 unit. This will be 3 units now and am to call the Vet in 3 days. I do not know, hospitalization for this pancreatic dog who may also have Cushings is not an option. I also have glucose readings and keto readings I do with almost every urine. All well with ketones. Thank you for helping me. Norma Jean

[nj234]

I forgot to add jake is now 81/2 # and now will be on 3 units hoping to reduce this 326 at the 6 hr mark! Yes I am very nervous this is taking so long. Norma Jean

[Ladymom]

I am glad you are checking his blood sugar yourself. That is the key to keeping diabetes under control IMO. Since you can check his BG yourself, hopefully your vet will let you up is dosage a little more quickly. It takes about 3- 4 days for the body to adjust to a new dose, then the dosage can be adjusted.

If he possibly has Cushings, that can make regulation difficult. Did you get the links I sent you last night? There is information about diabetes and Cushings. Unfortunately, sometimes they occur together.

I forgot to ask you what type of insulin you are using.

Eye drops really won't help prevent blindness. Getting him regulated quickly and keeping his diabetes under control is the key. Has your vet checked his eyes? Cataracts can form almost immediately. I have known cases where blindness was the first symptom the owner noticed when her dog became diabetic.

Pets with Diabetes - Petdiabetes.org: Cataracts and Dry Eye

Lady does have dry eye, another side effect of diabetes. It's very important for a diabetic dog to be under the care of an ophthalmologist. Lady gets a yearly checkup, but is prone to eye infections, uveitis and ulcers like all diabetics so we are usually in there more often.

[nj234]

Thanks to all here helping me. Goodness I am having trouble as a new owner knowing where to post and how to do all of this. Administrator tells me to reply with update and thought I did! Wow...for now if I make mistakes forgive me. I am grateful to all of you. I will try and get a reading to everyone on Jake on Thursday with this new insulin hike and the insulin IS......Novolin N...from Walmart. He is registering glucose of HI (off the meter) in the morning . My question. Would you increase it ONE WHOLE unit or should increase be half units to be sure of no hypoglycemic incident with too much too fast. One more question to all who are regulated. Do any of you check with glucose strips and if your yorkies are regulated what is the reading as my vet said that THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE GLUCOSE IN URINE. No Ketones BUT glucose reading should show sugar he said. SO SO many thanks to all! Using 30 gage needle...is 31 smaller? Norma Jean

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by nj234

Thanks to all here helping me. Goodness I am having trouble as a new owner knowing where to post and how to do all of this. Administrator tells me to reply with update and thought I did! Wow...for now if I make mistakes forgive me. I am grateful to all of you. I will try and get a reading to everyone on Jake on Thursday with this new insulin hike and the insulin IS......Novolin N...from Walmart. He is registering glucose of HI (off the meter) in the morning . My question. Would you increase it ONE WHOLE unit or should increase be half units to be sure of no hypoglycemic incident with too much too fast. One more question to all who are regulated. Do any of you check with glucose strips and if your yorkies are regulated what is the reading as my vet said that THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE GLUCOSE IN URINE. No Ketones BUT glucose reading should show sugar he said. SO SO many thanks to all! Using 30 gage needle...is 31 smaller? Norma Jean

Did you get the pm I sent you last night? The members on the canines diabetes forum are really going to be more helpful than those of us here on YT since so few have dogs w/diabetes.

Novolin N from Walmart is what I use. 30 gauge needles are fine. Are you giving two injections a day? NPH insulin only lasts 12 hours.

I am not sure why your vet would tell you it is normal for urine strips to show sugar. They should be negative. Glucose does not spill into the urine unless the blood glucose is too high.

Can you ask for a referral to an internal medicine vet? Some vets just don't see enough cases to be that familiar with diabetes. The fact that your guy might also have Cushings makes his case more complicated. If he were mine, I would take him to a specialist.

[nj234]

Sorry about this question...what does PM mean? I do see the links to the dry eye and diabetic forums for me to look at if that is what you mean. Also saw the facebook page. I am in a very small town of no specialists. Jake was at an internist long ago when I lived in ohio...this was always a sick dog. I felt I have kept him alive for all this time due to my care but right now this has me frazzled. Thanks for the help and will go on to the diabetic forum. Norma Jean

[mojo]

Originally Posted by nj234

Sorry about this question...what does PM mean? I do see the links to the dry eye and diabetic forums for me to look at if that is what you mean. Also saw the facebook page. I am in a very small town of no specialists. Jake was at an internist long ago when I lived in ohio...this was always a sick dog. I felt I have kept him alive for all this time due to my care but right now this has me frazzled. Thanks for the help and will go on to the diabetic forum. Norma Jean

A PM is a private message in your inbox. You should have gotten an email on your regular email account telling you you have a pm and you can click on it and it will take you to your message.

[AprilLove]

Originally Posted by nj234

Thanks to all here helping me. Goodness I am having trouble as a new owner knowing where to post and how to do all of this. Administrator tells me to reply with update and thought I did! Wow...for now if I make mistakes forgive me. I am grateful to all of you. I will try and get a reading to everyone on Jake on Thursday with this new insulin hike and the insulin IS......Novolin N...from Walmart. He is registering glucose of HI (off the meter) in the morning . My question. Would you increase it ONE WHOLE unit or should increase be half units to be sure of no hypoglycemic incident with too much too fast. One more question to all who are regulated. Do any of you check with glucose strips and if your yorkies are regulated what is the reading as my vet said that THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE GLUCOSE IN URINE. No Ketones BUT glucose reading should show sugar he said. SO SO many thanks to all! Using 30 gage needle...is 31 smaller? Norma Jean

Yes, 31 gauge are smaller and may be more comfortable for your Jake.
I would not ask or expect anyone here to be able to give you dosing advise.. You should def be working with your vet on that.

Canine Diabetes