I think I have a service dog!!!!!!
 

Some of you may already know I have Type II diabetes. It isn't that much of a problem for me since I try hard to keep it under control with diet and medication. Well, some of you may also know that Adie and I are a pair. She is a true Mama's girl and actually pouts every morning when I leave for work. It takes DH a long time to get her out of it but usually a game of fetch does the trick. I've never noticed (before) the following but am now going to be very tuned in to it.

Yesterday Adie was especially clingy, wouldn't leave me alone, in my face if I sat down etc. Not too long after that I had a drastic glucose drop and got so shaky I could barely think straight. Orange juice to the rescue. As I was recovering I got to thinking about how Adie was acting and I remembered that she had done that once before but I was thinking she acted that way AFTER I had the low blood sugar. She very well could have acted that way before that.

Anyway, I am checking into what it will take to get her tested or whatever I need to do to find out and then actually USE her as a service dog for me. I know that would thrill her to death if she could go everywhere with me.

Does anyone know what I should do next? I have just begun my Internet research.

I know exactly what you're talking about Lou. I was just reading yesterday that dogs can predict drops in sugar levels...something to do with what they smell at the time. I'll have to see if I can find where I read that again.

Aw thats a fabulous idea, Im sure Adie would wag her little tail off at the thought of being able to go everywhere with you! :D
Wishing you luck!

Thank you!
Wow just yesterday huh? Can we say karma?

Good luck Lou. Now make sure to watch your levels...and stay well!

Thanks! You are so sweet!
(I don't care what the others say about you!) :p

Wow, that would be great for you and her! I hope it works out :)

Wow! That would be AWESOME! I know nothing about it so I am no help but wanted to wish you luck. :)

I think that sounds great! How cool that your dog can actually smell that you need help! I'd love to hear how it goes. Please keep us posted.

hi there,
your little dog does not have to take a test or anything to become a service dog. you can train her on her own. What you do need is a letter from your Doctor . Then , go online to service dogs and read about that. You can buy cards , vests .
I think it is neat that your yorkie has picked up on the blood sugar drops. Sounds to me like she will make the perfect service dog for you.

I did some research on this a while back. It's actually common and very possible for your dog to assist you. I'll see if I can dig anything up.

Look how interesting: Dogs Sniffing Out Health Problems - Well Blog - NYTimes.com

Dogs Trained to Sniff Out Low Blood Sugar

Way to go Adie! Hope you're doing well and she keeps up the good work. I bet she would love to be with you all the time!

Wow, what an amazing little girl you have. Maybe that's why she's such a mommy's girl - she senses that you are sometimes ill and need protecting, and can't bear to be away from you. I hope you find a way for her to do her job 'round the clock and she's your little service companion!:p

just want to share my story
 

my lil peaches who passed away 9 - 7 - 08 used to wake me up in the middle of the night and my sugar was all ways low one night she could
not wake me so she got her daddy up when he got me awake my blood sugar was 18 scared to think of the consequence if she had not woke
up her daddy after that night she would sleep on my neck or shoulder
sure miss my lil one she was just under 2 pounds at 11 years old

just wanted to share she did this on her own from the time she was 6 months old

Pat

I'm in tears. Thank you all for caring so much, sharing your stories and doing research. It is just more than a heart can handle without crying for joy.

I'm gonna do it! I can't find anywhere in any state where service dogs have to be registered. And most states don't require a doctor's letter but I will get one just in case. I even found little pink service dog patches on ebay for crying out loud. LOL

I didn't share this on this thread but I did tell a member in a pm that I am not on insulin shots yet but the doctor says it will be soon because we are starting to have trouble keeping things in balance. There are a couple of more medications to try but it doesn't look good. In fact he says that it is unavoidable. I cried when he told me that because I have been so good about diet and monitoring and all. BUT knowing that little Ms Adie may help protect me makes it so much easier to accept!

Thanks again y'all. You are the best!

To get her registered as a "Service Dog" you have to take her to obiedience classes and then take her to a therapy class. Then, she has to pass the handling test.

I'm doing that with Fynnlie. He's going to be a 'chair therapy dog' and he's in his first round of classes. :)

I'm so happy for you. A friend of a friend of mine had a diabetes service dog. I don't know all the details, but I do believe he got this dog from a woman in California who visits shelters, rescues dogs and then trains them to be diabetic service dogs.

I may be able to put you in contact with this woman. I'm working on it.

Here is another thread I found here on YT for those who are interested.
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/tra...rvice-dog.html

Hi Lou,
I did get a letter for my service dog from a Doctor. however, that was to have her in the apt. i live at, because of the No pet policy. You are right that you do not have to take classess in order to have a service dog legally. I like to have a vest or something like that to "show" people that she is one , when you have her with you out in public.
A therapy dog is different then a serice dog, they are not the same thing. Therapy dogs work with the public and do need training ....

Good luck Lou...I hope you get all your info.

Type 1 diabetic here (so obviously on insulin). That's amazing Adie can sniff out when you are going low, especially when they come on quickly or if you are hypo unaware! A monitor only tells you where you are at any given point in time, not if you are on the way up, down, or stable, which people without diabetes can't quite understand the importance of knowing. I know some people like CGMS (continuous glucose monitoring systems), I'm not sure they are quite "there" yet. Of course, most insurance companies won't pay for them either at this point.

I came across this website awhile ago, so it is definitely something service dogs are being used to do: Dogs4Diabetics - providing medical alert assistance dogs to insulin-dependent diabetics

Good luck!

Thanks Tres!
I have been all over the web and I think I am going to buy patches for Adie's harness vest as well as an ID tag with her picture on it. They also have cards with ADA requirements on them so I will carry those too. One thing I want to do first is wait for one more episode and see how she acts. I'm pretty sure she is reacting to the low blood sugar but one more time will prove it. I won't have to wait that long I fear. They are coming more often these days. Had one yesterday at work. My niece (another diabetic) told me that the longer you have diabetes the less notice you get. Her sister went into diabetic shock or coma (I can't remember the difference) and crashed head-on into another car. She was the only one killed in the accident but it sure shook the family up. She first bounced off of a semi and then hit the care behind it head on. The semi driver said she was slumped over the wheel before she hit him. She was only 23 and actually had a roll of Lifesavers in her purse. My Mom ultimately died from the same thing. She died in her sleep and had a lot of things wrong with her but her low glucose levels always happened at night. She stopped waking up when they occurred and if it weren't for her nurses (Nursing home) checking on her throughout the night she would have died sooner. (Long story - Alzeheimers, cancer, diabetes, all at 86 years old.)

I think if all type I diabetics should consider getting a service dog if they don't have one already. I'll be interested in learning how they train them.
Thanks again!
Hugs.
L