Pretty Miss Emma

She's on cosopt which I believe is in the same "family", but it sort of looks like that may cause some of the problems (like I said she's a bit of an enigma who doesn't follow the rules of the eye drops!!!). Tonight her pressure has gone up following the cosopt - so I don't know!!! Plus we're already dealing with 4 different type sof eye drops, I guess at some point you have to say enough is enough and look a bit longer term (just don't know how ready I am to do that though!).

Thanks baifra - most useful!!! Don't worry I have a little sachet of honey that lives in my handbag at all times, and there's always treats on me whenever I go out with Em!!! And she's always a bit high with her BGL, so I get the over the top thing!!! I think the BGL monitor might be a good idea, and will chat to the vet about that insulin you used (and I think maybe the local pharmacy to make sure they stock it and that it will be cost effective if we do end up looking further in to it!). Thanks heaps!

Aha!! I was wondering. Hmm, was this recent or a little bit ago? I ask only as apparently there have been changes to what is available on the market recently (I don't know how recent, but I did read that somewhere the other night). How did you go with monitoring her BGL's? Where did you take your samples from? I was looking at the accu-chek monitor's on ebay the other day and they're only about $30 (give or take) and then obviously the cost of the strips. I'm thinking maybe it's not such a bad idea to get one at that price.

Sorry, yes Rappie. I'm working on an assumption that Flash30Aus was using the 40iu Caninsulin syringes. We actually use human ones so I have to do a bundle of calculations (ok they're not really that hard!!) to work out Em's dose in a 100iu syringe. But I still know our dose is 17.5iu of 40iu caninsulin twice daily. Oh, if only there were a PBS scheme for dogs!!!! Now we're dealing with silly Miss Em being fussy on her food (insulin dose may be a little too high - currently investigating this!) - so I have to sit and coax her to eat what she's supposed to eat! She sits and sucks the wet food off her dry food!!!! So annoying with a diabetic dog who needs to have a stable diet!!!!

I tried a couple of head halters on my girl, we don't really use them though as we no longer need that sort of tool and I've done a lot of work on using her flat collar (I re-prioritised!!). So some of our other training slowed but her work on her flat collar has come a long way! Anyway, OT!! She hated the genrle leader with a passion and we could not walk with it on. however, she was much more receptive to the Halti. I think because it sits more loosely, if they do pull forward it tightens around the muzzle. I think she just found the gentle leader more constrictive. But I think you have to try a few to see what works best for you. I've also heard many positive reports about the sporn and the black dog infin8.

Well I guess the toxicity thing would be that it effects any retinal cells that are still providing vision. So if there is any remaining vision that will be lost. But I think that would be it, but that's also why it's up for discussion - I want to find out anything!!!! I guess to some extent selfish reasons - aesthetics. Although I understand the effects it can have on the eye may also not be particularly pretty. Cost. Out of all my options it is probably the cheapest for the time being. And also I'm really not wanting to put her under another GA if possible. She's probably had about 4 since November (maybe 1 or 2 more). And she's just been recovering from pneumonia, and is a stabilising diabetic (all was good then pneumonia made diabetes go haywire!). So anything that keeps her from having a GA goes up on my priority list at the moment!! But in all honesty, it's just an unknown quantity and I don't know what to do!!

Hi all, Flash30Aus - 19 units should be 19 units regardless of syringe as they are standard units. So now it's just a mystery!! Anyway on the human insulin side of things... Apparently there is only one type of human insulin that can be used in dogs and it's more expensive than Caninsulin!! So that rules that out! Dogs need to have insulin that comes from the pancreas of either pigs or cows and to get it they actually get these from cadavers, thus driving the cost up as it isn't produced synthetically. So I found that quite interesting. I'm assuming it's all accurate information, but will have a chat with my friend Google and see what it has to say!!!! So human insulin no go for the time being!!

I shall happily fill out required nomination forms for you if this is the case!!!

My understanding (and I will be corrected if wrong!) is that it actually kills the fluid producing cells in the eye. So it doesn't help in terms of treatment if you are hoping to maintain vision. However if you aren't producing fluid then the IOP can't be going up = no more headaches. I really don't know if Em has any vision left so why have an eye with no vision that is causing headaches, when we could just have an eye with no vision! So I'm looking at in terms of treatment of having headaches from glaucoma not treatment of glaucoma to prevent further vision loss (or be preventative of that).

So far we have tried every "-an"!!! We've been on xalatan, travatan and now have moved to lumigan. Em pretty much is a bit of an enigma with her eyes (well, mainly the right one!) and is being resistant to everything. So I've reached a point where I am just using a varietal coctail of all her eye drops in any effort to get her pressure going down. The Xalatan worked well for a while but then it's effectiveness decreased, and that seems to be the pattern with everything for her in this respect unfortunately. So even though I don't really want to, I need to look at what her next best options are so that if she can't see she's at least comfortable and happy while she can't see! I don't want to be selfish because I keep holding out this hope of "what if" when it compromises how she feels every day. So if someone could manufacture a miracle cure eye drop in the next week or so that would be really great!! ;)

I suspect you won't get many replies as it's rarely done in dogs,more in horses but still uncommon. We'll talk when you are next in or give me a bell. Addict!!! I knew you couldn't resist!!! We will try to come in next week to "see" what is going on.

Just wondering if anyone has gone down the path of having gentamicin injected into their dogs eye to stop glaucoma? And how did it go? I'm very seriously looking at this as a treatment for Em, as I don't know if she has any vision left in her eye and I don't want her to have headaches as they make her unhappy and that then compomises her quality of life - something I really don't want. So any experiences are good please. (And Rachael if you are reading this we will discuss again when I'm in next but you can obviously see my train of thought!!!)

If I'm out with my dogs and I get an ice cream they also get one!!! Sometimes in summer they also get ice-cream for dessert!! Now that Em's diabetic it's a bit of a stricter serving size for her (like a teaspoon or so!) but in previous times....

Our evening routine..... As soon as I get home take Emma for her walk (short-ish around the block very slow!!). Give Emma meds and dinner (this generally has to happen 6-6.30) Take Kenzie out for her walk (1 hour fast) Feed Kenzie and then me Most nights dogs then get some play/training (anywhere between 10 min to 30 min depending on what I feel like!!) Dogs off to bed by 10.30 Kenzie also has training classes up to 3 times a week, so those days it's a bit different. Plus with Em's health issues her regime (other than food and meds) is a bit variable depending on how she feels on the day. Oh and Kenzie gets a 20 min walk every morning. However, when she was 4 months old (she is also a BC) we were doing a lot more play - I wanted her to sleep through the night and not wake me up unless it was to wee!!! And so lots of play before bed and training meant that I had a tired puppy!!!

Just wondering if you can purchase pet prescription medication online the same as you with human prescriptions? I've Googled, and Google wasn't able to give me an answer!!! So if anyone here can then that would be great!!

When Kenzie first discovered the big wide world she was also not interested in playing fetch - now that that outside is old hat we can play fetch forever!!! I think keep trying. Start with the backyard as that is going to become more familiar more quickly than other places. And maybe try rewarding for even going to sniff the toy for starters (so pup goes to toy, use marker word, reward); hopefully you will pretty quickly be able to extend this to interacting with the toy and then to picking it up and bringing it to you. When I taught Kenzie "bring" it was inside and she learnt it really solidly (and I was fussy - bring meant go get toy and return to me with it and place it in my hand) and she thought it was the most fun game ever. Then we moved it outside, doing this was like going back to step 1 inside!!! But we were only at step 1 for a short time! I also only played it a for a few throws at first when we were outside so that she was left wanting more. Remember - persevere, be consistent, if they're not getting it pull it back a few steps so that they succeed and know what you want!

Diva Dogs is in Oakleigh (I think or thereabouts!), not sure if they are taking anyone new at the moment though. Google will help you with the phone number!

I used to use flatmatefinders.com.au I assume theya re still up and running ebcause it was a brilliant service. You put in the details of your household and you also put in the details of what you are looking for in a housemate and it matches you up, then you choose who to contact. Internet dating but to find a housemate!!! I also had pets and wanted people who liked/tolerated animals (I was very honest about the fact that my animals were indoors when I was, etc). I got lucky and found some great people through this. Generally those from overseas who had moved here semi-permanently and were missing their pets from home, others who had moved from country to city, plus those who desperately wanted a pet but didn't want the full time responsibility and cost. Worked well for me!

Aha, sorry thought you were on human insulin. How do you manage $80 a month on 19units?! What size is the vial? We get a 10ml one but I didn't think there was a larger one. Having just moved up to 17.5iu I think each vial will last us about 2 weeks, so I think next time we pick one up there will need to be a serious conversation to see if the human alternative is possible. I'm the same as you with the needles. I'm a needle phobe and then ended up with a diabetic dog!!! I'm now excellent at giving needles and have even become a bit braver at receiving them!!! Em had cataracts from the diabetes. We've had a mess of the last 6 months because of it (surgery - which was great - then complications, so she's basically blind again), but she's adapting a bit better and copes really well with places she knows and people she knows it just takes time. If you are interested there is a Yahoo group for people with blind dogs (it's based in the US, but there is some interesting stuff on it and also I'm seeing it as a pretty good support network because so many people on there have been through most of the stuff we're experiencing!!). Anyway, will let you know the results of any insulin conversations I have!!

Thanks Flash30Aus. Emma is on 17.5 units now. Only 2 months ago she was on 10!! But we've had a few problems and so now are trying to restabilise the diabetes. She had a curve done a couple of weeks ago - but it's really expensive so we're doing spot checks weekly at the time she should be lowest and then doing a curve every month or so also. Just when it looks like it's back under control it spikes up again!!!! So we're going through a vial of caninulin every 2 weeks and at $70 a pop it's gettting costly!!! Do you find the human insulin works as well as the caninsulin? Obviously it works out to be a bit cheaper. And if it works just as well then I'll be looking to petition to get her moved on to that!!! Also which brand is Lucy on? I have seen that there are a couple of brands available, wondering which is closest to caninsuln!

Just wondering from those that have diabetic dogs (or if you're a vet/nurse who has been involved in the treatment of one), do you use human insulin? If so does it manage your dogs diabetes as well as canine insulin (if you have used both)? Is it more cost effective? Em's insulin dose just keeps going up at the moment, so her diabetes alone is costing me about $35 a week - not to mention the other medical issues!! I'm just wondering if people have used human insulin and does it work as well and is it a possible way for me to save some money. I've been struggling to find out much about it on the wonderful www, so thought I'd ask here. And yes, I will chat with my vet about it next time we're in to pick up yet another vial of the caninsulin!!

Sorry to hear about Mozart. I agree with the ""keeping things as normal as possible" theory. My Emma has had to spend quite a bit of time on overnight stays at the vet, in hospital, etc over the past few months and Kenzie has not known life at all without her. I did give her a bit more attention at these times (hard not to when you're used to giving attnetion to 2 dogs and then there's only one at home!), but I tried to keep everything as close to the same as possible - same dinner time, same walks, same rules, etc. I think letting her sleep in you room might be good for her though if that is a new rule you are happy to adopt - if she's used to company even having the sound and smell of you nearby when sleeping might just make this time a bit easier for her.

This was the website I found about it... http://www.dogbehaviour.com/articles/dogs/objectsucking.htm

My 20mo BC, Kenzie, does exactly the same thing. She sucks her "monkey" every night when she goes to bed and also in the morning when she wakes up. I had to go and buy all of the monkeys at Sam's Warehouse just so I could throw them out when they became totally feral - don't know what will happen when I run out of them!! Anyway I did find a site somewhere that discussed this. If I can find it I'll send you the link. But they talked about it potentially happening when a pup is not weaned properly. But more commonly it's actually just a soothing behaviour that they initiate because they like like it, a bit like thumb sucking. So is all this true? Who knows? But the explanation works for me!!! It's sort of cute really!!! And I now have friends that buy Kenzie new Monkeys when they find them because she loves monkey so much!!! This is Kenzie with Monkey!!!

I'm thinking I would still be luring all the positions you are asking for. So when doing puppy push-ups lure each position. I also like the idea above of not using veral cues just go back to hand signals as these are a bit easier for dogs to understand. A thought - are the hand signals different enough from each other? Could there be confusion there? May be you need to overexaggerate these for a little bit? But I really think you can do this with your dog!!! Believe in yourself and your pup!!!! If you expect it to happen it will happen (eventually!!).