Advice please (12 yr old Bichon, Cushing's and Diabetes)

[HAPPY DOG - BICHON FRISE]

I just discovered this site in an effort to receive advice about our older Bichon (12 years) diagnosed recently with Cushings and Diabetes. His diabeties it out of the roof - 480 and higher. We began giving insulin approx 2 - 3 weeks ago. Got a human blood glucose monitoring system today to see if we can help balance out levels. Dr. is not yet treating for cushings - she is trying to get diabeties under control first. Any suggstions? Thank you for your help. We have on high fiber diet. Do you ever give them smaller meals inbetween meals?

[labblab]

Hello and welcome!

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Thanks,
Marianne

[frijole]

My knowledge of treating diabetes is secondhand (relatives) but cushings is firsthand so I'll do my best.

First - your vet is doing fine by starting to treat the diabetes as that is more critical than the cushings at this point. Also, sometimes the cushings diagnosis is FALSE as a result of the diabetes so I would do exactly what you are doing for now and worry about the cushings later.

You should discuss food and treats with your vet assuming he/she is helping you get your dog regulated but most treats are full of carbs which you want to avoid. I know many will give them frozen green beans, lettuce, and broccoli in place of a regular treats. Over time they grow to love their veggie treat which gives them more fiber that they need!

Keep us posted on how you are doing!!! Kim

[BestBuddy]

Hi and welcome,
Tell us a bit more info about your dog. How much insulin and what type. How often are you injecting and feeding. How much does he weigh.
Jenny

[acushdogsmom]

Hi and welcome. We're glad you found us!

Although we definitely do have members here who have dogs with both Cushing's and Diabetes, we are probably better able to answer your Cushing's questions here than your diabetes questions, so I just wanted to let you know that we have a "sister" forum that deals with dogs with Diabetes.

Quite a few of the members over there are also members over here, but I thought that you might want to also join over there to get more input about the Diabetes part of things. :)

Here's the link to the main k9diabetes forum page:

http://www.k9diabetes.com/forum

And here's the link to the k9diabetes website, which is also full of terrific information and home testing blood glucose tutorials/videos etc - pretty much everything that has to do with canine diabetes:

http://www.k9diabetes.com