Prescott's friend
Member Since 2018
hello all,
I want to say first that I don't have a lot of internet access but I'm going to try and make the most of this with occasional posts.
I have a long-haired guy, 15 yrs, was always small dog sized but probably started losing alot of weight last year some time and having hair-matting issues. We also had a weird summer in MA so I thought it was heat-related and just tried to make sure he was drinking enough water. Before diagnosis he'd mostly been eating dry food: Iams (a long time ago), then Wellness/ Castor&Pollux/ Tender&True brands and we have since switched to "Blue" (there's a buffalo logo) but I'd like to get to homemade/ raw.
This past fall or so my schedule got a big crunch and I thought he seemed stressed out because I was out of the house more. I think since December he seemed to be having problems releasing his bowels into his litter box - he'd go nearby instead. In January 2018 he started passing urine outside his litter box for the first time ever, although he'd also go in sometimes. By February he was doing that almost every day, including next to me on the bed/ on the couch/ everywhere and I'm just crying while cleaning it up. We did all the bedding laundry every other day. I had a nearly full gallon of Nature's Miracle that I'd bought more than 5 years ago and I went through the rest in less than a month. First week of March I made an appointment with a vet - he hadn't been to one in years because until recently I couldn't afford things like that - and the first thing the guy says is a suggestion to put him down because "he's so sick". I felt the implication that he was sick because I was neglecting him. I left immediately, made an appointment with a different vet and cried some more.
Next vet was somewhat of an improvement but also suggested that if managing diabetes wasn't something I could handle I shouldn't feel bad about ... (giving up?) I said no way.
Prescott's been on Prozinc for almost three weeks I think - 1u at first. They gave us the AT2 but we were told to wait for 7 consistent days of injections to start testing BG, so we didnt. He also has the eye goop, being treated by more goop (ointment.) About a week into treatment he stops urinating voluntarily, yet leaks in his sleep so he wakes up all wet, and apparently scalded. At a follow up appt the vet suggests we help him express the bladder... so we are doing the best we can. He has patches of bare skin because of the matts.
Then last Saturday 3/24 we were told that he was doing better (w the diabetes) so we could increase to 2u. One dose Sat night (7p), one Sunday morning (7a) on 2u. I leave the house about 1030a Sunday and return ~350p to the poor guy covered in feces having a seizure. Finally test BG: 29. Needless to say we rushed to the ER and we're in the lobby sobbing. ICU vet tells us about 3hrs later that he can't control his body temp, they've catheterized him, are pumping him full of pure sugar and that depending on how long he was seizing for he might have permanent neurological issues, so we "should think very hard about his quality of life". We left him in the ICU only to get a call in two hours that we "should come in and have a frank conversation"...and eventually used The E Word. We say no.
* I'm willing to give this particular vet (at this very shiny 24/7 hospital) the benefit of the doubt that she was overworked and having a bad night, but we were extremely upset to be asked to consider murdering this guy at 11p *
So, the shifts switch and the next vet is more of a neutral personality. She backs off of the sugar little by little and an hour later he's in much more stable shape. We're still crying, but go home for real this time.
Next morning we get a call he's doing well and starting to eat again, just having a little trouble walking and they'd like to keep him for one more night - still catheterized.
Tuesday we get the debrief and take him home. He's to be on 1/2u insulin - plus a urethra relaxer and several eye meds from the previous vets.
Wednesday I am at work two hours later than usual, I get home about 630p instead of 430 and I find Prescott hunched next to a floor pillow bobbing his head, back end covered in diarrhea. Feces a few feet away looks like he may have slipped in it. I try to check his BG but cant get a good sample and waste 4 strips. So, I put food out and with a bit of coaxing he hops up and starts chowing. An hour later you'd never know the odd behavior ever happened.
He's currently eating normally 3.5-4oz per meal and not drinking so much water, but he does have our help emptying the bladder.
It's been a whirlwind for sure. Any and all help is appreciated.
I want to say first that I don't have a lot of internet access but I'm going to try and make the most of this with occasional posts.
I have a long-haired guy, 15 yrs, was always small dog sized but probably started losing alot of weight last year some time and having hair-matting issues. We also had a weird summer in MA so I thought it was heat-related and just tried to make sure he was drinking enough water. Before diagnosis he'd mostly been eating dry food: Iams (a long time ago), then Wellness/ Castor&Pollux/ Tender&True brands and we have since switched to "Blue" (there's a buffalo logo) but I'd like to get to homemade/ raw.
This past fall or so my schedule got a big crunch and I thought he seemed stressed out because I was out of the house more. I think since December he seemed to be having problems releasing his bowels into his litter box - he'd go nearby instead. In January 2018 he started passing urine outside his litter box for the first time ever, although he'd also go in sometimes. By February he was doing that almost every day, including next to me on the bed/ on the couch/ everywhere and I'm just crying while cleaning it up. We did all the bedding laundry every other day. I had a nearly full gallon of Nature's Miracle that I'd bought more than 5 years ago and I went through the rest in less than a month. First week of March I made an appointment with a vet - he hadn't been to one in years because until recently I couldn't afford things like that - and the first thing the guy says is a suggestion to put him down because "he's so sick". I felt the implication that he was sick because I was neglecting him. I left immediately, made an appointment with a different vet and cried some more.
Next vet was somewhat of an improvement but also suggested that if managing diabetes wasn't something I could handle I shouldn't feel bad about ... (giving up?) I said no way.
Prescott's been on Prozinc for almost three weeks I think - 1u at first. They gave us the AT2 but we were told to wait for 7 consistent days of injections to start testing BG, so we didnt. He also has the eye goop, being treated by more goop (ointment.) About a week into treatment he stops urinating voluntarily, yet leaks in his sleep so he wakes up all wet, and apparently scalded. At a follow up appt the vet suggests we help him express the bladder... so we are doing the best we can. He has patches of bare skin because of the matts.
Then last Saturday 3/24 we were told that he was doing better (w the diabetes) so we could increase to 2u. One dose Sat night (7p), one Sunday morning (7a) on 2u. I leave the house about 1030a Sunday and return ~350p to the poor guy covered in feces having a seizure. Finally test BG: 29. Needless to say we rushed to the ER and we're in the lobby sobbing. ICU vet tells us about 3hrs later that he can't control his body temp, they've catheterized him, are pumping him full of pure sugar and that depending on how long he was seizing for he might have permanent neurological issues, so we "should think very hard about his quality of life". We left him in the ICU only to get a call in two hours that we "should come in and have a frank conversation"...and eventually used The E Word. We say no.
* I'm willing to give this particular vet (at this very shiny 24/7 hospital) the benefit of the doubt that she was overworked and having a bad night, but we were extremely upset to be asked to consider murdering this guy at 11p *
So, the shifts switch and the next vet is more of a neutral personality. She backs off of the sugar little by little and an hour later he's in much more stable shape. We're still crying, but go home for real this time.
Next morning we get a call he's doing well and starting to eat again, just having a little trouble walking and they'd like to keep him for one more night - still catheterized.
Tuesday we get the debrief and take him home. He's to be on 1/2u insulin - plus a urethra relaxer and several eye meds from the previous vets.
Wednesday I am at work two hours later than usual, I get home about 630p instead of 430 and I find Prescott hunched next to a floor pillow bobbing his head, back end covered in diarrhea. Feces a few feet away looks like he may have slipped in it. I try to check his BG but cant get a good sample and waste 4 strips. So, I put food out and with a bit of coaxing he hops up and starts chowing. An hour later you'd never know the odd behavior ever happened.
He's currently eating normally 3.5-4oz per meal and not drinking so much water, but he does have our help emptying the bladder.
It's been a whirlwind for sure. Any and all help is appreciated.
