Getting Started

Getting Started

To start, I want to say, stop, take a deep breath. Now, let me say, canine diabetes is not usually a death sentence for a dog. In most cases, diabetic dogs will live a full and healthy life with proper management. My dog, Bender, was diagnosed with Diabetes back in...

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What is Canine Diabetes?

What is Canine Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus, or simply diabetes, is a metabolic diseases in which a dog has high blood sugar, either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, no insulin is produced at all, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. The...

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My Dog Won’t Take His Insulin Shot

My Dog Won’t Take His Insulin Shot

I don't have much experience with Bender not being a good boy when he gets his shot. He is rather docile and I've trained him well. So when he does receive his shot of insulin he doesn't fuss about it. But I know not all dogs are like that. Some commenters have said...

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Ask Bender – Raw foods (chicken etc)

Ask Bender – Raw foods (chicken etc)

I have been told that Raw foods (chicken etc) Nature's Variety is better for my 12 year old diabetic Westie. Has only been on insulin 1 month. My Vet say NO only Hills Pres. w/d can food, and nothing in between meals. I bake him snacks made from the Hills dog food. I...

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Cutting Nails

Cutting Nails

Bender is a huge baby when it comes to cutting his nails. He cries and whines like he is in pain just at the sight of the clippers. He will run and hide if he can. And If I do manage to get a hold of his paw he does everything he can to get away. I don't know why....

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Don’t Feed My Dog

Don’t Feed My Dog

I don't feed Bender table scraps or any sort of people food. He doesn't get my pizza crust or the fat from my steak. If I do feed him any thing I'm sharing my apple or some other fruit with him, which is almost daily. Because of this he doesn't beg and in general...

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AlphaTrack Product Life

AlphaTrack Product Life

About a month ago my AlphaTrak meter started giving me an "Er4" message when I turned it on. After an extensive search of the internet I came to the conclusion the "Er4" message was as vague as the instruction manual's explanation. "Problem with the meter" OR "Problem...

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My Barfy Little Dog 3

My Barfy Little Dog 3

This is a follow up to My Barfy Little Dog 2 and My Barfy Little Dog. I had been giving Bender probiotics because he was throwing up bile right before eating in the morning and at night. He would only be sick for about 10 mins then be completely fine. He would never...

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FURminator Product Review

FURminator Product Review

Let me start by saying I would never recommend a product unless I thought it was awesome and worth every penny. This is an article about one of those products. Bender sheds like a snow storm in January. It is ridiculous how much hair Bender puts off. Not just in...

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My Barfy Little Dog 2

My Barfy Little Dog 2

This is a follow up to My Barfy Little Dog. Bender has been on his new food (Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe) for about two month. After the switch things improved. He wasn't barfing as much. But he was still throwing up. I even tried giving...

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My Barfy Little Dog

My Barfy Little Dog

Back in November of 2010 I switched Bender from homemade food to Wellness Healthy Weight. After spending a long time researching I decided it was the best food. After getting Bender adjusted he was doing great. Good numbers, happy dog. Then adding a little fiber, he...

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Better Eat Your Fiber

Better Eat Your Fiber

A while ago a fell Diabetic Dog Owner mentioned to me that mix in powder fiber might help out in keep Bender regulated and possibly lower his insulin needs. Which Bender already is pretty regulated but any thing to help. I went out a bought some store brand mix in...

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To lancet or where lancet

To lancet or where lancet

I have been trying to find a better solution to lancing Bender in the ear. After an all day test, I've lanced Bender a minimum of 10 times. I miss the vein, I know he isn't fond of it, and it hurts him. I tried using a lancing device but that was less accurate. After...

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The importance of Exercise

The importance of Exercise

It has been bitter cold out for the last month, lightly snowy, streets are a mess and in general I just don't want to be outside. Which means I haven't been running the dogs every day like I usually do. Even my treadmill use is less than I would like. I don't feel...

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A Change in Food… Again

A Change in Food… Again

The cost of making Bender's food has been slowing going up. Every time I cut costs on one ingredient another ends up costing more. For a 45 day amount the cost is running me about $80. The time that it takes to make the food is also running about 8hrs between prep,...

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iPet vs The AlphaTrak – Part 2

iPet vs The AlphaTrak – Part 2

This is a continuation, please read the first part here. It has been over a month now of testing the iPet. I received a new meter and control solution. The new meter works fine and the control solution is within range. For over a month I've been using the iPet along...

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iPet vs The AlphaTrak – Part 1

iPet vs The AlphaTrak – Part 1

There are very few options for testing your dog or cats glucose levels at home. To my understanding a normal human meter isn't accurate. Taking your dog to the vet can become very costly, not to mention time consuming. There are two major options out there, the iPet...

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My dog is a picky eater and has diabetes

My dog is a picky eater and has diabetes

Thankfully Bender is not a picky eater. He eats all his food at every meal. But what happens if he didn't? Our other dog Luna will eat any from a 1/4th of her food to all of her food every meal. Its never the same. Imagining Luna on diabetes, I would think she would...

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New Insulin and Crashing Part II

New Insulin and Crashing Part II

This is a continuation from New Insulin and Crashing. Its been an interesting few weeks. Back at the beginning of the month of August I switched Bender off of Vetsulin to ReliOn N (Novolin N). If you don't know, Vetsulin is off the market for an undetermined amount of...

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UltiCare Vet Rx Bathing Cloths

UltiCare Vet Rx Bathing Cloths

I recently had the opportunity to try out the UltiCare Vet Rx Bathing Cloths. Ulticare Vet Rx 8" x 8" Refresh Bathing Cloths able to remove dirt and reduce odor form your pet anywhere, anytime. These hypoallergenic cloths utilize a unique patented Encapodor®...

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New Insulin and Crashing

New Insulin and Crashing

This last week I had to switch Bender over to a new insulin. Vetsulin is no longer available and it is unknown how long it will be till it is. These last few months have been great. I got Bender regulated. Down to 22ml per shot, he was up to 37 at one point. Healthy...

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