Thursday 20 September 2012

Brave Boy Indy




A few days after Indy’s annual check, he started waking me up in the middle of the night to be let out. A couple of days after that, he stopped waking me up and slept through and woke up in a patch of wet. He’s never had an accident in the house before and he sleeps on my bed. I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.

But no, I didn’t insist he slept downstairs or on the floor. As he threw our duvet in the bin, my beloved said “We can always get a new mattress.” This is why I love the man!

So back to the vet we went – I suspected diabetes, but of course until we knew for sure, I spent hours on the internet reading about all sorts of horrible things that could be wrong.

Initial tests on his wee (caught with great skill by me in a clean Clover tub) and blood showed his blood glucose levels were high. We then had to wait another day for his fructosamine test results which showed that his blood glucose had been high for the previous 2 or 3 weeks.

We always knew diabetes was a possible complication of his EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) but you always hope it won’t happen and for twelve years we were lucky. Anyway it has happened and last night I spent an hour at the vet’s learning how to manage the condition and give him his injections.

Next week, he’ll have to go in to the vet’s for a whole day to have a glucose curve done to see how well he’s doing on his current insulin dose.

He’s been very brave with all the needles.



I took these pictures a couple of days before he had his blood tests. Rolling round in the stubble and having a wonderful time. You wouldn’t think there was anything wrong with him would you?



45 comments:

  1. Poor Indy, but he's in good hands with you taking care of him. You're right about the pictures though, he doesn't look like he has a care in the world. Good luck.

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    1. Thank you, Colette. He's a very happy dog and taking all this in his stride x

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  2. Sending you and Indy hugs. Such beautiful photos! X

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  3. Oh poor Indy! How does he feel about the injections?

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    1. He's been very good, Frances and doesn't seem to mind them at all. I was very pleasantly surprised when I saw how tiny the needle was x

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  4. Tim 'n' Ted here.
    Dear Indy's Herself
    Indy won't mind you giving him injections because he knows you're doing it to make him feel good. Us dogs (Mum says should that be 'We' dogs?) truly understand things like that and love our humans lots and lots for looking after us so well.

    Lots of licks and tail wags to you and Brave Boy, Indy
    Tim 'n' Ted

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    1. Thank you so much Tim 'n' Ted, you lovely boys. Could you come round and have a word with Indy - he's currently not speaking to me and is downstairs cuddling someone else - or do you think he'll forgive me in time? xx

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  5. Lucky Indy to have you and your husband to take care of him. I am sure he will continue to enjoy life once his insulin is under control. Flossie has had a few accidents in the mornings but I know this is because she has been snacking on pears in the garden, just like last year. The answer is to not let her out into the back garden in the evening and to try and clear up all the fallen pears before she finds them. Luckily, there are nowhere near as many this year as before. Our four legged friends keep us on our toes eh? :-)

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    1. Oh bless Flossie - I bet Indy would love to eat pears off the ground too. They certainly do - my toes are getting quite sore ;-) x

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  6. Hi Teresa,
    Brave Indy and yet Indy know that your calmness is a huge help through it all.
    I know that needles and dogs came be a nervy combination. So, well done Indy!
    Gary and yes, Penny the Jack Russell!
    x

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  7. Think the important thing is you were learning how to 'manage the condition' Teresa. Humans lead good lives with diabetes so I am sure Indy will too. Fabulous photos. Love and hugs to you all :o) xx

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    1. Thank you, Sue - and thank you for your lovely words earlier xx

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  8. How well you responded, Teresa, and how lucky Indy is to have your love and care. If only all pets could be cherished and helped like this.

    Best wishes to lovely Indy. I'm sure he'll cope brilliantly with the attention and kindness of you and your husband. (I love his response to the mattress. It made me well up). x

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    1. Thank you, Joanna, that is so kind. Indy still isn't speaking to me since this morning, although he managed to steel himself to come out for a walk and play ball with me. I still got the cold shoulder when we got home though ;-) x

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  9. Aw, poor Indy, but very lucky to have such a wonderful home, Teresa. Together you will cope - and I can't believe what a great, pragmatic husband you have!

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    1. Thank you, Rosemary - I can't believe it myself sometimes x

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  10. Arh, what a brave boy, and surrounded by love. Your husband deserves an award, like the ones the bloggers post to each other. At least dogs only live for the present and can be happy, no matter what.

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  11. Poor Indy and poor you. I'm relieved you've discovered what's wrong with him. x

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    1. Thanks Debs - it was a relief to know it is something that can be treated x

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  12. Ohhh posting late - blogger is misbehavin'. Get well soon Indy. Caroline x

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  13. Oh bless him, I really hope he's okay xx

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  14. Indy will soon be back to full fitness.
    It's likely more difficult for you having to do the injections. But once you get the right dosage I'm sure you won't be able to stop Indy.
    (Bet the vet didn't give you an orange to practise on first, like my hospital doctor did.)

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    1. No he didn't - I had to practise on Indy, Carol! I have been trying to perfect my technique with a banana. He didn't speak to me for nearly 8 hours yesterday - I'm in the dog house for sure! x

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  15. I bet those needles hurt you more than they hurt Indy, Teresa. And what a wonderful, understanding husband you must have.
    I hope Indy feels better very soon.

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  16. He is indeed a very brave boy and he's very lucky to live with people who love him so much! Hope his condition will settle down and be manageable.

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    1. Thanks, hydra - he started waking me up to let him out again and now he's started sleeping through the night (so several nights without accidents) which I hope is a good sign x

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  17. Hope he's doing well, Teresa. xx

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    1. Thanks, Kath - he does seem to have more energy. I'm not looking forward to leaving him at the vet's all day on Friday for his glucose curve, but it will tell us how things are going x

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  18. Hope Indy will be o.k Teresa, love the photos.

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  19. Bless him. I hope he can be stabilised soon.

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    1. Thank you :-) He's at the vet's today - it's horrible here without him. His first glucose reading was 8 so it's come down a lot. Just going to see how the whole curve goes x

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  20. Sending hugs to all of you. x

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