My Pug Scoop (Precious Scoop has passed... )

personally, I think the fact that your vet wants to back off the insulin to see if Scoop is rebounding is a really positive sign that your vet is open minded and has experience with diabetes.

So many vets just keep increasing the dose and overshoot the mark, causing problems for the dog.

I took Jenny to the vet twice and the vet tech and I couldn't get blood from her anywhere. Her carpal pad, her ear. She is really good at the vet but was a first class jerk about testing. The vet tech could not believe that was "sweet" Jenny LOL

so, we do the upper lip by the canine teeth. She hated it at first and would fight kick, it was awful. I started practice testing her. I did everything except actually poke her with the lancet. And I gave her a tiny piece of chicken jerky only after her test which she adored so bribery was a key factor.

Jenny was always good about her shot but a few months ago she decided she hates the shot. So now she is an angel for the lip test and we've been using the magic jerky on the shot (it's working, thank goodness for food treats)

Vet techs don't test the way we do at home, that is why they can't help us as much as we'd like. Some people test on the upper back right next to the tail, and some people warm the ear up and get some blood that way.

Poor Scoop, I'm sorry he is so stressed. Hang in there. I was an emotional wreck last year and now I've stepped back and just focus on whether Jenny is happy and wants to play. If she is, I"m good. Her cortisol is too low and her blood sugar can be too high but she is happy and I'm doing the best I can.

So are you. hugs, Judi

I just want to add that I am not one of the experienced diabetes people good at analyzing curves and insulin needs. I just know what has and hasn't worked for my Jenny. If you have time come on back to the K9 diabetes forum. Did you post his last curve?

Judi- I was just on the diabetes site and wrote to some length but forgot to post his curve. I will try to remember to do that tomorrow night. I think he should have another curve done but maybe the vet will suggest it if she sees that Scoop is able to stay at the lower dose. I had forgotten she upped his dose from 9-10 2x a day back over the summer. What you said about the vet wanting to back off the insulin makes me feel better. That is a good point.
Thank you for telling me about Jenny. It does take some work. We did try and not just once. When Scoop was first diagnosed the tech was able to get blood from his ear when she showed us but when we tried it we couldn't get blood. We tried the carpal pad and that didn't work then the upper lip. Scoop hated that! I took him to the vet's and the vet herself had trouble getting it like we would. So we gave up.

Sounds like you are doing a great job with Jenny. I appreciate all your thoughts and help. Just hearing about others and what you think really helps.

Scoop has other problems and he is not the same dog he was in the beginning of the summer but he still has his "happy tail" and loves his ears and belly rubbed and gets excited when someone comes home and will lick his toys and he loves to eat and get treats and he is loved sooooo much. Thanks again.

Vicki-Scoop and Raleigh's mom

Isn't it wonderful to have that happy tail happening. It's always such a joy when you know that they are going through so much to see them happy and playing.

Sharlene

Sharlene-It sure is a wonderful thing to see!

Vicki-Scoop and Raleigh's mom

Is anyone dealing with calcinosis cutis right now? A couple of weeks ago Soop's vet said she thought he was starting with it at the top of his back. I have seen a change in his skin in that area. At first the area had lost hair and the skin was dark. It looked a lot like the area on his tail that has looked like that for a couple of years. Then the area started to look like it had bumps on the skin. Today something happened that bothers me. Scoop has a sore under his left front "underarm" area. I took him to the vet on Saturday and the vet(not his regular one) gave him an antibiotic shot and said to use a t-shirt when taking him out. Today Scoop went to see his regular vet for a spot BG check and she looked at the sore spot. She put something on it and then wrapped it. The wrap went across his back and when we got home after making another stop first, I noticed his calcinosis cutis spot sticking out of the top of the wrap. There is a big red sore spot in the middle of it. The wrap must have rubbed it open. I have been very careful with that area. Maybe it would have happened anyway, I don't know but I am upset because from what I've read calcinosis cutis is impossible to treat. I read some of the posts from last year and earlier this year but I haven't seen anything recent. I would appreciate any advise anyone has on calcinosis cutis. Seems like they have to suffer with it and hopefully months down the road it might get better. I'm so worried about my Scoop. It seems like nothing is going right for him.
Thanks for any help.

Vicki-Scoop and Raleigh's mom

Hi Vicki,

Here are some links about DMSO, which can be used to treat calcinosis cutis. I thought I had some links about CC itself but don't seem to find them. If you will use the "search" feature in the upper white bar you can enter "calcinosis cutis" and find threads about this condition and how others approached treatment. It seems we have some current members dealing with this now.

CC is pretty much a dead give away for Cushing's - dogs just don't get CC unless they have Cushing's. A dermatologist is the very best thing you can do for Scoop if this is what he is developing.

Keep in touch and let us know how he is doing.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

http://www.dmso.org/

http://www.dmso.org/articles/information/muir.htm

http://www.herpes-coldsores.com/dmso.pdf

http://www.bevanpotter.com/DMSO_bp.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1124535

http://curezone.com/forums/am.asp?i=1249191

http://books.google.com/books?id=CvH...0cutis&f=false

Hi Vicki,

If your vet has not confirmed a calcinosis cutis diagnosis by way of appropriate testing, that should be done so that you know exactly what you are dealing with. If it's not CC, treatment can be totally different. We have a few members who have dealt with it, including one of our moderators, Angela. I am hoping she chimes in to share her experience with the diagnostic process and treatment. She'll tell you that it's a bugger to get the upper hand but it can be done.

Glynda

Leslie-Thanks for the information. I will be sure to check out the links.

Vicki-Scoop and Raleigh's mom

Hi Glynda-Thanks. No she did not test it. She'll probably say she is sure that's what it is. Now that there is a sore there it sure is nasty looking. I have read it is a bugger but everything about Cushing's is just terrible.

Scoop's vet shared some notes with me that she took at a conference she went to. It says 90,000-100,000 new cases of PDH diagnosed per year. That is unbelievable.

I look forward to what Angela has to say. I've read some about this but not a whole lot. Scoop sure didn't need another problem on top of all his others. It scares me, everything just scares me so much.

Vicki-Scoop and Raleigh's mom

Hi,
Scoop's vet wants to start him on Hills W/D food to help with his diabetes. Does anyone else feed this food to their CushPups? Does anyone know about this food in relation to the needs for dogs with Cushing's. The W/D is supposed to be high in fiber which is supposed to help diabetes. Since Scoop has lost weight (muscle mass) I don't want to see him lose more weight cause the W/D is also for weight control. I heard CushPups should have low carb, high protein in their diets. I just read something that suggests W/D is high in carbs. Sometimes things get so confusing I could just scream. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Vicki-Scoop and Raleigh's mom

MODERATOR NOTE: I have merged your post about diet into Scoop’s original thread. We normally like to keep all posts on a pup in a single thread as it makes it easier for members to refer back to the pup's history when needed.