Vocal Voices

My poor boy’s been diagnosed with diabetes. No idea why because he’s always had a healthy diet, has never been anywhere near overwieight and walks for miles off lead each day. Just one of those unfortunate things, and John’s always been so wary of this because his dog when he was a teenager developed it and didn’t survive for long.

We’ve been getting to grips with giving him insulin injections twice daily which he’s pretty much okay with but it’s a matter of getting his glucose levels stable. We’ve bought a monitor to check at home because he had a day at the vet’s and got so stressed that it likely affected the accuracy, and we were called to get him back early anyway, so the vet suggested that we do that.

The worst part is that he’s developed cataracts and can barely see, it happened so very quickly I spent much of last week helping him up and down stairs, we have that sussed now and he’s happy to carefully do that on his own. This has taken a lot of his spirit though, he’d spend a lot of the day perched on the arm of the sofa looking at what was happening outside and it breaks my heart. He’s still enjoying his walks though, he still manages off lead and I talk to him and watch him constantly.
If/once we can stabilise his levels the vet can refer us to a specialist vet with regard to removing the cataracts, and we’re keen to do that.

So that’s where we are, not sure if this will have a happy ending but we’re doing our very best for him but obviously wouldn’t let him suffer.

Yes poor bill jo hope he gets sorted soon
Like humans diabetic levels are hard to control at the best of times and a worry for you
Hugs

Oh poor Bill.

Hugs for you all and an extra one for Bill. X

Sorry to hear about Bill - hope you can get the diabetes stable and the cataracts sorted.
Thank good ness for pet insurance?

Oh Jo!!! Poor Bill, and you must be so worried about him! I will speak to Becks, and ask how dogs with diabetes get along, see if she has any tips! Remind me, how old is he?

I know cataracts are treatable, Pepper was close to needing one done before we lost her.

Seeing you and Bill big (((((((hugs)))))))) xxx

Thanks all xx

Kaz, thank you - any tips would be great! He’s just 10.

I will ask her xx

Oh poor Bill. I can understand how it would take his spirit not being able to see. Hopefully you will be able to get his cataracts sorted, but if not the one good thing with animals is they learn to adjust. Unlike us they dont hark back to the days of 'I remember when I could look out of the window' They learn to live with the new normal much easier than we do. Not easy for you though and I hope it is sortable

Poor Bill. He's in good hands with you though Jo.

This is copied in from my convo with B, on Messenger as she's at her dad's for the weekend

"Royal Canin diabetic dog food, it's not the cheapest but it works; other than that as i imagine bill will be having semi-regular vet checks (if he's not, he ought to be, at least every six months i'd say) jo can always check in with the vet about what else she can do at home to make him more comfortable and give him the best quality of life

keeping his weight down will be a big factor - if she's giving him treats, i'd recommend either using some of that diabetic diet as part of his treat allowance or finding some diabetes-friendly dog treats"