Bad news this week....

[Andrea]

Whizzer my 10 yr old GSDX had been 'off' the last couple weeks. She just wasn't acting herself, she also rubbed the hair off her nose (not a first), and stopped eating regularly (again not a first), but it was her lethargic-ness that really worried us most.
We had Whizz in to the Vet for Blood & Urine work, on Saturday of last week it was confirmed Whizz has Diabetes.

What a shock.

Not only were her blood glucose levels all over the place but her Kidneys showed abnormalities in the tests. So Whizz is on Antibiotics for 10 days Sub-Q, and then Insulin 2x a day.
She is still not eating kibble and because we cannot give her her insulin without food in her stomach we've had to start feeding her canned food. Which she eats greedily. She is also taking treats.

We have found she is leaking urine more now also, she used to a bit which is not uncommon for an older spayed dog. But we think she is peeing in her sleep a bit as our bedroom smells very badly some nights.

We're back to the Vet's next week to do some more blood tests and such. Hopefully it will show we have her stabilized.
Ryan's last little Poodle cross was Diabetic for the last 6 years of his life, it seems many animals live with Diabetes. But for a 5lbs dog or cat the amounts of drugs are much smaller then a 70lb dog, it's costing us about $6 a day I think Ryan told me for Whizzers medication and food. That doesn't include the Vet bills of urine & blood tests, appointment fees and such.

Moral of this story, always remember that things like this can happen to your pet too, and to be prepared for these types of big bills before adopting a new pet.

[Hamsters82]

Aw, I'm so sorry Andrea. I hope Whizz is okay for his next test and for his future. I hear many dogs live well with diabetes, so I'm sure Whizz will too because you two take such good care of him. *hugs*

[Lillith Rose]

i never really know what to say so im just going to say that my thoughts go out to you and your beloved pet at this time

[Die Fledermaus]

Whizzer of course deserves anything. But sorry to hear the news. Some humans live very long normal lives with diabetes but I have no idea if that is the same with canines.

>> we think she is peeing in her sleep a bit as our bedroom smells very badly some nights. <<

Of course there are many liquids and sprays around for pet smells. "Nature's Miracle" is the first that comes to mind.

BTW, please consider putting Whiz's web page in your signature.

Tangentially, I was in a pet store today and someone came in with stuff from the vet about what to get vis a vis feline AIDS! How did a cat get AIDS?? Unsafe sex? No, a BITE from a fight. Yes, the idiot owner (not the person in the store) let's the cat roam around outside, which never should be allowed to occur. So, that person now has a big expense also, but at least they are treating the cat.

[pinky]

Wow, Andrea, so sorry to hear this. I think we've all here come to know and love Whizz and forget that she's not young and that she's mortal-in-a-dog-sense. So we're shocked too.

Hope that what you are doing for her stabilizes her condition.

Canine AIDS? Did you mean feline AIDS, DF? Or are you saying canine AIDS because the fight was between an AIDS-infected dog and the cat?

[Die Fledermaus]

Whoops. Feline AIDS! But the guy did not say who that cat fought, assuming they know. For all they know it could have been a raccoon with something else bad.

[Andrea]

Feline AIDS = FIV = Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
I got to learn about that in college... wow I still have some of the info packed back in that brain of mine

I know a crazy lady who rescues cats, she lives way out in the country/bush with 15-20 cats. She allows them outside and one of them has FIV. I couldn't get it into her thick scull how bad it was to have a contagious cat living with other cats, fighting with other cats, and then going outside to infect other cats


As for my Whizzy, I just hope we can get over this hurdle and that she will be feeling better soon. She is very good about getting her injections also.

[Die Fledermaus]

Love to Whiz.

As for that crazy lady, she might need to be reported to the ASPCA or whomever. She is infecting other cats!

[Andrea]

Whizz Update:

Well after many more tests we took Whizzer down to Seattle Washington this weekend to see a specialist for a ultra sound. Her diagnosis was Pancreatitis, though not good news we're glad to hear it's not a Tumor or Cancer.

The inflammation of the Pancreas is affecting the liver and appendix as well. They are hoping to give her pancreatic enzymes by mouth to overflow her body with them in hopes the pancreas will shut itself down and stop producing the enzymes. This way is will sort of sleep, and repair itself.

Pancreatitis in people is extremely painful, in dogs it 'seems' to be less painful, but does make her feel like crap.
She cannot have any fats, and her diet has to be watched strictly. Her insulin dosage has been upped, and we're trying to get ourself a glucosmeter so we can test her glucose levels ourself.
She also can't over due herself in exercise.

All in all she is doing better, but we still have a long road of recovery.

[Die Fledermaus]

Whew. I really worry reading these. But the conclusion is pretty good.

Love to Whizz.

thewhizz.weebly.com

Just in case people didn't see it!

[Hamsters82]

Aw, I hope Whizz is doing better. Would they ever considers surgery for that kind of prognosis?

[Die Fledermaus]

Can the pancreas be safely removed? Can the dog do well without a pancreas? I think people can.

[pinky]

Like DF, I got anxious scrolling down, fearing the worst.

Good luck with her treatment. She has all of us pulling for her!

[Andrea]

I don't think removal is an option, I've never heard of such thing, so I'm guessing we need it to function.

My Vet told me today that Whizz was the only dog that day having an ultra sounds that was NOT diagnosed with cancer or an abscess. So we were very lucky. She will start her enzymes probably this weekend.

[Lillith Rose]

how is our dear whizz doing ? my thoughts are still going your way and i am hoping that things get better soon for your dear pet