Creek Running North

outstanding.

Speaking as the caretaker of a diabetic dog, I hope your vet will learn to appreciate the good that can come from the net. I am a moderator for a web board for diabetic dogs and the experience and information that’s shared there and the education about canine diabetes that’s available on reputable sites by insulin manufacturers, veterinarians, and veterinary schools has been instrumental in my dog reaching his three-year anniversary of his diagnosis of diabetes in great health, perfect weight, shiny coat, and, most importantly, better regulation of his blood sugar than any of the vets in the area could teach us. Human diabetics have to learn diabetes inside and out to take care of themselves - veterinarians are not taught such skills for our animal friends, so they can’t pass them on to people like me and you who love our pets deeply and will do what’s necessary to keep them healthy.

So I am thrilled to hear that your vet was open to the ideas you picked up on the net. Thanks to the resources available there, I already knew quite a bit about insulinoma, Cushings, and Addisons before reading your post.

By the way, did Zeke have a more sensitive test of his thyroid production than just a standard blood panel?

Our dog always comes out borderline low on the standard panel but smack dab in the middle of normal when a Free T4 with equilibrium dialysis is done.

Really really really happy to hear that Zeke is hanging in there Chris.

I suspect it’s not the net information gatherers that bother docs (for any species).  But the insistence that you know better, based on some internet thing you can’t quite remember right, but that doc must now do, right now, or doc is an idiot.  It’s all a matter of being reasonable, or not.

I’m so glad he’s feeling better. I was bummed after your hell-in-a-sentence entry, so much so that my husband asked if I was okay. It just brings back the oh-please-no feeling from past loved ones, both furry and not.

Good boy, Zeke.

I’m so glad to hear such good news. You and Zeke have been much on my mind this week.

Yay!  That’s awesome news.

Never, ever hesitate to be that kind of pet owner, or that kind of patient/patient advocate when it comes right down to it.  No one can know everything, not even the best, most up-to-date vet or doctor for humans—and of course the best ones know that.  It’s about getting the right care, and you do what you’ve got to do.  It’s your right and your responsibility.

Every life is a team effort.  The best medicos of every stripe understand this, too, and welcome collaboration.

Good news all round.  Good luck in the days to come.

Even before my beloved Kuba became ill, she had a kind of temperamental stomach.  I found that cooking all her meals from scratch was much easier than walking around the park at three in the morning.  The first time I tried cooking for her I had been a vegetarian for twenty years and I was afraid to touch meat.  So I got some lamb stew meat that was already cut up (and organic, and imported from New Zealand).  The vet said white rice would be better for her than brown, but I was sure I had some at home.  Turned out the only white rice I had was the expensive imported risotto.  So I mixed it all up with (homemade) vegetable stock, some carrots, a couple of leftover potatoes and cooked it in a casserole dish for her.  Served it topped with yogurt and canned pumpkin puree.  She loved it of course, but I did feel a little silly feeding a dog lamb and risotto.  As I set it down I asked her if she wanted some freshly ground pepper with that?

She just wagged her tail and ate.  I had some ramen.

Anyway, I miss her so much when I read about Zeke.  I mostly improvised her meals, but would be happy to provide recipes if you’re interested.

Don’t know Zeke’s history but be damned glad it apparently wasn’t Cushings. We went through quite a bit of expense but never the most expensive testing when our Samantha was ill. The vet suspected Cushing’s and went so far as to tell me, “Don’t get on the Internet; it’s scary.” She had some good time left and for an Springer Spaniel lived a pretty good life--13 years.