[SECOND SHOT]

X ASKED, "So does Stormy still "peak" around a corner before walking out?" YES, STORM IS STILL PEAKING, WHICH GOES GOOD WITH HIS CREEPING, walking slow, STORM AND GRACIE SPENT PART OF THE MORNING IN THE GARAGE WITH ME WATCHING THE STORM ROLL IN, THEY ARE BOTH STILL TIRED FROM YESTERDAYS FUN, COME TO THINK OF IT I MAY NEED ANOTHER NAP, A YAWNING OLD MAN

 

[StuStiltman]

Quick update. Storm is learning to get around the folks place pretty good, and seams to be adjusting ok. We placed rubber mats at the top and bottom of all the stairs, and he's learned that feet on rubber mat means go slow and feel for the stairs. He's good at going up the stairs, is still afraid to go down, but he can do it. Sad to say we're having a real hard time getting his blood sugar down to acceptable limits. Mom and 2ndshot measure his blood glucose every day, I report it to the vet and every week or so the vet has me adjust his dose, it's still around 400 most days, which is way to high. The vet says it's a slow process. I can do nothing besides follow her advice step by step, I'd love to just jack his insulin dose way up and see what happens, but that could potentially give him way low blood sugar, and cause seizures and death. So we're doing the daily monitoring and slowly raising his dose till we get it dialed in. On a positive note I found out I can get a vial of his insulin for 25$ from the Walmart in dillworth (just east of moorehead). I paid 170$ for his last vial from Costco in Fargo. So as his dose goes up, it's not something I have to worry about financially speaking.

 

[mutthunt]

Sounds like you're figuring out together.

I remember my vet saying that animal insulin adjustment in not linear. A small change can have a crazy response, hence the go slow approach. Sounds like you're doing it right.

 

[xrated]

That's good news Stu!

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[goldfish]

As long as things aren't getting worse

 

[OGblackcloud]

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[razorrt5]

Glad to hear it

 

[StuStiltman]

Storms blood sugar was at 306 today, which is way lower than he's been since this started, so it's a good sign. Bad thing is that it jumps 100 points up or down per day and we can't figure out why. The vets worried that it may be dipping into dangerous levels in between his shots and when we check his blood sugar, so next week I'm bringing him to the vet so they can monitor his blood sugar hourly throughout the day and make sure he's not getting into the danger zone. Things may be looking up. I really hope we can control his blood sugar since he's adapted really well to being blind and I think he has a pretty good quality of life still.

 

[StuStiltman]

Update on stormy. We got his dose finally dialed in at 11 units every 12 hours. 12 units brought him down to the "danger zone" for low blood glucose, 11 units keeps him as close to healthy levels as we can without hitting the tipping point. I've had him at home for around 2 months. He's doing ok, best he can be considering being blind and diabetic and all. He's lost a lot of fur, but is slowly growing it back. I don't expect him to ever be a healthy dog again, but I think we can maintain his health at a level that gives him a quality of life that's worth living. Don't know how long it will last, and honestly it kinda feels like I'm providing hospice care. Whatever though, he's healthyish and happy. I can't get a video of storm on here, Tapatalk isn't playing nice with videos. But I put a video of storm fetching a merg on Facebook if anyone wants to see it.

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[The Pas Swamp Donkey]

Are you using Caninsulin or a human insulin. I converted my dog to human insulin (cheaper than canine up here in Canada). Gracie was on insulin for three years, but it was hard to keep her sugar levels in the normal range, and she tended to be hyperglycemic most of the time. Cataracts and degeneration of eyesight continued over time, and she was ok in the fenced back yard, but hesitant to go anywhere else. She developed nerve problem/arthritis in her back, and is in pain a few nights a week. Her quality of life is just not there anymore and we are doing the humane thing on Tuesday. I am wiping the tears from my face as I type this.

It is important to keep those blood sugar levels down, to prevent further loss of vision and function. I guess I was luckier in that my Miss Gracie hunted hard until she was 11 and she has had two good years as a house pet in her retirement since.

Good luck with your dog and it sounds like you found a fair priced insulin supplier, so cost shouldn't be an option. I always gave the insulin right after feeding. Tested BS by poking the lips (very vascular).

 

[StuStiltman]

Been a while since I checked in on the sight. Found this old thread and figured I'd give an update. Stormys still around, still is enjoying life, still can't see shot. He likes wandering around in the yard and sticking his face down gopher holes he finds. He wanders off now and then, which I don't like cause if the wind comes up, and he can't here me calling him, he might not be able to make his way back. A couple weeks ago I lost him, then found him in the tall grass on the edge of my woods with a rotten fox leg in his mouth, so it's safe to say his nose still works. Think it's getting close to the end of the road, I feel good saying that I've given him a few extra years that we both enjoyed.
For those who have been to my house and met my dogs, my Hannah is probably 15 now, still barks at anything that moves, still deaf, still is shaped like a barrel, and still had mostly only gums left in her mouth, and is still ready to gum anything to death that walks onto her land, and is still my sweety.
Made a lot of friends from this sight. Hope you all have a good summer and fall.

 

[Gunnysway]

Good hearing from you Stu!

Always a bummer when we have to make "THAT" decision…

Glad you were there to help her thus far. You're a good man. :beer:

 

[StuStiltman]

Stormy had a really good time last night. There’s been this feral cat hanging around my place for a while, last night when I took hanna and storm outside before bed the cat stayed in its favorite spot, behind the gnome statue (long story boiled down, my buds stole it for me as a joke and left it on the steps on the edge of my driveway), normally the cat runs off, but last night it stood its ground. Stormy (blind) sniffed and wagged his tail his way towards the cat, he knew something was there. When he was a foot and a half away I stood over him and held him. The cats feral, but friendly, still would’ve scratched storms non working eyes out if he got too close. That was fun, and also bedtime so I brought the dogs inside. Today the alarm goes off at 4, I hit snooze a couple times untill 4:30 and get up. I let the dogs out and drink my coffee while storm checks out kittys last known spot, checks it’s food bowl, finds it empty then goes around marking over the foxes markings. There’s been a 3 legged fox hanging around, probably hunting the cat, but it can’t catch the cat, and it’s pathetic enough that I decided to start giving the fox freezer burnt meat I have. Anyways, Stormy checks the cats food bowl, finds it empty, then works his way around the yard peeing on all the spots I’m assuming the fox does every night. He’s wagging his tail and having a good ole time out peeing the fox. So I call both the dogs in, give Stormy his insulin shot and feed them. My routine is take the dogs outside, bring them in and feed them, then I take a shower. When I got out of the shower I found storm curled up, he had a stroke. I took him up to the emergency vet in Fargo and held him as he went to sleep. Storm was a very good boy. The date of his last day was unknown to me, so I didn’t do anything to make it special. The way it worked out it was probably the best day he had in years, I like that.

 

[goldfish]

Sorry to hear that Stu

 

[dfrauenkron]

Hang in there Stu. Nice write up for what I’m sure was an amazing pup.


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[razorrt5]

Sorry to hear Stu. Glad he had a good last day though


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[OGblackcloud]

Im sorry