Hi everyone,
Some might recall that we've been dealing with Casper and some health issues for a year or so with frequent vomiting being the worst of it. A month ago, the vet finally concluded he had either IBD or lymphoma (less likely). We decided to treat it as if IBD since we had not intention of putting him through a biopsy at 15 years old.
Short story is he was given a depo injection, which worked really well for about a month which also meant it more likely was IBD. His appetite improved, he wasn't throwing up as much (only a couple of times vs. many times a week), and his mood/energy levels were much better too.
We were scheduled to come back for a follow up. Today, while going over everything we mentioned that in the past week the steroid effects seemed to be wearing off and we'd been noticing some other concerning symptoms; most important was the amount of water he was suddenly drinking. He used to go through less than 8 ounces a day (anywhere between 4 and 6) and now we were refilling his bowl sometimes 2x a day. The bowl, holds 8 ounces so this was a dramatic difference. He also had one bout of loose stools - something which never has happened before. His appetite is still good - but too good. He's been acting like he's starving all the time.
So, the vet's ears perked up hearing all this and decided to test his glucose and it was 300! Diagnosis of diabetes and now us needing to learn how to manage this. My fiance was pretty distraught and worried that we'd have no life anymore because of this (he doesn't cope well with these kinds of things) but, me? I had enough info behind me thankfully from TCS not to let it get me too overwhelmed.
Anyway, we were taught how to inject him with the insulin, given more stuff to read, and we have to bring him back Monday for a blood glucose curve test. He's to get 1 unit of insulin 2x a day until they figure out if he needs more of less on Monday. Luckily, they found no ketones so it hadn't progressed to a crisis situation and now, with the insulin hopefully that won't happen.
I joined the FDMD site, haven't posted yet but it's filled with good information and I've been reading up online in other places (including here). Casper and Cocoa are already on a high protein, zero carb diet with very little amounts of kibble or treats so we don't have to deal with trying to switch foods - just have to manage the fact that we usually feed them dinner around 4-5 pm and now, can't do that. Since the insulin needs to be given every 12 hours, that would make me get up at 4-5:00 AM, which is NOt happening! I get up already at 5:40 and any earlier is impossible.
Right now both of them are going bonkers wondering where there dinner is and it's only 4:40. Cocoa keeps jumping all over us and the couch and Casper is doing his usual stare down. I need to push it off until at minimum 6:00 pm to start getting them on a schedule which we can manage. Weekdays, we leave at 6:30 am (Tom is home for the summer but will be back at school in a month; I feed them when I am getting ready for work). I don't get home until nearly 7pm when working; Tom if at school doesn't get home until around 5pm. Feeding can be off by 1/2 to 1 hour maximum so if we feed them at 6-6:30 am and dinner 6:00-7:00, it should be ok according to the vet.
If anyone has stories to share I'd appreciate it - or other sites to look up information. Thanks!
Some might recall that we've been dealing with Casper and some health issues for a year or so with frequent vomiting being the worst of it. A month ago, the vet finally concluded he had either IBD or lymphoma (less likely). We decided to treat it as if IBD since we had not intention of putting him through a biopsy at 15 years old.
Short story is he was given a depo injection, which worked really well for about a month which also meant it more likely was IBD. His appetite improved, he wasn't throwing up as much (only a couple of times vs. many times a week), and his mood/energy levels were much better too.
We were scheduled to come back for a follow up. Today, while going over everything we mentioned that in the past week the steroid effects seemed to be wearing off and we'd been noticing some other concerning symptoms; most important was the amount of water he was suddenly drinking. He used to go through less than 8 ounces a day (anywhere between 4 and 6) and now we were refilling his bowl sometimes 2x a day. The bowl, holds 8 ounces so this was a dramatic difference. He also had one bout of loose stools - something which never has happened before. His appetite is still good - but too good. He's been acting like he's starving all the time.
So, the vet's ears perked up hearing all this and decided to test his glucose and it was 300! Diagnosis of diabetes and now us needing to learn how to manage this. My fiance was pretty distraught and worried that we'd have no life anymore because of this (he doesn't cope well with these kinds of things) but, me? I had enough info behind me thankfully from TCS not to let it get me too overwhelmed.
Anyway, we were taught how to inject him with the insulin, given more stuff to read, and we have to bring him back Monday for a blood glucose curve test. He's to get 1 unit of insulin 2x a day until they figure out if he needs more of less on Monday. Luckily, they found no ketones so it hadn't progressed to a crisis situation and now, with the insulin hopefully that won't happen.
I joined the FDMD site, haven't posted yet but it's filled with good information and I've been reading up online in other places (including here). Casper and Cocoa are already on a high protein, zero carb diet with very little amounts of kibble or treats so we don't have to deal with trying to switch foods - just have to manage the fact that we usually feed them dinner around 4-5 pm and now, can't do that. Since the insulin needs to be given every 12 hours, that would make me get up at 4-5:00 AM, which is NOt happening! I get up already at 5:40 and any earlier is impossible.
Right now both of them are going bonkers wondering where there dinner is and it's only 4:40. Cocoa keeps jumping all over us and the couch and Casper is doing his usual stare down. I need to push it off until at minimum 6:00 pm to start getting them on a schedule which we can manage. Weekdays, we leave at 6:30 am (Tom is home for the summer but will be back at school in a month; I feed them when I am getting ready for work). I don't get home until nearly 7pm when working; Tom if at school doesn't get home until around 5pm. Feeding can be off by 1/2 to 1 hour maximum so if we feed them at 6-6:30 am and dinner 6:00-7:00, it should be ok according to the vet.
If anyone has stories to share I'd appreciate it - or other sites to look up information. Thanks!