new, is this where I post? new diabetes diagnosis - Sweet Cosmo has passed

[k9diabetes]

I approved your membership a few hours ago. You might have tried to post to an archive thread that is closed to posting. Go to the main diabetes discussion area, be sure you are logged in with rhe Remember Me box checked, and start a new thread.

Am on my phone at the moment so can't post in detail right now.

Natalie

[k9diabetes]

I think it is fine to give 3 units given how high his blood sugar is. They can have up to half of their normal dose with no food when their blood sugar is a lot lower than his.

[labblab]

Thanks, Natalie!

[jas77450]

yes , same user name. It took me a while but it went through. I think I posted on the wrong thread...it's under biography.
I appreciate your concern.

[jas77450]

Thanks lab lab and Natalie...I had trouble posting but got it under wrong thread I think. It's in biography.

I gave the 3 units.

BTW my vet is from A&M, she offered to send him to a specialist and wants to send him sometime next week to A&M. Good to know they are good with diabetes. What about cushings?

Since he has both should I just post on diabetic forum, here or both?

[k9diabetes]

For diabetes advice, best to post on the diabetes forum as there are many people besides myself there who can offer support. I just moved your thread there to the main diabetes discussion area.

You are also always welcome to email me if you have a more urgent question: k9diabetes@gmail.com

I get to my email more often throughout the day than to the forum.

There are only a few vet schools in the country that have impressed me. Many of them are far behind cutting-edge diabetes management instead of in front of it. So it says a lot about Texas A&M that I have a positive attitude about them.

With all that's going on with Cosmos, I think a specialist would be the best person to manage his many issues.

Natalie

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi sweetie,

I hope you and Cosmo had a decent night.

As for my decision to stop meds for Squirt - she was 15+ at the time, had just had a seizure from Proin and almost didn't make it. Not long after this she had to go to the vet because she was limping pretty badly and I didn't have any clue what was wrong. She was so stressed it took several to hold her for the exam and the next day she could barely move she was so sore. At her age, I just couldn't ask her to keep going for tests and taking nasty tasting things every day. Nor did she want any more of that - she was tired and simply wanted to live out her days. So I let her.

But Squirt and Cosmo are not the same medically. She did not have diabetes to deal with as well. Her Cushing's story is a bit different - she started out with only elevated intermediate hormones (after a tumor and half her spleen were removed) and didn't become true cushionoid for several years. When her cortisol went up, we used Lysodren and she was easily maintained.

My decision was one born of her declining body and mind, and firmed by her desire to stop it all - meds, vets, everything. I wanted her last days to be ones she and I would remember with joy, not stress. And that is what we had. My Sweet Bebe crossed The Bridge this May, a little over a year after this decision.

Cosmo is younger and both these conditions need to be controlled to make the other easier to control. Both are endocrine disorders and both must be managed. If the Cushing's is not controlled, the diabetes will be harder to control and vice versa. So Cosmo and Squirt can't really be compared and stopping treatment for him isn't a viable possibility.

You are in a huge learning curve right now and I know you are overwhelmed with not only what is going on with your sweet boy but by all the info flying at you...sailing right over your head with a whooshing sound. But you are doing fine...keep working, keep asking, keep reading, keep listening and in no time you will be a pro at this.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[labblab]

I agree with Natalie that I think it would be best to have Cosmo seen by a specialist. And I agree with Leslie that both the Cushing's and diabetes must be managed jointly in order for Cosmo to get better.

One question: Is Cosmo getting his trilostance once or twice daily? For diabetic dogs, it is specifically recommended that the total daily dosage be divided in half and given in twelve hour intervals. This is the kind of information that a specialist may be more familiar with, and why a referral can be so helpful.

Marianne

[jas77450]

Natalie,
Thank you for the email info. Good to have this in case. And for recommendation .

Leslie,
Thanks for the encouragement, it's really needed right now.

I was about to give up vets, meds, but I can see the difference in your bebe vs Cosmo. You are right, I need to manage both. It's just discouraging after being on Trilostane for 2 years and not seeing any results, instead he's getting worse.

I am so sorry for your loss. Glad you had that year to enjoy Your little Squirt.

Marianne

He is getting Tramadol twice a day. Thank you for the advice, much appreciated.

UPDATE

Went to vet again this am, his fasting glucose was 702. We had discussed sending him to A& M next week but was advised to go to ER there today. They are keeping him and going to do CRI., IV insulin which is what Natalie said he needed. Internal medicine will see him tomorrow for this, Cushings, confirmed pancreatitis and other issues. It was so hard to leave him there as it is 2 hrs each way, if something went wrong Id have a hard time getting there in time. I know he is in good hands. Your input makes me feel better and has helped me make good decisions. Thank you all !!!
Boy is this going to be expensive.

[Squirt's Mom]

You're such a good mom! Hang in there, sweetie, you got a host of folks with now, TWO new families!