Serchin for Champy

Just back from our family vacation.  Week on the Lake at Champlain.  Weather was iffy until later in the week but we made the most of it.  Dogs don't care if it's raining, they want to swim and search for Champy!  Rudi gave us a good scare day 3.  At 4:45 a.m. Tuesday morning he went into a hypoglycemic seizure, lasted a few minutes.  Never been so scared in all my days.  Daddy was great and thank goodness we packed the Kyro syrup.  Mommy had to drive up to Plattsburg over an hour to a vet we'd never met later that day.  Thanks Dr. King, you were great!  We need to address the new insulin and whether it's working for our boy.  Meeting with our vets this week to plan an new approach to the moster that is Diabetes...the camp gods saved us this time around.  Thanks uncle Paul and aunt Kimber!

Did you know that dogs with unchecked diabetes can actually lose weight?  Most folks associate diabetes with obesity, however initial signs include excessive thirst, excessive urination and weight loss.  It' s important to check with your vet if these signs are obvious.  An obese dog diagnosed with diabetes should be put on a weight loss regimen that is slow and steady.  Keep an eye out and always keep the lines of communication open with your vet.  It's the best way to properly treat any medical issue.  BTW...keep another eye out for 2 great upcoming events.  Hounds on the Sound that benefits the New Rochelle Humane Society and Pet Rescue of Larchmont, and Bark In the Park that benefits PAWS in Norwalk, CT.  Two awesome events that support great local causes.  Check them out!

Cuuuuurves

You have your voluptuous curves, your learning curves and your BG curves.  Today we focused on the BG brand.  We're still having trouble regulating Rudi since they took his canine insulin "Vetsulin" off the market...3 years in!  He's on Humulin-N (which we now have to get at CVS, let's not go there) and it's been a real pain.  Today we took him to the vet 4 times to check his glucose in 3 hour intervals, commony known as a "curve".  He never broke 400.  Not good.  Upping his dose again.  And upping my blood pressure.  The poor guy was finally in a good place with his diabetes.  I'm mad as hell and when mommy's mad no one is safe. I hope someone from Cablevision pisses me off...I'm ready.

Snorefest 2010

#2 is lying next to me snoring like you read about.  Sometimes he and Dougie daddy compete to talk smack about that one snore that was so loud they woke themselves up.  As I'm always stuck in the middle of the snorefest, I'm unfortunate enough to be available to report the winner.  Rusti has an excuse though, he is tuckered out, he had another rough night.  Something in the new recipe wasn't agreeing with him and he licked his feet for about  half an hour tonight.  I've been adding one ingredient a night so we can determine what the cause is if he has a reaction.  So far we've had luck with the organic short grain brown rice, baked white meat chicken and kale with a teaspoon of powdered bonemeal.  DId I mentioin that Doug and I had a Lean Cuisine?  Anyway tonight we added the other mixture of Brewer's Yeast and vitamin C crystals.  We were pretty sure the yeast was going to be a problem.  Back to the drawing board, and the snoring.

Words to live by...for humans and beasts

Saw this on a website today.  Our #2 (Rusti) is a rescue and I thought this summed it all up...
A Rescuer's Creed: I shall be a believer of all that is good in man and of all that is deserving in animals. I shall plead for their lives, campaign for their safety and uphold their right to a natural death. I shall seek out the injured and the maimed, the unloved, and the abandoned and tend to them in their last days. I shall not forget their place in the hierarchy of life, nor that we walk in each other's paths. I shall bear witness to the wonder they bring into our lives and to the beauty they bestow upon our souls. I shall renew their spirits when they are waning, bind their wounds when they bleed, cradle them when they whimper, and comfort them when they mourn. I shall be near them in their hour of greatest need -- a companion and friend when the time has come. I shall watch over them and console them and ask that the angels gather them in their arms. From the creatures of the earth I shall learn the fruits of compassion and undying love, and I shall be called the beloved of God. In their company I shall indeed be blessed. ~ Susan M. Person ~

Diabetes Waits for No Dog

Long day, really long day.  Thank God for my husband Doug who most days gets home before me and handles the nighttime feedings.  Rudi (#1) is diabetic and has to be fed in as close to 12 hour intervals as is possible so we can administer his insulin.  Sounds easier than one might think.  We have to plan social events, dinners out and early morning business appointments with the dogs in mind in general, but with the diabetes it is critical.  Rudi gets injections twice daily.  Recently his insulin product was taken off the market and he was switched to human insulin (Humulin-N).   We had to go through the adjustment process all over again.  He is actually still not regulated but we're getting there.  U-40 vs. U-100 syringes, hypoglycemic seizures, waking us up at 2 a.m. to pee.  Good times.  I love my dog, I love my dog, I love my dog.....but it was a really long day.

Bone Meal Anyone?

As #1 (Rudi) systematically dismembers a stuffed mallard at my feet (right now he's looking at me with a fiber fill go-tee) I desperately try to find powdered bone meal online.  Vitamin Shoppe says it's on back order...REALLY?  The bone meal's on back order?  Who da thunk it.  Yes we've made the decision to cook for our beasts and with input from our vet, and of course the internet, we need to add very specific ingredients in order to give them a balanced diet.  Latest recipe includes powdered bone meal, Brewer's Yeast, vitamin C crystals, kelp and lechithin.  Let me know if you're interested in the recipe!  This makes cooking 4 lbs. of chicken and 10 cups of brown rice at a clip seem like a walk in the park...uh-oh, speaking of walks in the park, gotta gooo!!!!!!!!!

Old Dog ... New Trick

So #2 (Rusti) learned a new trick today. And they say you can't teach an old dog...have you MET my dogs! He's not much of a water dog, but he is the perpetual hunter. I had him convinced today that the leaf submerged at the bottom of the baby pool was a "frog" (he LOVES frogs) and I kept encouraging him to "get the frog...get the frog...get the frog" ...and then it happened. He not only jumped in the pool, but after a few unsuccessful attempts, HE SUBMERGED HIS ENTIRE HEAD UP TO HIS EYEBALLS UNDER WATER!!! He indeed was blowing bubbles the entire time and came up with the "frog". Which he promptly ate.