Jack is sick, possibly diabetic???

[Jennifer and Jack]

Today we took Molly to the vet to have her checked out.. She is in great shape, healthy as can be. Temperament shining through, very confident in herself. She is doing great. Weighs 5 pounds 9 ounces.

 

I again asked the vet about Jack licking himself so much, not acting like himself etc.. She ran another urine test. His urine was so bad, so full of infection, crystal, strubites and his PH was nearly 8. Which is very high...

 

The biggest issue . Jack having not had any breakfast at all had glucose in his urine, in order for glucose to show up in urine it has to be above 240 on the test strip.. Since he had not eaten, they tested blood and sugar was almost 300.

 

This is very indicative of diabetes. His sugar should be under 100. This would explain a lot of Jack's excessive drinking and sleepiness that he has been feeling.

 

I asked if the bladder infection could cause his glucose to be elevated because I know in humans when a human is sick sometimes their sugar could be elevated.. She said not this high.

 

We are going back first thing in the am. More blood work and then we have referrals to specialist.. I know how to manage a human with diabetes but not a dog.... They didn't say for sure he had it but they don't know what else would make his sugar so high.

 

I have taken him there so many times because of his licking his pee pee, we made jokes on here, but I still took him to the doctor..

 

No wonder he is licking himself so badly.. he has a horrible bladder, kidney infection and is possibly diabetic. I am praying so hard it is not diabetes.. all I think about with that is blindness, kidney disease and all kinds of other issues...

 

Best case is we will have to change his food because his body can not handle that amount of protein and that the whole blood sugar being through the roof is a fluke.... I don't think it is because Jack has had a major change of personality lately where he has lost so much of his energy, and just wants to sleep so much. I chalked it off to him getting older...

 

I am so tired from Molly that I can't think straight.. To think something is wrong with Jack is beyond anything I can handle right now.. For now he is on antibiotics AGAIN and he is getting treated with a lot of love. He can not eat after eight tonight and we will try again and pray for different results tomorrow.

 

Anyone have a diabetic dog before?

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

I can't offer any advice Jennifer but I am sending healing thoughts Jacks way and praying everything works out.  Hugs to you and Jack both.  I am sorry you have to go through this

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I am sorry to hear about Jack's test result and hope for better news tomorrow! He could just be fatigued and acting differently due to the infections.  They can make you feel pretty lousy! Jennifer, is your mom able to take over Molly's care so you and Jack can get some rest? Please keep us posted and in the meantime we are praying for good news for little Jack!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Jennifer, I just saw this now and am really upset for you.  I am hoping that it may be something simple but in the event that it is diabetes I do remember having a friend with a diabetic dog and it was very manageable.  Try to get some rest and ask you Mom to help out with Molly for a while. I will be watching for updates tomorrow when you have some results.

[Denise & Sophie]

I am sorry you and jack are going through this. My DD's terrier, Molly is a diabetic. She is 12 years old. She was put on a special dog food and gets 2 shots a day. I have given her shots and she is so good about it. I might add that she has been one since she was very young. I can't rem how old. But I do know its very manageable.

[Terrlyn]

My dog was a diabetic. It takes some getting used to but is easy to manage. Injections twice a day on a strict schedule was all you had to do. And if you notice any change in behaviour is could be that the insulin isn't high enough and the blood needs to be tested. Once he starts taking insulin (if he's diabetic) he'll be back to his normal self in no time :). Associate the needles with treats and he'll be happy to take the shot since he knows he's getting a good reward for it. If you need any more information feel free to ask!

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thank you guys so much for your support. You know when you are tired everything just seems a lot worse then it is? That is how it feels...

 

I thought the Vet was going to roll her eyes at me about Jack because I bring him there so much for that reason. He has had kidney infections, stones, uti's, struvites and things like that before. I actually had him on something called UTI edge for a long time which is a very concentrated form of the ingredient that is in cranberries. It is very expensive but it brought his PH down to 6 which was great.

 

I don't believe it is the food only because he has had this problem on almost every type of food he was on. My vet said the protein in Orijen was high when I told it what it was. She doesn't want to change his food right now, all we have to do is see about diabetes and get to the specialist to get on a game plan. She tried not to upset me which when it comes to Jack is impossible but she was very concerned. He had more x rays and stuff too.

 

As they were sitting there talking about and cooing over Molly I wanted to tell everyone to shush up.. Poor Molly. She is doing so great, eating well, plays well, keeps me up at night....but not as much..

 

We go in in the morning for more fasting blood work,

 

I just feel bad because I have been saying for quite a while that something is wrong with Jack... I notice even the subtle changes in him and I guess it didn't show up right away in his labs but I knew something was wrong just like he knows when something is wrong with me.

 

We yelled at him for licking him self, I knew he would not go potty in the house out of spite he is not like that but when the repeatedly told me nothing was wrong I thought he was just being a brat.

 

I even for his two year check up which was in June had them run all kinds of testing because I said his behavior has changed.. I specifically asked for an electrolyte panel to be done. They did do one but not a full one so glucose did not come up on there....I have a feeling he has been feeling sick for a while.

 

I do hours of treatments a day myself and I am fine with doing two shot for Jack or whatever he needs, it is just the thought that something is wrong with him and why did I let it go.. I knew there was...Hopefully his infection is just so bad that is all, but then that leaves me wondering why is he getting such bad infections?

 

I would rather something be wrong with me, then Jack..I didn't know if I was going to have to take blood glucose levels on him daily and give him insulin according to that or what.. I just know all the issues humans have that don't have good diabetic control, I used to teach diabetic education. I will get him the best of anything he needs..

 

Jack is my life and I tend to get very emotional when it comes to him..

 

Thanks for being there for me... Hopefully like you all said it was a fluke and tomorrow his glucose will be within normal limits and we will try to figure out what is making his PH so high and why he is getting such bad infections....

 

Thanks again......

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Better to figure out what is wrong and then get a course of action for treatment. I always feel EMPOWERED when I know there is something I can do to help turn a situation around.  Get a diagnosis...then make a plan...follow through with that plan...and hopefully get desired results!!!!

[Jennifer and Jack]

You are very right Allyson, a game plan  is empowerment and I am all for that... Sometimes you loose perspective..especially when I am tired...I just want him to feel his best....

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

I'm so sorry that you all have to go through this.  Just think - you may have had an even bigger delay in getting Jack checked if you hadn't taken Molly in!  It sounds like the vet is on top of things and will get it under control.  Wish I knew more about diabetes in dogs.... for now, I'll just send hugs and prayers your way.  Good luck tomorrow!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Hope everything turns out well for Jack, my brother's dog was recently diagnosed with diabetes and since starting treatment has gone from a dog who for a long time looked like it was in her last days to a dog that I threatened to rename Frisky.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I hope little Jack has better test results tomorrow. All fingers and paws crossed here!

[Phoebe's Mom]

So sorry to read this sad news.  I am sending positive thoughts and prayers your way!