Oh Lordy, hand holding please, dog and cat :(

[OneStepCloser]

Ok, deep breath

I have a sinking feeling for both of them.

My beagle, about 13/14 (rescue) is going to the vets this afternoon, in the last few weeks sudden extreme weight loss (very noticable around the pelvis) although shes eating well, panting, thirst and weeing. On the plus side shes happy, short bursts of running.

On our walk yesterday I met another family with a young beagle and he noticed Boo panting and struck up converstation about their beagle who they lost last year to an enlarged heart. Listening to him and looking on the internet I dont think its looking good for my gorgeous funny lovely.

The cat, totally unconnected, again over the last few weeks she has been sneezing bloody mucus, its beginning to get out of control and splattering everywhere. Another, and Im not sure its related, thing is Ive noticed that her fur is clumping/beginning to matt down one side, this from a real lady who has always been pristine. Again, shes happy and eating/drinking well. I have no idea on this one.

I cant bury my head as much as I want, but Im terrified this afternoon I am taking them both to their end journey, couldnt sleep last night as feeling very emotional about them both. DH has just text to say he couldnt sleep either worrying about it.

Appointment is at four this afternoon, when I rang the Vets yesterday they asked me to explain the symptons and said they wanted to see them both asap.

Can anyone give me any positives please. Thanks x

Wormed and flea treatments/innoculations all up to date.

I don't know about your dog, but it sounds to me as if your cat has cat flu. Which is easily treatable .

Oh stubbonstains thanks, it could be that simple couldnt it?!

Oh dear, missed the bit about blood in the mucus. Hopefully that's still cat flu (fingers crossed) xx

Oh yes, I should add: all the cats I've known to have flu have had that matted fur thing. For your sake I hope I'm right......

Gosh, yes, hope people realise I meant Blood in mucus not bloody mucus!

How did it go at the vets? Hope it's good news
X

Cat is good news appears to be a bacterial infection, so we have antibiotics, some powder to sprinkle over her food and a medicine, so fingers crossed there.

Beagle Boo, not so good, Diabetes and a urine infection, found out last night and Im afraid Im a complete emotional mess, we will need to inject her twice a day, bless her they have shaved bits of hair whilst we get use to doing it. The vet said its a take it each week situation, see if we can get her stabilised this week which would be great, if not it becomes a little bit more complicated.

Theres a lot to take in Shes certainly not well at the moment, so I hope she picks up a little in the next few days.

Anyone any knowledge of Diabetes?

Thanks so much for asking x

It is always a concern I think when your pet is first diagnosed with diabetes. Once you get your head round doing her injections, and are old pros at spotting the signs of potential complications, you will be fine.

To be honest it is unlikely she will be stabilised in a week, although I hate to undermine what you have already been told. Many animals take a a good month or two, and possibly longer to settle into the insulin doses and changes. She will be started on a dose of insulin relevant to her weight, and should be given a week at least on this dose before going in for a blood glucose curve to see how she is responding. Usually then it is increased slowly, until she is stabilised, but this shouldn't be changed any more frequently than every 7 days at least. At our practice, we then tend to see them back weekly to two weekly for curves, and to decide on changes made to the insulin. This goes on until you have a satisfactory curve, that her glucose levels are coming down to nearly normal, and that the insulin is having a good effect for a decent period of the day.

Diabetics are prone to infection, particularly urine infections because of the high levels of sugar in her urine - attracts bacteria. Infection can upset the treatment as it makes them more insulin resistant, so can upset the apple cart from time to time!

The key with dogs is a good daily regime. She needs her food and insulin at the same time, every day. Exercise should be regular, and again ideally the same amount, at the same time every day. Your vet may recommend a prescription diet which will help with her stabilisation, something which gives a slow release of energy throughout the day. Generally they are high fibre, low fat, high complex carb diets.

I hope you have a good support system at your vets, this is so important for you! Really what I like to see is a reduction in the clinical signs at home, so reduction in appetite (which is usually ravenous at the beginning), no further weight loss, drinking and urination levels normal. I ask my clients to keep a diary, so that I can see how the animal is responding, so they grade demeanour, drinking and urination for me. A sign of a well controlled diabetic is one without any clinical signs, so how you perceive things at home is really important.

Your vets should go over signs of hypoglycaemia, (low blood glucose) and hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose). These are two common emergencies and you need to be able to recognise the signs and know how to react. There is an excellent website www.pet-diabetes.co.uk/ which is really helpful and has detail of all these things.

It IS overwhelming, but you will soon settle into it I promise! Have a good read and research. I am a VN, and diabetic nurse for our practice. I'm happy for you to PM if you wanted, although many practices perhaps do things differently and I wouldn't want to contradict anything you are told necessarily, but I can offer advice if you need it:)

Is she spayed by the way?

Aked thank you so much, wow fantastic information, yes you've reiterated everything that was said today, I tried to write notes but was a bit emotional and struggling to take it all in so for you to write it all down is brilliant, I had forgotten so much of what was said.

Yy she is booked in next week for the blood glucose curve, I think it's more me thinking about her stabilising so quick rather than what I had been told. So we are looking more months to get it more stable?

We will feed her at seven and seven and her walk is usually in the morning, she can only manage one at the moment.

Her weight loss has been dramatic, her pelvis is jutting out already, she's lost nearly 10kilos? In only a few months, is lethargic, up at least twice in the night for water and ewes, we cover the floor with puppy pads just in case, and although she gets us up she still wees on the mats, bless her. Yes, we have a diary and will fill it in, and will start measuring the water as well. We have some honey for emergencies to rub on her gums, is that ok do you think?

I'm worried about any complications, she's about 14, yes she's spayed. There's photo of the lovely lady herself on my profile, although now she's half the size, though she did need to lose a little

Silly thing, all the little patches of shaved fur upsets me, she has a few now, and they shaved some patches on her back for us whilst we get use to injecting her, what a silly thing to get upset over.

Ahh bless her cottons. She will start to feel better quite quickly, and you will probably see a difference in her this week in terms of getting back to her old self. It is just the fine tuning of getting the insulin levels right, and yes, I would say a good month or two, but they are all different and it depends how your vet wants to manage it. My latest diabetic lady stopped weeing in the house overnight within a few weeks, but we only saw her fortnightly to start with so it may be quicker for your little one.

Yep honey for gums is great. This is to be used if you think she is low. The first thing to do would be to feed her if you think she is having a wobble, honey can be used if you think she is at a point where she is unable to eat. Always call your vet if you are worried something isn't right :)

Its tough when you get a diagnosis in something like this. But honestly, it's quite manageable and you will be able to do it. So long as you arm yourself with information, you will soon be an expert. If you ever feel you can't manage it, dont be afraid to tell your vet. It is a big responsibility and you wouldn't ever be judged if you felt you couldn't carry on.

All the very best to you and your sweet girl. I hope it all goes smoothly. Please keep us updated!

Ahh bless her cottons. She will start to feel better quite quickly, and you will probably see a difference in her this week in terms of getting back to her old self. It is just the fine tuning of getting the insulin levels right, and yes, I would say a good month or two, but they are all different and it depends how your vet wants to manage it. My latest diabetic lady stopped weeing in the house overnight within a few weeks, but we only saw her fortnightly to start with so it may be quicker for your little one.

Yep honey for gums is great. This is to be used if you think she is low. The first thing to do would be to feed her if you think she is having a wobble, honey can be used if you think she is at a point where she is unable to eat. Always call your vet if you are worried something isn't right :)

Its tough when you get a diagnosis in something like this. But honestly, it's quite manageable and you will be able to do it. So long as you arm yourself with information, you will soon be an expert. If you ever feel you can't manage it, dont be afraid to tell your vet. It is a big responsibility and you wouldn't ever be judged if you felt you couldn't carry on.

All the very best to you and your sweet girl. I hope it all goes smoothly. Please keep us updated!

Oops! Said it twice.

Oops! Said it twice.

Oops! Said it twice.

Ha!

OP, when read the first post I was hoping that your dog was going to be diabetic, because the other top possibility I thought of in a old dog with rapid severe weight loss and excessive thirst is lymphoma with hypercalcemia. Diabetes = much better thing to have. Aked's explanations are great.

The cat - if problem doesn't resolve/recurs, I shall wish upon you that it's a blade of grass stuck up her nose. I've seen this a few times. I think they chew grass then puke a blade of it up their nose, where it can get stuck for a long time (vv satisfying to reach up a nostril or behind the soft palate of a heavily sedated or lightly anaesthetised cat and pull out a piece of grass - et voila! problem solved)

Thank you Aked and noddingoff both fantastic information for us.

Well, Miss Boo started her insulin last night, DD gave the injection last night to show DH and he done it this morning, she was completely calm about it, didnt even flinch.

Gah, the insurance referred us to a small print on the policy which means they wont pay for the insulin and needles, annoying (and has taught us a valuable lesson) but we can cover it. Aked, can you give me a rough idea of the costs of those if possible, we thinking roughly £50-60 pw? Which is fine.

Were all much calmer this morning over it, have armed ourselves with lots of information and I think we are all decided its a case of taking it as it comes, hopefully shell stabilise and continue to have a good life with this, if comlications arise, we`ll deal with it then. But I dont think its the beginning of the end as I did a couple of days ago. I always said Boo was a special old lady and she has proved that true

I mustnt forget Pumpy as well as shes been confused over this all week and been a little distressed so a bit of pampering for her as well!

Hmm, Pushkins has been really good at taking her medicine, but is still sneezing blood a lot, DD is very concerned about her (her baby really, they have a verry strong bond) as the Vet said if she hasnt improved by Thursday they will investigate further under a General. I was wondering noddingoff if it was something stuck in her nostril as she seems to fine apart from that.

Depends how much insulin she ends up on, and what she is on? I'm presuming it is Caninsulin? Off the top of my head, for a 10ml bottle (which would be 400 units, so you can work out how many units she has per day, and how long a bottle will last) it is about £40-£50. This will vary from practice to practice, and it may be worth seeing if you can get it online for less, although you still need to factor in your vet's prescription fees, usually around £5-£8. It also comes in 2.5ml bottles, which we sell individually, but I think it is more cost effective to use the larger bottle. Needles, I can't remember what they cost! But I think £50 a week for both sounds quite generous.

Glad the first day went ok:)

Nodding, my first thought was blade of grass too. Hope little Pushkin is doing ok as well.