Diabetic Labrador

[noideabutstilltrying]

I am after some help, advice, experiences of others.

our black Labrador is 10 years old. At the start of the summer she suddenly started to loose weight.
several weeks and blood tests later she was diagnosed as being diabetic.

Her eyesight has failed. This means she is worried in the house and keeps getting stuck in corners. Going out on walks is hard. She’s so used to being off lead. We daren’t do that now.

any help to control the diabetes would be great. Advice on helping a blind dog. What to expect in the coming weeks and months from people who have had diabetic dogs

thank you!

Has your vet suggested referral for removal of the cataracts so your dog can see again? This is very successful for diabetics and is best done sooner rather than later.

Is she on insulin?

have you worked out the calorie content of her food in relation to body weight? What does she eat now? You need to be really strict.

have you got a glucomoter?

my terrier was diabetic and when he lost his sight we decided against the surgery. He wouldn’t have tolerated all the drops. He managed fine at home and we changed where walked him to large flat fields on lead only so he didn’t have the risk of bumping into anything. I used a flexible lead and he trained him to stop with a click on the lead as he was also losing his hearing. Simple things like crossing the road at the dropped kerbs or he’d miss the step. The worst was walking him on him day when all the recycling boxes and bin bags were all over the pavements.

there is a great Facebook page, so much info, I’ll find it and come back.

She’s 10 and gets have said no surgery for her.

She’s also not insured and I’m not able to afford the £5000 it’d cost.

She’s on insulin twice a day.

we were recommended to have her on grain free high protein food. We have her on burns senior fish and brown rice. Weighing her food as per her weight and the feeding guidelines on the food.

only one walk a day as advised by the vet.

we are keeping her to the same walks as they were on level ground, she’s kept on the lead now though.

we keep her harness on her to lead her around the house.

she seems happy, just not sure how to make it easier on her!