My OldLady is Diabetic

First! From age 5 have your dogs blood glucose levels tested whenever they're at the vet. It takes a few seconds and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. You can catch Diabetes before ever needs to become a problem.

My OldLady has for the past 2 months started to drink a lot of water and for such a small dog she p's a huge dam.
She's also lost a lot of weight, so off we went to the vet yesterday. Had a check up and some tests done, poor girl is Diabetic.
Luckily it's not yet so serious that she needs Insulin. I should be able to manage it with her diet.
I've ordered some Prescription food from Royal Canin for her.
She's difficult to feed, she has a terrible overbite so her nose gets into her food and she snorts some of it up. I then have to squirt some salt water up her nose so she sneezes it all out. It's a bit disgusting sometimes because she has chronic infections from her bad teeth. With the last op to pull most of them she constantly stopped breathing so I don't want to chance another operation.
Then because she also has almost no teeth left so I have to soften her food in boiled water so she can gum it when 'chewing'.
She weighed 1.5kgs yesterday; down from 1.8kgs.

I have considered if it's not maybe time for her to be PTS but she's still ok. She's happy sleeping cuddled up and having a suntan, will walk around the garden if it's not to cold or windy, she can still move around whenever she feels like, it's not a struggle, she's deaf and her eyes are getting poorer but she's doing ok for a old dame.
She asks for so little and is so happy about that.
My vet said she doesn't know anyone else who would put up with a stinky, piddling dog like I do.

Sorry to hear that!

I think she's being very well cared for by you! Like the vet said, it's not often you'll get somebody willing to go through all of that mess for the sake of their dog. Sounds like she's happy in herself, bless her.

Poor old girl! How old is she now?

To be honest, if she's content & comfortable then I wouldn't even consider putting her to sleep! At her age hearing & sight isn't all it's cracked up to be - the others (and you) are her ears & eyes!

She's about 13 years old.
I took her from the SPCA last year February after a friend found her in a cage as a stray. She hasn't had a easy life, her deafness is due to neglect. When I first had her at the vet for a check up we cleaned out thick, black, gross pieces of old wax from her ears. Her teeth were so bad it looked like she was wearing a green gumguard.

I look like a junkie when I 'cook' up her meds. The antibiotics are absolutely vile so I camo it with yoghurt. In a tablespoon I put the 0.3ml antibiotics, 2 drops of Metacam and a teaspoon of yoghurt then stir it up. I laugh every time when I think of someone seeing me through the window.

Poor girl! Sounds like she's really been through it.

You are doing a great job Shisa in giving this old lady a gloriously happy old age. And, despite the obvious signs of old age, she does look happy.

I'm so sorry to hear that Theresa. I'm sorry for going on about Black Seed oil again but it can reduce and even eliminate diabetes. Get googling!

Wendy wrote:I'm so sorry to hear that Theresa. I'm sorry for going on about Black Seed oil again but it can reduce and even eliminate diabetes. Get googling!

It certainly won't hurt!  

Doing a great job and giving this old girl a great home for her later years keep thinking of the good times and award yourself a shiney , you deserve it xxx

I'll have a look for some. It's just getting it into her that's the issue.
I use a lot of Aloe Ferox products on myself and the dogs (bitter crystals, gels, shampoo, pulp) and it also has great health properties. My lot each gets a tiny chip of bitter daily.

Aloe's great stuff!

Yeah but it has to be Aloe Ferox and not Aloe Vera. I went to a talk once on Aloe Ferox that was very interesting. They also talked about the 2 and the differences in composition. I think because my dogs get the bitter crystal is a reason I have less issues with fleas and ticks.
I googled to find this if anyone is interested in prickly bitter plants   
http://aloeferoxboutique.com/aloe-ferox-versus-aloe-vera/

Ah, I was talking about Aloe Vera!

Sounds like good stuff!

I didn't know that there was a difference till I went to the talk. Albertinia, where I live, is famous for it's Aloes. We have 2 factory/ houses that harvest and market it.

I just assumed they were the same thing as well.

Is it affordable?

Yes. They often sell miss labled or stock with nicked packaging for next to nothing. I buy loads then as it can keep for quite a while.

Might have a look around to see if I can get some!

What sort of things have you noticed with your dogs since you started using it?

Oh look at her little face! Glad you have been able to find out what is up.

Eleanor wrote:Might have a look around to see if I can get some!

What sort of things have you noticed with your dogs since you started using it?

With the dogs I have noticed that I hardly ever struggle with fleas.
For myself I have noticed that if I miss a few days I feel a bit more sluggish and when I start again I feel really well after about 2 days.
It might be all in the mind but if it works that way, well who cares   

Sounds good! Definitely something I'll consider!

Like the black Seed oil it's natural so it won't hurt you to try.

Which reminds me - the black seed oil is still sitting in its packet in our cupboard!