Coney's Diabetes
Hello there on the 17th October 2003 our Family moved into our new home The Fluffters were quite stressed by this move and their behaviour patterns changed some what.
Coney started to wee in the house of a night time and then in the day time, so on 25th October 2003 we decided to take him to see our Vet.
On 27th of October 2003 Urine samples were taken from Coney and he was found to be Diabetic. On the 28th October Bloods were taken to check Coney did not have any other complications these tests were clear thankfully.
Next step will be the Diabetic Clinic with a Nurse on Monday 3rd November 2003 with one problem I am very scared of needles!
It is Monday 3rd November 2003
Coney, Tim and myself had our first Diabetic clinic this morning at 9.15. Our Nurse Lucia talked to us about Coney’s Diabetes, answered all our questions and taught Tim how to give Coney his Insulin.
Coney cried like a baby, as our Nurse gathered up some skin on the back of his neck to inject into but he did not seem to feel the actual injection at all...Phew what a relief! Tim was very good and said he has no problem at all with Coney’s treatment which is a good thing.
As for me I looked at a needle but could not watch, as Coney was given his jab I managed to stay in the room for most of the appointment but had to go out side for some air toward the end, as I felt very hot but tomorrow is another day and this will get easier in time.
Coney was a brave boy today and given 15 mg of Protamine Zinc Insulin to see how he goes and we will go back to the Nurse tomorrow for the second clinic and all Coney’s levels will be checked.
We have been told it should take a week or two to get Coney stable and the fact The Fluffters have such a strong routine anyway will help, as Coney will not have any change in his routine apart from a morning Jab.
On the odd occasion Tim will not be at home for Coney’s jab I will take him to see our Nurse and she will do the injection for me. Thankfully we have very understanding Vet’s and Nurses.
I will try to post Coney’s progress here each day until he is stable to keep all my friends updated and also in the hope this might help others that find themselves with a Diabetic dog.
Tuesday 4th November 2003
Today’s Diabetic Clinic with Ann went well, Tim had no problem at all giving Coney his Insulin and I managed to stay in the room through the whole appointment today.
I held Coney today as Tim injected him and he was so brave again but I had my eyes closed tight, so tomorrow I hope to be able to watch Tim inject Coney.
We got some prices for Coney’s medication today which was 25p each needle, £44.00 for his Insulin and £9.00 for the Keto stick + VAT of course. Our Insurance will pay one third of the cost of Coney’s treatment for the first year and then the bills will be down to us! Oh boy I sure wish we had taken out a better Pet Insurance.
5th November 2003
Well Coney had his first dry night last night, so no wee wee to clean up and today! Today was our 3rd Diabetic clinic and Tim has done so well with Coney’s jab’s that Lucia our Nurse is letting him do tomorrows jab at home for the first time this will make Coney a lot more relaxed about the whole thing, I am sure of it.
I did not manage to watch Coney’s jab again today but tomorrow is another day, as they say! Coney was quite relaxed today and he is still on 15mg of Insulin.
6th November 2003
Today was the first time Tim injected Coney at home and all went well but I could not bring myself to watch again! I just hold onto Coney and hug and talk to him to reassure him.
I feel a lot better about Coney having Diabetes now, although I am doubtful I would ever be able to inject Coney myself. I have been told by our Nurse that I am not the only one to feel this way and there are a few people who come to the Clinic, so a Nurse can give their dogs their Insulin jab.
Coney is still on 15mg of Protamine Zinc Insulin at the moment but this dosage may change as we get Coney stable. We test Coney’s Glucose levels each morning, as he has his first wee of the day and we stick to a regular feeding pattern of snacks and meals to help him stabilise.
We have seen a decrease in Coney’s drinking and Urinating habits already, so now we can start to look forward to a near normal future for him and just hope we do not get any complications.
7th November 2003
Todays jab was done by our Nurse at the clinic, as Tim had an early start at work Coney is still on 15 mg of Insulin and there are no other changes to report.
8th November 2003
The first day of the weekend at home with Coney and his Diabetes and all went very well but no more lay in's for The Fluffter houshold anymore!
9th November 2003
Coney is a brave Bear indeed and he seems to be quite relaxed about his daily jabs now.....Just wish I was!
10 November 2003
Tim woke at 4am this morning to hear Coney pacing the hall way but sadly Tim did not get to Coney in time and he wet the floor, this is bound to happen from time to time and we just ignore the situation clean up and that's that. Coney's levels are all the same still and we are all pleased with his progress.
11th November 2003
Tim and Coney are very at ease with the injections, so much so that I do not have to hold Coney any more, as Tim injects him. It is as if he knows he has to have the injection for his own good.
12th November 2003
Well every thing is going very well at the moment and all Coney's levels are the same, so I will only post here in the future if there are any changes in Coney's condition.
6th Dec 2003
After chatting to our Vet we have increased Coney's Insulin to 16 mg in the hope it will help him to go through the night without needing a pee!
17th Dec 2003
Coney's insulin dose was raised by another 1 mg today.
18th Dec 2003
Coney is doing much better now and we have lots of dry nights once again.
12th Jan 2004
Coney’s blood sugar has shot up and he was looked at by our Vet. Over the next few days Coney’s Insulin will been increased slowly to 23mg.
He has been having dry nights through the Insulin increase but his Glucose is still a little high, so a further increase may be needed. It is now 19th Jan 2004.
28th Jan 2004
Coney's Insulin is now up to 30mg a day and looks like it will need to be increased further over the next few days.
1st Feb 2004
Coney's Glucose is now back to half % which is great and has been for two days this is much better.
3rd Feb 2004
Coney's Glucose is back upto 2 % which is too high, so his Insulin is now up to 33mg We are wondering if we will get him stable again dispite our carefull care and keeping diet and exercise to a strong routine.
17th March 2004 Coney is now Blind
Ok it has been a while since my last post but Coney has not been very stable at all. He in now on 44mg of Insulin and his sight this evening decided to give up totally! This has come, as a huge shock to us even though it was to be expected.
22nd March 2004
Just a few days of being blind and Coney is once again showing he is as star. He is using his paws to feel his way when he in unsure of his surroundings and also when he comes down stairs he uses his chin to feel the stairs. Bless him he is doing very well indeed.
24th March 2004
We are having a hard time to get Coney stable at the moment and his Insulin is now at 49mg one more mg to go and will need to buy larger syringes. He is at 1% on his Keto sticks.( Glucose Testers)
Coney did very well on his woodland walks today. It was me that slipped tripped and stumbled all over the place, as I was watching him so closely..... Boy Coney put me to shame today!
We keep him leaded on Angel’s long training lead which is great, I can wear it like a sash. We let him loose when he is in a large open area, as he will never go far from us and never has really he needs some freedom. We do have an extending lead but this is no good in very wooded areas, as Coney will get too far ahead and tree bump!
Coney is just seven days into his new dark world and I have to say if you saw him stepping out on his walks you would never believe he couldn’t see, he has simply amazed me.
If you Dog is blind and you would like help and support from Owners of Blind dogs visit this site
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blinddogs/?yguid=102746744/FONT/P
One day at a time is how we will take this and Coney is as happy as ever and seems to be very confident in his New World. 26th March 2004 Coney's Insulin has been increased to 51mg today and we are hoping it will drop a little over the next few days! Coney has spent a lot of time with me in the garden today and he has found his way around very well he is making a good mental map! I went and bought Coney a new Harness today which he has been fine in and seems very happy to wear it which is great, as a few years ago we tried him in one and he made out he could not walk in it.....LOL 27th March 2004 Insulin now at 52mg!! ........Cough has gone at long last and just 1 more day of Antibiotics. Today while out on our walk Coney trusted us enough to run along side us at quite a speed on his lead which I think it is quite something considering the time he has been blind. He will also leap on command into the back of our car. His obvious trust in us has really made a huge difference to this whole situation. We are all delighted with Coney’s progress. 30 March 2004 Coney has had a good couple of days the sun has been shining and he has been in the garden lots with the Girls and me. Today, as we walked along in the woods I thought no one would ever know Coney was Blind he trots along at my side, as if he can see the only time he seems quite cautious is if he hears the girls playing in water because he never has been much of a water babe! Yesterday in the woods Coney fell over a Miniature Schnauzer and a Scottie dog which were both having fun running about! Bless him the dogs were so small and they just got under his feet a bit. Anyway this made me think back to when we first had Coney. I was walking Coney in the woods and all of a sudden I heard a voice shouting out get your dog away my dog is old and completely blind, so I rushed over got a hold of Coney and told the lady I was very sorry but Coney is a good dog and means no harm. I am so determine NOT to turn into a paranoid old Blind dog owner....LOL We also meet a tiny little cross breed pup that Coney just stood still with and let the pup run about under his belly and through his legs. I think the pup may have caused Coney to fall over with dizziness had he tried to keep up with it! 31st March 2004 Thought of something I must add about Coney's Blindness he gets very disorientated the later the evening gets, so at bed time he needs to be watched carefully, as he gets lost even from his blanket behind the sofa to the back door. This seems to happen most nights. 4th April 2004 Coney had some very long walks this weekend and we decided to see how he would manage off lead in a large flat open space. Even though I stayed with Coney he was not confident at all. Coney will just stay on his lead all the time now and when he wants to run we just go too! Coney's Insulin is at 52mg at the moment which it has been for a few days now and he still has the odd mishap in the kitchen but at least Coney will use the newspaper to pee on now. 29th April 2004 Coney's Insulin is at 50 mg at the moment and has been for the last few days. What is good is that Coney has had dry nights for the past 2 weeks or so I hope I am not speaking too soon! Coney is coping well with his Blindness and has a very good sense of where he is even when we are in the woods he knows his way round pretty well but we keep him on a long lead. We are trying hard to treat Coney just as we did before he became blind under advice from other Blind dog owners after all he is still the same dog just needs a close eye on him at times to make sure he stays safe. I find myself moving branches and any other bits and pieces that lay in Coney's path, as we walk in the woods, so he does not fall or trip and get hurt. So far Coney has not had any injury's and I hope it stays that way. 15 June 2004 Not much to report really Coney is still at in between 50 to 54 mg of Insulin a day and he is as happy as ever. Coney has become every more clingy of me now and is far less willing to be left alone even if I am in the house he chooses to stay in with me rather then be in the garden with K and A. How could I forget Coney has also gained greater bladder control and the paper stays dry most nights now. I did mention this in my last post but he has been so good I thought it worth another!! 19th July 2004 Coney is doing as well as ever and his trust in us never ceasea to amaze us he is a BRILL old chap. He has got to the stage now where he seems to have made such a solid mental map of his house and garden he rarely bumps and most people would not even know he was Blind. The Fluffter Girlz sometimes give Coney the odd warning growl if they are in his path and likely to get trodden on but apart from that they seem to respect Coney very much. We call Angel Nurse Bean, as in the mornings she sits and watches Coney have his Injection, what ever she is doing she will stop and come running when Tim calls Coney it is quite sweet. Coney still enjoys being a very sociable dog with other dogs when we are out on our walks and I think it is important he still has that contact. I have met people in the past with Blind dogs and they have got very cross if one of mine goes to say hello...I do not understand that at all. 5th Aug 2004 Coney has had a bad week or two due to his recurring Cough which has been treated with Antibiotics that upset his Stomach! he has also had a change in one of his eyes which has left his Eye a little droopy! His Insulin has shot up to 57mg and it has been in the 50’s all this week. We are booked to see a Specialist next Thursday to discuss Coney’s Diabetes and other problems, so I will post again after we see her. 13th Aug 2004 Bear has been to see the Vet today which he had been referred to she is a Vet but specialises in Diabetes and really knows her stuff. Ok this is what happened today Bear will stay on his present Insulin and on Monday morning he will go to the Vets and have Glucose Curve taken. This is a series of blood tests taken through out the day to determine just what is happening to Bears Diabetic levels. This normally means the dog in question would stay at the Clinic all day but, as Bear gets, so stressed I will be taking him back and forth to the clinic through the day and our Vet is less then a few minutes from us. After the Curve has been completed we may change Bears Insulin type and start Bear off on two Jabs a day rather than just one. I will know more on Monday 16th and will post again then. 16th August 2004 Coney's first trip to our Vets was at 9am this morning followed by visits at 12'oclock, 3pm and 6pm at each vist a small amout of blood it taken to watch what his Blood Sugar levels are doing through the day. Coney has been very brave. 17th August 2004 Today Coney had his last Blood Test which he was not happy to have taken but it is all over now and the Curve results were not too bad at all with the highest being 19. So now we wait to hear from the Specialist to see where we go from here. 24th Aug 2004 I heard back from our Vet today and it has been decided that, as from Monday morning of next week Bear will start taking another type of Insulin twice a day instead of once a day. Then on Thursday Bear will have his Blood Glucose taken, so we can see where we will be with the new Insulin and weather or not an increase or decrease is needed in the amount given. The result of the Glucose Curve Bear had last week was that his current Insulin was just lasting him too long there were no dips in the Curve where they would have been expected! We had decided some time back to put Bear in a Harness when he went out on his walks which worked very well indeed, apart from I noticed when I groomed him his coat was getting thinner and even the odd bald spot was appearing it is just like the harness is rubbing away Bears coat! So we went back to a lead and normal collar and his hair has re grown again....I am not sure if this is down to him being a Samoyed and having a double coat or if this also happens with other breeds of dog but I thought it might be worth mentioning just in case it is happening to anyone else's dog. Bears coat is a lot thinner than it was a few years ago and so we have chosen to ditch the harness and keep Bears coat looking, as good as we can for as long as we can. About 5.15pm 24th August 2004 For the first time every this afternoon Coney went into Shock, as his Blood Sugar level was so low. It throw me into a complete panic, as Coney was falling over, wobbly on his legs and very disorientated it was quite horrible! My neighbour Cathy rushed us to our Vet where he was checked over and given a Glucose drip to stabilise him. I have had to leave Coney with my Vet and they will call me to take him home if his levels go back to normal. We have been back to get Coney but had to take him to another Clinic so, he can be monitored over night. His Blood Sugar was very low at just 1.4 when I first got him to our Vets and then after a Glucose drip it went up to 2.2 then 3.7 but then just before we left it went down to 3.1 His Blood Sugar should be about 5 when normal. We will pick Coney up at 8am tomorrow and then go back to our Vet to see what we will do next! We can't wait to get him home again. 25th August 2004 Coney came home this Morning at 8am his Blood Sugars over night were as follows 3.6 3.3 4.1 4.2 3.2 He seems fine this morning and VERY glad to be home bless him. 2nd Sep 2004 As from tomorrow 3rd Sep 2004 Coney Bear will change Insulin type to Caninsulin and will be taking 15mg twice a day just after food at 8am and then 8pm. This I should imagine will be hard on Bear, as he will have to wait an extra 2 hours for his tea! Coney will have Bloods taken again on Monday. The last few weeks has been very stressful on our Family, so I hate to think how poor old Bear has been feeling...We are keeping are fingers crossed for some good times ahead for Coney. He is still as lovable and good as ever through what ever is thrown in his path he really is a sweetheart. 6th Sep 2004 Coney had Bloods taken again today and it was at 10.9 which is a vast improvement ....Our Vet said he would like to see Coney in single figures but at least we are going in the right direction. 17th Sep 2004 Coney's Bloods were taken again today and were 12.4 too high, so we are now going to try 18mg in the mornings and 17 in the evenings for a week and see how we go from there. He was a very brave boy again today but as soon as the Bloods were taken he was wanting out of there..... 24th Sep 2004 Coney's Bloods were taken again today and way too low this time at just 2.1 so we gave him some liguid Glucose and some extra food to bring the level up, so we are back to 17mg morning and night now. He was a brave boy today but he did think for a moment or two he could not walk with a small bandage on his leg in the blood test area....Bless him. 15 October 2004 Nothing to report all is going as well as can be expected at this time. 24 Feb 2005 Coney is 12 years old today and he is doing very well indeed.... Still on 17mg of Caninsulin twice a day, dry night and day with no problems at all. 8th April 2005 Coney has not been so good today as his Cough has come back again we have been to see our Vet and Coney is on a 12-day course of Antibiotics. Feeling poorly from the Cough has made Coney’s appetite decrease which is not a good thing, as he needs food before he can have his Insulin jab. 9th April 2005 I woke this Morning to the sound of Coney Coughing when I got up to him he was standing in a huge puddle of pee just outside our Bedroom. I took him downstairs to find most of the floors in the hall kitchen and utility also covered in pee.I hate to think how long he had been trying to wake me. 10th April 2005 We are still having a job to get Coney to take food but we have got enough into him for him to have his Insulin shots. 11th April 2005 Coney is still Coughing his poop is loose and his appetite has decreased yet again we are all, so worried today. A trip to our Vets and Coney is given an Injection to increase his appetite and we are told the lose poop is caused by the Antibiotics and the sickness at this stage our Vet thinks is caused by Coney coughing so much. 12th April 2005 Tim is away with work in Spain for two days, so the job of giving Coney his Insulin falls to our Vet but we have a problem Coney has refused all food this Morning despite my very best efforts. Back to our Vet we go and Coney is given another injection and also his Blood sugar level is taken which was a little high but to be expected without an Insulin shot. 13th April 2005 Coney had a very restless night and has not wanted to eat all day today. His Cough is about the same and his Blood Sugar level was taken again today at our Vets which was at 24.9. His Heart rate was also a little slow today. Our Vet recomended a food called a/d....... it is a Hills prescription diet which Coney really liked. 14th April 2005 Coney ate his Hills diet this Morning which was a great start to the day and had his normal Insulin as well. We are off to see our Vet at 5pm. 25th July 2005 Coney's Diabetes is still very much under control and he picked up fine after my last post apart from his Cough which he now takes daily medication for. It sure is tough watching Coney age. 14th Nov 2005 I am very pleased to say Coney is still doing very well and has had no problems at all. He will be 13 years old next Feb 2006 still a very happy boy and just as relaxed about life as he has always been. Coney is a lot slower now and his daily walks are kept very short but he still very much enjoys being taken out. 17th Jan 2006 Sadly I have to report that Coney has been slowly losing his Hearing over the last couple of Months. I really find this upsetting and hate to think of him living a life in both silence and dark! But he is fine in both himself and general Health and still in very good spirits and he has coped so well with whatever life has dealt him so far and will carry on to do so we all hope. Our boy will be 13 years old this Feb 2006 and we are looking foward to his celebration and hope he will at least be able to still hear a little of what is going on around him... 2nd Jan 2006 Coney is not having such a good time of it at the moment as he has started to wet over night so we have adjusted his Insulin and hope that will sort things out. His Cough is quite bad at the moment but then we do have bad periods when it seems to flare up! We do feel for him it's awful having to listen to him coughing away and not being able to do anything for him! Fingers are crossed that he is going to pick up again but Tim and I both say he is looking very tired but he still has a wagging tail and a smile but gets slower by the day it seems. Tomorrow is another day and we hope by then he will have improved by then. 24th Feb 2006 Today is a special day it's Coney's 13th Birthday and he is doing just fine at the moment Health wise... 2nd April 2006 Coney is not too good again at the moment he is off his food a bit he is wetting more and restless early Mornings and getting earlier any time from 4 to 7AM theses days. He is not bothering to get up when we come back into the house any more which is quite upsetting and his memory seems to be fadding. He seems to have forgotten much of his mental map of the garden and will bark at the wall to come back in instead of the back door which he used to do. He is a little wobbly on his legs especially in his hind quarters but we think the Muscle wastage is responsible for that and the Arthritis of course His hearing does not seem to have deteriorated any further which we are very glad for as he is totally Blind IT seems we have more bad days then good at the moment sadly! 10th April 2006 Coney has got worse he is not eating very much of his meals at all now and is missing the odd meal Coney's intake of drinking water has got a lot less I would say at least half of what he has been drinking every day since he became Diabetic and is ever more confused to be honest we are not sure he knows who we are any more! We have made the decision that if our Vet is in agreement that the best thing to do for Coney is to let him sleep then we will do so early next Week. This is an unbearably upsetting time for our Family but we have to put Coney first now as none of us want to or will stand by and watch Coney deteriorate any further. He has shown us nothing but love and gentleness for 8 years and we need to give him a Peaceful passing. 17th April 2006 Coney Bear will go to sleep on the Morning of Tuesday 18th April 2006. I sit here Today and dread Tomorrow. 18th April 2006 19th April 2006 Coney's Cremation took place Today. Coney's plaque arrived Today and we have placed it in his plant pot on our patio the plaque reads: Remembering Coney Bear 1993 - 2006 Tim, Lollie, myself, Kaylie, Angel and Kirby all went to Coney's Meadow where we placed his Memorial page on a tree and we each sprinkled dried rose petals from roses a friend had given to me the Week before at the base of the tree. We also spread Poppy seeds all over Coney's Meadow and hope to see the Meadow full of Red and orange Poppy's next season. 21st April 2006 Tim went to pick Coney up Today- this Morning at 10am while I was at work as I could not face going to the Crematorium. As sad as this time is I felt so much better that he was home with us again where he should be and I feel very much as if he is still here with us. Now our Dear Coney Bear can truly Rest In Peace
We are now four days into the new Insuin and Coney had his Bloods taken again today which were still too high at 17.2, So we have increased his dose to 17mg twice daily.
He will have Bloods taken again on Friday....Poor boy he has been like a pin cushion the last few weeks.
10th Sep 2004
We have said our goodbye's it was the hardest thing to do even when we knew it was the right thing to do.
We all got up at 6 with Coney and gave him a Breakfast packed full of Tuna which he loved and gave him lots of yummy snacks which his Diabetes had denied him in the past and I gave him a groom so he was looking so very handsome.
We went over to our Vets at 9.30 and Coney was relaxed and happy his back legs gave way under him and he fell at one stage but still munching on yummy snacks! That was the only way we could think to spoil him.
Geoff our Vet talked us through what he would do and then he injected Coney he told us Coney's blood pressure was very low Tim held Coney tight and Loren and I stroked and talked to him.
It was so quick and we all felt Coney slip into his deep forever sleep at which point Geoff and Nurse Nicola left the room to give us time alone with Coney.
He looked different to me not like Coney Bear and not like he was just asleep can't really describe it but he looked at peace. I closed his Eyes and kissed and hugged him we all did but turning and leaving Coney behind on that table was not easy and an image I will never forget.
We went home all very sad and upset but decided we should take The other Fluffters to the Meadows which is a place they all love to walk at not sure why but they all get very excited when we go there and it made Coney Puppy like in his younger day's.
We now call the Meadow we had taken photo's of Coney in Coney's Meadow and we are going to plant some Poppy seeds there tomorrow and put a remembrance photo of Coney up on a Tree.
Tim and I went and bought a pot and planted a Weigela in Coney's memory Today and I have ordered him a Memorial plaque to add to the pot.
He is now with Dignity a Family run Pet Crematorium where he will be cremated on Wednesday and then we will collect him and bring him home.
He will be in a casket hand painted with Forget-Me-Nots and he will stay with us at home so we won't ever have to say goodbye again.
THANK YOU to All of you that have written and sent us cards and messages it's nice to know you care.
