Canine Diabetes

[Drycreek3189]

A few months ago, my son,(who is an insulin dependent diabetic) and I diagnosed our JRT with diabetes. We've dealt with his diabetes since he was five, he's now 23, so we recognized the signs. Our veterinarian confirmed it, so I began giving him two insulin shots per day. What the vet didn't tell us was that 75 to 80 percent of diabetic dogs get fast growing cataracts. Our pup went from seeing well to blind in two weeks. Hard to believe I know, but substantiated by reading on the googler, and today by the vet at Animal Eye Specialists in Richardson.

I called them Tuesday, got the earliest appointment, and she confirmed this morning that he's an excellent candidate for cataract surgery ASAP. I take him Monday for the pre-op, Tuesday for the surgery, and Wednesday for the follow up. If all goes as planned, my little blind boy will see again by Tuesday afternoon ! It's heartbreaking to see the special buddy that is your shadow bumping into the walls and not being able to find the door. It's as hard on us as it is on him, except that we can see it and know what's happening and he doesn't.

I only tell this story in case any one of you have a dog with diabetes or have one in the future. If you do, there's a strong possibility that it will develop cataracts, and very rapidly. The surgery ain't cheap, but it's the right thing for us to do. I will report the outcome next week.....

Wish us luck !

[roughneck266]

A few months ago, my son,(who is an insulin dependent diabetic) and I diagnosed our JRT with diabetes. We've dealt with his diabetes since he was five, he's now 23, so we recognized the signs. Our veterinarian confirmed it, so I began giving him two insulin shots per day. What the vet didn't tell us was that 75 to 80 percent of diabetic dogs get fast growing cataracts. Our pup went from seeing well to blind in two weeks. Hard to believe I know, but substantiated by reading on the googler, and today by the vet at Animal Eye Specialists in Richardson.



I called them Tuesday, got the earliest appointment, and she confirmed this morning that he's an excellent candidate for cataract surgery ASAP. I take him Monday for the pre-op, Tuesday for the surgery, and Wednesday for the follow up. If all goes as planned, my little blind boy will see again by Tuesday afternoon ! It's heartbreaking to see the special buddy that is your shadow bumping into the walls and not being able to find the door. It's as hard on us as it is on him, except that we can see it and know what's happening and he doesn't.



I only tell this story in case any one of you have a dog with diabetes or have one in the future. If you do, there's a strong possibility that it will develop cataracts, and very rapidly. The surgery ain't cheap, but it's the right thing for us to do. I will report the outcome next week.....



Wish us luck !

Poor Lil feller. Good lookin pup man. Really sorry to hear about the diabetes. I really do wish you the best of luck.

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[doghouse]

I had a miniature Schnauzer that sounds just like your dog. We didn't do the cataract surgery when she went blind. She was an inside dog and learned her way around. Main thing is to not move any furniture. Wife taught her to pee and poop on a puppy pad. She lived about 5 more years after diagnosis. Insulin was about 80 dollars per month. Eye surgery in my area was 2500 per eye. Good luck. Hope your dog does great.

[Drycreek3189]

Today was the pre-op examination where the vet confirms that Sarge is a good candidate and healthy enough to undergo anesthesia and surgery. We arrived at 8:30 and they released him shortly after noon. Gotta be back in Richardson at 8:00 a.m. for the actual cataract surgery.

I have high hopes !

[treestand]

I had a lab that developed diabetes when she was about 10. Regulating her sugar was hard. Sometimes after a shot it would go so low she would nearly pass out. Sometimes it worked like a charm. Tried multiple types of insulin but it was never great. After a couple years, her kidneys failed and it was time to say goodbye. One of the toughest days of my life.

Good luck with your dog. I hope everything goes great.

[Uncle Saggy]

Best of luck Sarge!!!!

So glad you had the pre-op exam.... sounds like he’ll make it just fine and be seeing in no time.

Thank you for the heads up on the cataracts and diabetes

[Drycreek3189]

Well, life is full of disappointments I guess. The vet wouldn't operate today because Sarge had diarrhea. I told her that yesterday and she still didn't change the schedule. So I guess I got up at four and took a nice drive in the metromess for nothing Took him to my vet this afternoon and got some pills for the diarrhea. The surgery is scheduled for two weeks away now, so I have to keep Sarge on a leash when he goes outside for the next three weeks I expect. It is what it is.......

[oktx]

I have a 14 year old lab with diabetes. He’s had it 4 years. I would say he’s 98% blind. Outside dog that has an in ground fence. He’s been out of our yard only 3 times in 14 years. Only once since he lost his sight. What’s the price for the surgery? Good luck!

[Drycreek3189]

I have a 14 year old lab with diabetes. He’s had it 4 years. I would say he’s 98% blind. Outside dog that has an in ground fence. He’s been out of our yard only 3 times in 14 years. Only once since he lost his sight. What’s the price for the surgery? Good luck!

Around $4K, but worth it to me for this little feller. He's ten years old in October and he's a helluva deer and hog tracker, but mostly he's my buddy.

[Aggie Dad]

A few months ago, my son,(who is an insulin dependent diabetic) and I diagnosed our JRT with diabetes. We've dealt with his diabetes since he was five, he's now 23, so we recognized the signs. Our veterinarian confirmed it, so I began giving him two insulin shots per day. What the vet didn't tell us was that 75 to 80 percent of diabetic dogs get fast growing cataracts. Our pup went from seeing well to blind in two weeks. Hard to believe I know, but substantiated by reading on the googler, and today by the vet at Animal Eye Specialists in Richardson.

I called them Tuesday, got the earliest appointment, and she confirmed this morning that he's an excellent candidate for cataract surgery ASAP. I take him Monday for the pre-op, Tuesday for the surgery, and Wednesday for the follow up. If all goes as planned, my little blind boy will see again by Tuesday afternoon ! It's heartbreaking to see the special buddy that is your shadow bumping into the walls and not being able to find the door. It's as hard on us as it is on him, except that we can see it and know what's happening and he doesn't.

I only tell this story in case any one of you have a dog with diabetes or have one in the future. If you do, there's a strong possibility that it will develop cataracts, and very rapidly. The surgery ain't cheap, but it's the right thing for us to do. I will report the outcome next week.....

Wish us luck !

Good looking JRT! Hope all goes well!!!

[txhunter90]

Around $4K, but worth it to me for this little feller. He's ten years old in October and he's a helluva deer and hog tracker, but mostly he's my buddy.

After losing my tracking dog a couple months ago. I always said I wouldnt spend an insane amount on my dog. Well after losing him I %100 would do the same thing for my dog a better life. Good luck with it and hope to hear a positive outcome.

[Uncle Saggy]

Well, diarrhea is diarrhea [emoji23]
Once the little feller gets better, he’ll breeze right through the surgery and recovery

BTW, my totally useless 10 year old couch mutt has accumulated 8k in 2 spine surgeries and rehab over the last 2 years

Best money the wife and I have ever spent......

Hell, I wouldn’t want someone throwing me away just because I hurt

[ShockValue]

After losing my tracking dog a couple months ago. I always said I wouldnt spend an insane amount on my dog. Well after losing him I %100 would do the same thing for my dog a better life. Good luck with it and hope to hear a positive outcome.

Yep. Not sure what my threshold is but I wouldn’t hesitate for that.

I had a lab with diabetes and he was perfectly healthy for 4-5 years. 2x insulin shots per day and Hills WD food. He went down fast when he got sick.

[Drycreek3189]

Thanks guys, some will know how I feel about this little fart, and some won't. It will be a dark time in my life when his is over.

[Uncle Saggy]

Thanks guys, some will know how I feel about this little fart, and some won't. It will be a dark time in my life when his is over.

Yes it will...... I understand fully