Diabetes and Loss of Appetite

[Claire]

Hi
Please can someone advise me on what to do, I am at my wits end.

My English Springer was diagnosed with diabetes over 3 years ago. He is now 12 years old and is completely blind. Up until 3 weeks ago he had a very healthy appetite and zest for life despite his problems. He started by getting a discharge from his nose as if he had a cold, this rapidly progressed into him not wanting to eat at all. The discharge from his nose has ceased but he hasn't regained his appetite. I am starting to get really worried about him. We have been to the vets and all they have done is taken him in for 2 days (a week apart) and done 2 very expensive blood sugar curves and sold me some of their expensive recovery food (which he likes no more than anything else I try to feed him).

All the other sites I have checked out say to starve him but that just isn't an option for a diabetic dog. Other suggestions have been that he may have worms.

Can anyone out there give me some advice, I am really worried that I am going to lose him if I don't find a solution to this soon, he is wasting away, his diet is poorly controlled and he has no energy

Claire

[Blinddogs.net]

Hi Claire,

I'm so sorry to hear about sweet guy being sick. I'm going to suggest that you check out a list on Yahoo Groups that I've heard a lot of great things about:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Cani ... mmuneCare/

There are many on this list that have experience with all sorts of different health issues, including diabetes, that I know will be able to help you.

Please keep us posted on how he's doing, okay?

[Lena]

Hello, Claire.

Just have registered at this site and saw your post. I have the same: old dog (Dusja) with diabetes and totally blind. I sent a Blind Dog Story and the admin promised to publish it shortly on the site. Reverting to your subject: unfortunately, I don't know the reason why your dog has lost an appetite, but for sure something is wrong. Because diabetic dogs have extremely good appetite. My dog can eat now 24 hours a day, and she was not like that before. When she was diagnosed diabetes, doctor has not explained very well all care procedures. So I was giving Dusja the insulin shots and feed her in about 2-3 hours later. Now I know the brake can be max. 20-30 min., if shot is made in a thigh. This neglectance caused a diabetic coma, and only being under system for several days helped to save her life. She was very weak, could hardly stand and did not want to eat at all. A vet. inserted a catheter in her vein and gave me glucose, which I was pouring through catheter regularly. Vet. told me, if she will not start eating soon, she is going to die. We managed to overcome all these troubles and doing more or less fine.

Why I am writing all this to you? I have 2 suggestions for you:
1. Find another vet., who can determine the reason of appetite absense.
Those obviously could not.
2. If the problem has not been solved yet. you can meanwhile give him the glucose through the same method, so that your dog will not be fallen into diabetic coma, like mine did. He needs to receive food after insulin shots!

I wish you good luck and soonest recovery to your dog.

If I can be of help with any other advice, please write. Will be gald to help.

Lena

[Claire]

Hi Lena
Sadly Zeb did not make it, we had to have him put to sleep 4 weeks ago. He lost so much weight through not eating and became very unhappy, not our boy at all.
I was very disappointed and very angry about the lack of care given by our vet during his latest bout of illness and did find a vet eventually that we got on well with, who seemed to care about not only our dog but us as well and what we were going through and having to cope with. Unfortunately it was too late.
I am however grateful that you took the time to write to me and if I or anyone else I know are in the same position in the future your advice on the glucose feed could be a life saver
Many thanks
Claire

[Blinddogs.net]

Dear Claire,

I'm so very sorry to hear that you lost your sweet Zeb.