My dog is diabetic.

Valigarmander · 05-07-2008, 07:26 PM

I figured I'd put this in the Relationships forum, since a dog really is family.

Story is... lately my dog Maya's been very sick. She's been vomitting, drinking excessively, not eating at all, and losing weight. In the past couple months, she's lost about 30 pounds (mind you, she was a very fat dog before). So, today we took her in for a checkup.

The diagnosis is she has very bad diabetes. It's come to a point at which we now have two decisions for her. We can start giving her shots, which would cost the family more, and that's still a problem because my mother is still in chemotherapy and it would conflict with much of the plans our family already has for the summer and this coming year. The other option is to put her down.

If we wait too long, she'll probably die. Things aren't looking good for her at all.

So, long story short, life for my dog is going to change drastically in the coming days. We could begin administering drugs to her every day, or we would have her put down. Either way, it's going to be rather tough for me and the family. Just letting y'all know.

User Name · 05-07-2008, 07:33 PM

Oh, Val...*hugs* I know exactly what you're going through. My dog had diabetes as well, as you know. He went blind and we gave him shots every day. He had to stay in a room all day because he would run into things and get nasty bumps on his head. It's not easy because dogs can be some of the best humans out there some days. Just know that whatever the outcome, you don't want Maya to suffer. It will be hard, but just keep in mind that she'll be happier if you don't have her suffer. My family let my dog drag a tumor the size of a tennis ball on her stomach for a couple of months because we were too sad to let her go. If you need anything, IM me.

I hope for the best, bud.

Valigarmander · 05-07-2008, 07:37 PM

Thanks, UN. You're always here to cheer me up.

i thot u wer my frend · 05-07-2008, 07:48 PM

Sorry to hear about this, Val. I think our dog when I was like 4 had diabetes, but I don't remember him that much.

***Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds*** · 05-07-2008, 09:26 PM

I'm sorry to hear it, and understand what it's like very well. My grandparents had a diabetic dog they cared for for many years, and my oldest cat has diabeties, too. I give her two shots every day, and I do have to agree that it's changed our lives a bit. The initial cost of running bloodtests to find the correct dose for her insulin was tough, but she has a good quality of life and I don't mind having to be home at the same time morning and night to care for her.

*hugs tight*

**Booyakasha** · 05-07-2008, 10:41 PM

*considers making obligatory "my dog has asperger's" joke; chickens out*

Tough when your pets get sick or old. Hope things turn out all right.

Everybody Nose · 05-08-2008, 12:07 AM

It's never good to have a sick member of your family. At the same time, if you have serious summer plans, and your family is dealing with what they are dealing with, I would either find someone willing to take the challenge, or put her down.

Valigarmander · 05-10-2008, 03:27 PM

Well, Maya's just come back from the hospital, and she's feeling much better now. She's been eating and everything. We'll need to start giving her insulin shots in the morning and evening, but other than that she should be fine.

Heh, a few months ago I was yelling at her to get out of the kitchen and stop begging for food. Now, her whining is music to my ears.

EmoCL · 05-10-2008, 07:06 PM

That is so great!!! Losing a dog is really tough and I'm SOOO glad you didn't have to put her down... putting a dog down is really really tough.

I'm so glad!

Irby · 05-10-2008, 07:20 PM

I had no idea Dogs could get diabetes. Well at least she's feeling better.

***Heroine of the Dragon*** · 05-11-2008, 09:17 PM

It's always wonderful to hear happy things... and I, too, am glad your dog is doing so well. We get so attached to our pets... I still miss Zar.

05-07-2008, 07:26 PM	#1
Valigarmander Frankly, more awesome than you. Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Either UN's bed or Andre's bed. Gender: Posts: 12,994 Thanks: 788 Thanked 1,338 Times in 663 Posts Points: 80.18 Bank: 120,174.15 Total Points: 120,254.33 Donate	My dog is diabetic. I figured I'd put this in the Relationships forum, since a dog really is family. Story is... lately my dog Maya's been very sick. She's been vomitting, drinking excessively, not eating at all, and losing weight. In the past couple months, she's lost about 30 pounds (mind you, she was a very fat dog before). So, today we took her in for a checkup. The diagnosis is she has very bad diabetes. It's come to a point at which we now have two decisions for her. We can start giving her shots, which would cost the family more, and that's still a problem because my mother is still in chemotherapy and it would conflict with much of the plans our family already has for the summer and this coming year. The other option is to put her down. If we wait too long, she'll probably die. Things aren't looking good for her at all. So, long story short, life for my dog is going to change drastically in the coming days. We could begin administering drugs to her every day, or we would have her put down. Either way, it's going to be rather tough for me and the family. Just letting y'all know.

05-07-2008, 10:41 PM	#6
Booyakasha Mod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 6,877 Thanks: 77 Thanked 366 Times in 233 Posts Points: 11,591.50 Bank: 24,179.62 Total Points: 35,771.12 Donate	considers making obligatory "my dog has asperger's" joke; chickens out Tough when your pets get sick or old. Hope things turn out all right. __________________ Boo--the only dude bad enough to rescue the president

05-08-2008, 12:07 AM	#7
Everybody Nose All the girls standing in the line for the bathroom Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Gender: Posts: 13,221 Thanks: 981 Thanked 669 Times in 388 Posts Points: 47,164.31 Bank: 598,669.29 Total Points: 645,833.60 Donate	It's never good to have a sick member of your family. At the same time, if you have serious summer plans, and your family is dealing with what they are dealing with, I would either find someone willing to take the challenge, or put her down. __________________ Click here to level up my card! Click here to level up my license! The Virginian Goat Farmers- Season 1 coming soon

05-07-2008, 07:33 PM	#2
User Name Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Some say hell, I say paradise. Gender: Posts: 6,240 Thanks: 218 Thanked 270 Times in 198 Posts Points: 1,180.05 Bank: 40,787.03 Total Points: 41,967.07 Donate	Oh, Val...hugs I know exactly what you're going through. My dog had diabetes as well, as you know. He went blind and we gave him shots every day. He had to stay in a room all day because he would run into things and get nasty bumps on his head. It's not easy because dogs can be some of the best humans out there some days. Just know that whatever the outcome, you don't want Maya to suffer. It will be hard, but just keep in mind that she'll be happier if you don't have her suffer. My family let my dog drag a tumor the size of a tennis ball on her stomach for a couple of months because we were too sad to let her go. If you need anything, IM me. I hope for the best, bud.

05-07-2008, 07:37 PM	#3
Valigarmander Frankly, more awesome than you. Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Either UN's bed or Andre's bed. Gender: Posts: 12,994 Thanks: 788 Thanked 1,338 Times in 663 Posts Points: 80.18 Bank: 120,174.15 Total Points: 120,254.33 Donate	Thanks, UN. You're always here to cheer me up.

05-07-2008, 07:48 PM	#4
i thot u wer my frend WHAT KILLED THE DINOSAURS? THE ICE AGE! Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Planet Michigan Gender: Posts: 11,474 Thanks: 515 Thanked 897 Times in 629 Posts Blog Entries: 13 Points: 671.84 Bank: 28,728.35 Total Points: 29,400.19 Donate	Sorry to hear about this, Val. I think our dog when I was like 4 had diabetes, but I don't remember him that much.

05-07-2008, 09:26 PM	#5
*Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds* Admin "mine.. not yours. NO. MINE." Epic Ladynerd Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Forteresse de Valois Gender: Posts: 23,709 Thanks: 273 Thanked 497 Times in 350 Posts Points: 41,840.35 Bank: 147,494.84 Total Points: 189,335.19 Donate	I'm sorry to hear it, and understand what it's like very well. My grandparents had a diabetic dog they cared for for many years, and my oldest cat has diabeties, too. I give her two shots every day, and I do have to agree that it's changed our lives a bit. The initial cost of running bloodtests to find the correct dose for her insulin was tough, but she has a good quality of life and I don't mind having to be home at the same time morning and night to care for her. hugs tight

05-10-2008, 03:27 PM	#8
Valigarmander Frankly, more awesome than you. Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Either UN's bed or Andre's bed. Gender: Posts: 12,994 Thanks: 788 Thanked 1,338 Times in 663 Posts Points: 80.18 Bank: 120,174.15 Total Points: 120,254.33 Donate	Well, Maya's just come back from the hospital, and she's feeling much better now. She's been eating and everything. We'll need to start giving her insulin shots in the morning and evening, but other than that she should be fine. Heh, a few months ago I was yelling at her to get out of the kitchen and stop begging for food. Now, her whining is music to my ears.

05-10-2008, 07:06 PM	#9
EmoCL Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: insert something awkward here Gender: Posts: 4,402 Thanks: 1,136 Thanked 378 Times in 319 Posts Points: 9,977.41 Bank: 717.81 Total Points: 10,695.22 Donate	That is so great!!! Losing a dog is really tough and I'm SOOO glad you didn't have to put her down... putting a dog down is really really tough. I'm so glad!

05-10-2008, 07:20 PM	#10
Irby Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada, Eh. Gender: Posts: 7,003 Thanks: 344 Thanked 118 Times in 100 Posts Blog Entries: 5 Points: 43,053.83 Bank: 16,978.39 Total Points: 60,032.22 Donate	I had no idea Dogs could get diabetes. Well at least she's feeling better.

05-11-2008, 09:17 PM	#11
*Heroine of the Dragon* The Grinnie Fool! ♥ VGFCodes Staff Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: In a pretty place surrounded by sparkly faerie dust!! Gender: Posts: 27,762 Thanks: 277 Thanked 354 Times in 274 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Points: 20,662.18 Bank: 2,417,977.64 Total Points: 2,438,639.81 Donate	It's always wonderful to hear happy things... and I, too, am glad your dog is doing so well. We get so attached to our pets... I still miss Zar.